BISMARCK – The longtime director of the Administrative Services Division of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, Ken Junkert, is retiring effective Jan. 31, 2022.
“Ken’s absence will definitely be felt,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “His commitment to the department and agriculture community and his institutional knowledge are valuable assets that will be difficult to replace.”
Goehring said a search is now underway for Junkert’s successor.
“It has been one of my greatest honors to serve the agriculture community of North Dakota,” Junkert said.
A Mandan native, Junkert is a graduate of the University of North Dakota. He joined the department 32 years ago as an unpaid marketing intern in 1990. He worked in the apiary and consumer protection areas before becoming the environmental services coordinator from 1991 to 1997. He then became a division director and has held that role as the head of different divisions for 25 years, also serving as the acting deputy agriculture commissioner in 2013. He has served three agriculture commissioners during his tenure.
Junkert lives in Bismarck with his wife, Dawn, and daughter Abigail. Ken looks forward to the next chapter in his career.