Hometown: Fargo, North Dakota 
NDSU Degrees: BS, MS, and Ph.D. Animal Science 

For six decades, Dr. Paul Berg ’60, ’68, ’75 has been a leader in animal sciences, committed to education, outreach, and volunteer service. A proud alumnus, Paul joined NDSU’s animal science faculty in 1966 and served until his retirement in 2012. He began his faculty career while holding only a bachelor’s degree, completing graduate studies over 12 years while teaching and mentoring students. 

Among his most impactful experiences was coaching NDSU’s Meat Judging and Meat Animal Evaluation teams, a passion that shaped his career and continues to influence his volunteer work today. As associate professor emeritus, Paul has devoted countless hours to the Animal Science Education Foundation (ASEF), leading efforts to raise awareness and secure funding for NDSU’s judging programs. Under his leadership, ASEF and its 1,000+ members achieved a transformative milestone: a more than $5.5 million endowment to sustain faculty leadership and provide scholarships for future judging team members. This initiative ensures NDSU’s long-standing tradition of excellence in livestock and meat judging will thrive for generations. 

Paul’s passion for his field is clear, both locally and nationally. He has received numerous awards celebrating his impact at NDSU, including Mortar Board Preferred Professor, Gamma Sigma Delta Award of Merit, and the Extension Program of Excellence — he also co-founded NDSU’s popular BBQ Boot Camp, which has educated and engaged thousands of grilling enthusiasts statewide. Paul also served as a passionate co-founder and chief cook for Carnivore Catering, helping grow it into the primary function of the Animal Science Graduate Student Organization and leading its most visible effort, Military Appreciation Day at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot.  

Paul has dedicated more than 40 years to meat and livestock judging events across North Dakota and Minnesota. His professional contributions have earned national recognition, including the American Meat Science Association’s highest honor — the R.C. Pollock Award — along with the Meritorious Service distinction and Signal Service Fellow Award, which designated him as an AMSA Fellow, and an Honorary American FFA Degree in 2022. 

Even in retirement, Paul remains deeply connected to NDSU through ASEF, Team Makers, and alumni events, and he enjoys hobbies like crafting art from barbed wire, training bird dogs, and playing golf.  

Reflecting on their father’s accomplishments, his children shared: “Dr. Paul Berg exemplifies the spirit of NDSU. His six-decade relationship with the university, unmatched service in education and outreach, and his leadership in fundraising efforts — particularly for livestock and meats judging activities and extension/outreach — have left an enduring legacy, not only in the state of North Dakota, but beyond its borders. His impact is felt in classrooms, communities, and professional circles nationwide.”