Jack Dalrymple was sworn in as the 32nd Governor of the great state of North Dakota on December 7, 2010, and began working to grow and diversify North Dakota’s economy and create good jobs and economic opportunities for its citizens. He remains committed to managing the state with fiscal responsibility and with a new emphasis on infrastructure improvements and energy development. He brings to the office an outstanding record of farming, business, legislative and executive leadership.

Born October 16, 1948, Dalrymple grew up in Casselton on the family farm, established in 1875 by his great-grandfather. He graduated with honors from Yale University in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in American Studies and then returned to North Dakota to manage the farming operations.

Dalrymple became active in the community serving on the Casselton Jobs Development Commission and helping establish Share House, Inc., a Fargo residential treatment program for recovering alcoholics and drug dependents. Dalrymple came to the North Dakota Legislature in 1985, representing a rural Cass County House district. He served eight terms, including six years as chairman of the influential House Appropriations Committee. In 2000, he was elected North Dakota’s 35th Lieutenant Governor with Governor John Hoeven and was re-elected in 2004 and 2008.

Dalrymple is a nationally recognized leader in value-added agriculture. He was the founding board chairman of Carrington-based Dakota Growers Pasta Company, the third-largest manufacturer and marketer of dry pasta products in North America.

His work in helping to found the company earned him the 2007 Ernst and Young Midwest “Master Entrepreneur of the Year” Award. Dalrymple served as chairman of the North Dakota Trade Office and the Governor’s Commission on Education Improvement.

Dalrymple and his wife, Betsy, have four daughters.

Watch the RGA’s American Comeback feature on Governor Dalrymple:

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