**Exhibit 31.1**

 

**CERTIFICATIONS**

 

I, Gary R. Holland, certifythat:

 

1. I have reviewed this annualreport on Form 10-K of Fargo Electronics, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, thisannual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omitto state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of thecircumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading withrespect to the period covered by this annual report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, thefinancial statements, and other financial information included in thisquarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financialcondition, results of operations and cash flows of Fargo Electronics, Inc. asof, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

 

4. Fargo Electronics, Inc.’sother certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintainingdisclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e)and 15d-15(e)) for Fargo Electronics, Inc. and have:

 

a) designed such disclosurecontrols and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures tobe designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relatingto Fargo Electronics, Inc. is made known to us by others within the Company, particularlyduring the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

 

b) evaluated the effectivenessof Fargo Electronics, Inc.’s disclosure controls and procedures and presentedin this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosurecontrols and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this annualreport based on such evaluation; and

 

c) disclosed in this report anychange in Fargo Electronics, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting(as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) that occurred duringFargo Electronics, Inc.’s most recent fiscal quarter (Fargo Electronics, Inc.’sfourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materiallyaffected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, Fargo Electronics,Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. Fargo Electronics, Inc.’sother certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recentevaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to Fargo Electronics,Inc.’s auditors and the audit committee of Fargo Electronics Inc.’s board ofdirectors:

 

a) all significant deficienciesand material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control overfinancial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect FargoElectronics, Inc.’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financialinformation; and

 

b) any fraud, whether or notmaterial, that involves management or other employees who have a significantrole in Fargo Electronics, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 
| March 15,  2004 |                                                                                                       |
|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|            |                                                                                                       |
|            |                                                                                                       |
|            | /s/ GARY R.  HOLLAND                                                                                       |
|            | Gary R.  Holland                                                                                           |
|            | Chairman of  the Board of Directors,  President and Chief Executive Officer  (Principal Executive Officer) |

 

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