Jack Dalrymple

Jack Dalrymple, 59, serves with pride as the 35th lieutenant governor of North Dakota. He is equally proud of the work he has done in helping his state’s wheat farmers grow and prosper.

Dalrymple grew up on his family’s wheat farm in North Dakota. After graduating from Yale University, he returned home to manage the farm, and expanded its operations considerably. Facing falling commodity prices and open trade, he looked for new ways to add value to the farm’s durum wheat crop. As organizing board chairman of Dakota Growers Pasta Co., he led more than 1,000 farm families to build a $40 million integrated durum mill and pasta-processing plant.

The company started operations as a farmer-owned cooperative in 1993 and went private in 2002. It has evolved into the third-largest manufacturer and marketer of dry pasta products in North America.

Dalrymple said, “the real credit goes to the dedicated-management team and the great employees of Dakota Growers Pasta Co. They really take a lot of pride in our business.”

Dakota ranks as a leading supplier of pasta for store brands and private-label lines, and the No. 1 supplier to the foodservice industry. It also sells its own line of low-carb pasta products, marketed under the Dream-fields brand, in supermarkets and on its Web site.

Throughout his career, Dalrymple always carved out time for his family (he has four daughters) and public service. In 1985, he was elected to the North Dakota legislature, where he served eight terms. In 2000, he was elected lieutenant governor. He presides over the North Dakota Senate and is responsible for legislative relations, the state budget and agri-business development.

Although he is not a part of day-to-day operations of Dakota Growers, Dalrymple serves as its chairman and remains involved with the direction of the company.