Henning alum is a science lecturer at NDSU

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

There are few things more Minnesotan, or in this case North Dakotan, than SPAM. 

Made in Austin, Minn., SPAM has become synonymous with all things Minnesota and the farming industry, 

Recently, Lydia (Hansen) Trandem, was presented with the SPAM award at North Dakota State University. Trandem, who is the daughter of Don and Sandy Hansen, is currently an animal science lecturer in the Department of Animal Sciences at NDSU. The award recognized Spirit, Pep and Motivation within the NDSU Department of Animal Science. This award has a part of the NDSU Department of Animal Sciences for several years and is a traveling award (Trandem will nominate another recipient by December).

Her nomination letter for the award said “Lydia has had unique involvement during her time with NDSU Animal Sciences which makes her a worthy recipient of the SPAM Award. She has been a graduate student, Beef Cattle Research Complex (BCRC) Assistant Manager and now is an Animal Science Lecturer in the department. Lydia has been actively involved with various events including organizing recruitment activities for the department. I’ve known Lydia to be friendly and personable with everyone she interacts with.”

  She was presented with the award on August 14.

A Henning High School graduate and Vining native, Trandem has been an animal science lecturer in the Department of Animal Sciences at NDSU for nearly a year.  She teaches several of the introductory animal science courses (Student Success Techniques, Introduction to Animal Sciences Labs and Livestock Production) while serving as an undergraduate advisor. She also serves as the department’s Internship Coordinator. Prior to that role, she was an assistant manager at the NDSU BCRC for three years while she pursued her Master of Science in Animal Science. Trandem is a 2020 December graduate from the University of Minnesota-Crookston and received her masters in May of 2025.  

Her passion for teaching came during the undergraduate program at the University of Minnesota Crookston.

“I discovered my interest in teaching and advising during my undergraduate program. I was fortunate to have two outstanding advisors who encouraged me to push myself and pursue several learning opportunities during my time at UMC,” said Trandem. “These opportunities included a summer internship with ABS Global in DeForest, Wis.; a two-week study abroad trip to Brazil, and working as a undergraduate teaching assistant and tutor. As I settle into my role as an Animal Science Lecturer at NDSU, it is my goal to help my students and advisees succeed and find their career paths just like my instructors and advisors did for me. I have found my passion for teaching others about animal science and giving them the opportunity to experience it firsthand in each of the labs I teach.”

Now on the other side of the classroom, Trandem is encouraging local students to not be afraid to challenge themselves to try something new. 

“I would like to encourage high school seniors and college freshman to not be afraid of challenging yourself by trying something new. Those experiences are how we learn and grow into the people we will become and find our careers. Remember, your plans might change just as quickly as you create them but that only makes for a better outcome in the end,” said Trandem.