Hometown: Beach, North Dakota 
NDSU Degree: BS Agricultural Economics, Business Finance 

Growing up in North Dakota with family roots in ranching near Beach, Michael Uetz ’82 learned the value of hard work early — though he didn’t realize at the time how much those experiences would shape his future. From caring for cattle (including a cow gifted to him for a birthday) and horses to spending countless hours outdoors, those formative years instilled a deep connection to agriculture that would later define his career. 

Michael began his college journey at NDSU intending to study pharmacy, but after two quarters, he discovered his true calling in agricultural economics. Switching majors was a pivotal decision that set the stage for a lifetime of impact. His time at NDSU was transformative — he thrived academically, served as a resident assistant in one of the residence halls, and built friendships that endure to this day. He also joined Alpha Zeta, an honorary agriculture fraternity, and completed an internship with the Federal Land Bank, which he considered a dream job at the time. 

After earning his BS in agricultural economics and business finance, Michael pursued an MS in food marketing at Cornell University, an adventure that broadened his perspective and deepened his expertise. His career began in consulting and later included a leadership role at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Ultimately, Michael co-founded Midan Marketing, a full-service agency dedicated to the meat industry. Under his guidance, Midan became a recognized thought leader, pioneering consumer research and initiatives such as standardizing retail meat coding, nutrition labeling for meat, the introduction of beef value cuts to retail and foodservice and executing the first meat consumer segmentation research. 

A passionate advocate for agriculture, Michael has helped create opportunities for future industry leaders through scholarship and classroom engagement at NDSU. He takes pride in giving back to his roots and championing the value of meat and the people who produce it. “Working in an environment that connects me to where I came from every day had been incredibly rewarding throughout my career,” Michael said.