Field takes position at NDSU Extension

After four years teaching in Chadron State College’s agriculture & rangeland management program, Dr. Aaron Field left the college after the spring semester to pursue a career opportunity closer to family. 

Now a program coordinator with the North Dakota State University Extension soil and water leadership development program, Field said he enjoyed his time as a professor at CSC.

“If I could pick CSC up and move it 600 miles northeast I would,” Field said. “But I don’t think anyone else there would appreciate that.” 

Though he remarked that Chadron was a great place to work and live, Field’s new position allowed he and his wife Jennifer to move their three young children back to Field’s hometown of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, about 40 miles southeast of Fargo, North Dakota and NDSU. 

Field said the move has gone well and his children, ages one, four and six, are happy to be around their grandparents. As an added benefit, Jennifer is also from the region. 

As head of the soil and water conservation leadership academy, Field will provide educational program work in areas such as leadership development and educational program work. Instead of college students, now his classes will mostly be for staff from the soil conservation district, NRCS, and other organizations. He’ll also work with the North Dakota State soil conservation committee. 

Though his time at CSC was short, Field leaves with a high opinion of its rangeland program, calling it one of the best in the country, not just in terms of the numbers, but in terms of people and resources. He also remarks that it’s well-supported by the region and the community. 

Field’s position has yet to be filled by CSC, leaving the other professors to teach overload until the position is filled. But his colleagues aren’t the only ones who will feel his departure. 

“I’ll miss seeing students,” Field said. “I’ll miss the comradery in that group and that program. It’s a really good group of people to work with.”