Braaten Wins Government Weed Fighter Of The Year

This winter, Stone Tihista and Levi Capdeville (pictured at left), of the Valley County Weed and Mosquito District nominated Norm Braaten, of Fort Peck, for Government Weed Fighter of the Year.

Braaten was recognized for his efforts at the Montana Weed Control Association's Annual Conference on Jan. 31, in Billings, where he was awarded Overall Weed Fighter Of the Year for the MWCA.

"I would like to thank Norm for everything he has done for our county and myself over the last year. I would not have had the success I had as a first year coordinator if it wasn't for Norm," expressed Capdeville.

Braaten started working at the Valley County Weed District in June 2015 and has been a valued, dependable and hard-working employee ever since. In 2021, the Weed/Mosquito Control Coordinator was vacant so he and the Mosquito lead Byron Hallock stepped up and ran the shop and crews together for the 2021 season. During the season, they kept up community relations thanks to their hard work and attention to detail. For the 2022 season, another coordinator was hired and Bratton and Hallock went back to working on the crew as crew leaders. In 2023, Capdeville took over the position of Weed and Mosquito Coordinator.

"I would not have had near the success I had in my first year as Coordinator if not for Norm Braaten," expressed Capdeville at the conference.