Randall named to Noxious Weed Control Association Hall of Fame

SMELTERVILLE — Wallace resident Carol Randall was recently named an Idaho Noxious Weed Control Association Hall of Fame recipient for her work in managing the pesky plants.

Randall is the only Weed Biological Control Specialist with the United States Forest Service in the Northern and Intermountain Region — which includes North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Utah and Nevada.

Her job has her mostly dealing with the biological control of noxious weeds that can affect the natural state of the nation’s forests and grasslands.

Originally from Michigan, Randall moved west after obtaining her bachelor’s degree in natural resources from the University of Michigan. She then earned a master’s degree in integrated forest protection through Oregon State University and became a full-time forest entomologist for the Northern Region.

In 1993, she was transferred to Coeur d’Alene — which led to her and her husband getting a home in Wallace and running a business there from 1997 to 2007.

“My husband and I enjoy all of the opportunities that living in this beautiful valley affords,” she said.

Randall first got involved with the Idaho Noxious Weed Control Association in the 1990s when she started working with people at the University of Idaho, Nez Perce Biocontrol Center and Kootenai County on weed biological control.

“As time went on, more and more folks requested my help with weed biocontrol,” she said. “I started working with others to develop weed biocontrol technology transfer documents. I began attending and presenting at the Idaho Weed Conference and meeting more county weed control specialists throughout the state.”

She would even serve on the Idaho Weed Control Association — now Idaho Noxious Weed Control Association — board in the early 2000s.

“I served a few terms then rotated off the board, but I have been involved with the Idaho noxious weed control community ever since,” she said.

Over the last 20 years, as part of her work with the USFS State and Private Forestry Health Protection staff, Randall has worked with a number of western weed biological control specialists to develop a series of weed biocontrol technology transfer documents. Her efforts include publications, forest evaluation, developing user friendly “how to” guides to facilitate the expansion of biological control efforts, and collaboration with land managers.

In 2008, she received the Regional Foresters’ award for technology transfer. She is also a founding member of the Idaho Biocontrol Task Force, which she continues to be active on today.

Locally, Randall works with the Shoshone County Noxious Weed Control Department by implementing weed biocontrol — one of four control methods used to treat noxious weeds.

Upon hearing the news of her award, Randall was humbled and incredibly honored to be recognized by Idaho’s noxious weed control community in this way.

“I have a passion for weed biological control and I am ceaselessly amazed by the dedication of Idaho’s county noxious weed control departments and land managers to address the significant threat noxious weeds pose to our ecosystems and Idaho Agriculture,” she said.

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The Idaho Noxious Weed Control Association contributed to this article.