Krishona Martinson was raised on a dairy farm in Colfax, Wisconsin where she was active in 4-H and showing dairy cattle and horses. In 1998, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin River Falls with B.S. in Agronomy and minor in Agriculture Business. In 2000, Dr. Martinson graduated from the University of Minnesota with a M.S. in Weed Science. In 2001, she began working for the University of Minnesota Extension in Wright County as a County Educator while pursuing her PhD. It was during this time that she began developing the Extension horse program and team. In 2004, Dr. Martinson accepted the position of Regional Extension Educator with responsibilities in both equine science and crop management. In 2006, she earned her PhD from the University of Minnesota in Weed Science, and in 2008, Dr. Martinson accepted the position of Equine Extension Specialist (70% Extension and 30% Research) and Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Minnesota. Since 2008, Dr. Martinson has grown the University of Minnesota horse program and has created an environment of cooperation among faculty in the Colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences. Her applied research program focuses on improving equine forage utilization, with research results used in her Extension and classroom teaching efforts. Dr. Martinson has also provided leadership and service to many organizations including the Midwest American Society of Animal Science as Equine Chairperson, serving on the Production and Management Committee for the Equine Science Society, serving on the Midwest Forage Association Board of Directors, and being elected eXtension HorseQuest Chairperson. In 2011, Dr. Martinson was awarded the Equine Science Society’s Outstanding Young Professional Award, and in 2013 she was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure.
Contact Information
Equine Extension Specialist University of Minnesota
1361 Eckles Avenue
305 Haecker Hall
St. Paul, MN 55108
Phone: 612-625-6776
Email: krishona@umn.edu
