Craig and Shelley Larson and their company, Starion Bank, were recently honored by Ducks Unlimited for being strong community leaders and champions of conservation on the prairies.

The North Dakota bank and its owners were recognized during a special dinner event and with two plaques at DUs Coteau Ranch, northeast of Bismarck.

The Larsons and Starion have provided significant support for our prairie conservation work, with the Larsons becoming Legacy Sponsors and Starion a Gold Benefactor, says Eric Lindstrom, managing director of development in DUs Great Plains Region. We are honored to recognize, thank, and celebrate their tremendous contributions to North Dakotas world-class outdoor resources, quality of life, and communities.

Starion Bank has been in the Larson family since 1969, when Craigs parents, Frank and JoAndrea, purchased the bank in Oakes, a small agricultural community in southeastern North Dakota. Craig is CEO and chairman of the board for Starion, which today has locations across North Dakota and Wisconsin.

Ducks Unlimited also honored the Larsons with a 2016 Wetland Conservation Achievement Award in the Private Citizen category.

I sincerely appreciate Ducks Unlimiteds work in protecting and enhancing the prairie landscape, which is North Americas duck factory, Craig says. Habitat will always be the crucial factor for not just waterfowl but all the wildlife species that call the prairies home.