Title: Owner
Company: 1) Hylden Farms of North Dakota; 2) Golden Valley Flax
Location: Park River, North Dakota, United States
Mark Hylden, Owner at Hylden Farms of North Dakota and Owner at Golden Valley Flax, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Business Owners for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Agriculture.
Mr. Hylden has served as the longtime owner of Hylden Farms of North Dakota. His career is distinguished by a steadfast commitment to quality crop production and a remarkable ability to integrate faith with agricultural practice. At the helm of his farm operation, Mr. Hylden has overseen the cultivation of hard red spring wheat and flax on land first homesteaded by his great-grandparents after they arrived from Norway in 1881. Notably, the farm’s reputation for excellence was established early on by his grandfather David, who consistently won national recognition for wheat samples at the Chicago Hay and Grain Show. This legacy of agricultural distinction continues under Mr. Hylden’s stewardship.
Lauded for his unwavering commitment to quality and a deep understanding of his farm’s unique environmental advantages, which include long daylight hours, optimal elevation and rich soils in Walsh County, these all contribute to Mr.Hylden’s superior crop outcomes. Customers frequently praise the taste and beauty of his products, a testament to both natural resources and careful stewardship. Mr. Hylden credits much of this success to collaboration with experts like Dr. Hans Kandel and Dr. Reindl at North Dakota State University.
In parallel with his work at Hylden Farms, Mr. Hylden has owned and operated Golden Valley Flax since 1974. His expertise in flaxseed production has led to collaborations with leading researchers and institutions like NASA, Stanford Health, the University of Toronto and Alabama A&M University. These partnerships have resulted in published studies in the Journal of the American Medical Association highlighting flax’s health benefits, including significant reductions in colon, prostate and breast cancer risks. Additionally, Mr. Hylden’s influence by Christian values imparted by his parents and inspired by scientific discussions with Dr. Lillian Thompson from the University of Toronto regarding flax’s health benefits has made him an advocate for nutrition education. This is especially true concerning flaxseed’s role in combating hormone-sensitive cancers.
Mr. Hylden’s innovative approach extends to engineering advancements in farming equipment. Notably, he designed a five-rank chisel plow that improved soil management practices and drew attention from major manufacturers.
In preparation for his future, Mr. Hylden earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, which provided him with insights into community dynamics that have informed both his agricultural business strategies and his engagement with civic organizations. He also completed coursework at North Dakota State College of Science.
Membership in industry organizations has been integral to Mr. Hylden’s career, having most notably served as the president of the Walsh County Farm Bureau. His civic involvement includes active participation in the men’s choir at North Valley Baptist Church and leadership roles within the United Campus Christian Fellowship as both the president and Bible study leader. Mr. Hylden also assists with Thanksgiving meal initiatives in Park River and Grafton and volunteers his time to help others through faith-based outreach.
Mr. Hylden’s community involvement is further distinguished by his two decades as a Sunday school superintendent, where he demonstrated leadership within his faith community. He also served as a lay preacher across North Dakota and Minnesota, delivering sermons that wove together scriptural lessons and practical farming wisdom, a style he termed “tractor seed theology.” Mr. Hylden’s public speaking acumen was recognized when he became state debate champion for the American Farm Bureau Federation and advanced to the national finals before an audience of over 20,000.
Among Mr. Hylden’s creative contributions, he has written “Build the Perfect North Dakota Gift Basket” for Golden Valley Flax. He has also developed its website to reach broader audiences. Furthermore, he authored a scholarly article about flax in biblical history published by Biblical Archaeology Review (Biblical Archaeology Society).
Throughout his career, Mr. Hylden has earned several accolades, including recognition by the North Dakota State Fair for cultivating top flax and hard red spring wheat. He also received accolades from the American Farm Bureau Federation with designation as Outstanding Farmer and as the National Debate Champion. Moreover, Mr. Hylden was featured in Meet Fargo magazine for his success. Highlighting his civic contributions, he was selected for the All-State Choir at International Peace Gardens.
Mr. Hylden attributes his achievements to divine guidance, believing that God directed his family’s settlement in North Dakota, and acknowledges pivotal conversations with several mentors for deepening his understanding of both faith and family history. Reflecting on legacy, he emphasizes perseverance through adversity, particularly during the farm crisis of the 1980s when he and his cousin saved their family operation from foreclosure, ensuring that both agricultural tradition and personal values endure for future generations. As he looks toward the future, Mr. Hylden remains active in community life and is committed to promoting healthful food practices nationwide through Golden Valley Flax.
Contact Mr. Hylden: