Eric Bergeson is the third generation owner of Bergeson Nursery in Fertile, MN, a business started by his grandfather in 1937. He also writes a weekly column for several newspapers in northwestern Minnesota. He has published three books.

Eric graduated from Fertile-Beltrami High School in 1982. He attended Northwestern College in Roseville, MN, and received his bachelor's degree in history from the University of North Dakota in 1986. After completing a Bachelor of Science in Social Studies at Moorhead State University in 1988, he went back to UND where he earned a master's degree in history.

During college, Eric studied at Cambridge University in England, student taught in Wellington, NZ, and studied in Warsaw, Poland.

Eric is a frequent speaker and performer in northwestern Minnesota. Last year, he spoke or performed before over 40 clubs, groups, or community gatherings, usually, but not always, about gardening. He does radio shows on gardening over four area stations each spring. Eric and his brother Joe often sing and play piano for customers at the nursery, as well as for nursing homes and other community groups.

When needed, Eric teaches American history courses at the University of Minnesota, Crookston.