Recent News Blogs
Portraying Teddy Roosevelt: Living Out History in North Dakota and Beyond
Posted by- Kylie Blanchard, Co-Editor; Photos courtesy of Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation 3/8/2023
As the world’s premier Theodore Roosevelt reprisor, Joe Wiegand’s attention to detail in sharing the character and stories of the 26th president has made him a sought-after performer for audiences of world dignitaries and elementary students alike.
With the President’s deep connection to North Dakota and the Badlands, it is the Medora resident’s role as an ambassador for North Dakota that also brings him great pride. “Theodore Roosevelt, the fully-forged man, emerged from his experience in the Badlands. He wrote it was there ‘that the romance of my life began,’” says Wiegand. “Connecting audiences to Teddy Roosevelt in Medora is about as special as it gets.”
Hunter Pinke: Making the world a better place
Posted by- Annie Bennett, Co-Editor 11/21/2022
When Hunter Pinke was a fifth-grade student in Wishek, he dreamed of becoming a college basketball star at the University of North Dakota (UND) like his grandpa, Fred. “Growing up in a small town in North Dakota, you are a big fish in a little pond,” says Pinke. “I tried to push myself to not only be the best player in the town or district, but in the state, to have a shot to play at UND.”
However, dreams change and life happens, and in the fall of 2016, Pinke ended up playing tight end on UND’s football team instead. Three years later, a major event in Pinke’s life again altered the course of his future dreams.
Dakota Spotlight: A search for truth
Posted by- Kylie Blanchard, Co-Editor 8/22/2022
True crime and audio storytelling have always been interests of James Wolner. He often listened to true crime podcasts and was struck by those that spelled out the facts of a case without sensationalizing the crime.
Digging into History: Unearthing pieces of North Dakota’s past
Posted by- Kylie Blanchard, Co-Editor 6/6/2022
When Tom Askjem moved from Grand Forks to an 1878 farmstead near Buxton in 1997, he says he was just a young boy “looking for something to do” when he discovered the previous owners’ trash dump in the woods.
The Nome Schoolhouse: From schoolhouse to fiber arts center and more
Posted by- Kylie Blanchard, Co-Editor, Photos courtesy of Teresa Perleberg 3/8/2022
When Teresa Perleberg and Chris Armbrust teamed up on a fiber arts project in 2018, it became the catalyst for a partnership that led to the renovation and expansion of the Nome Schoolhouse in Barnes County in southeast North Dakota.
North Dakota State Parks: Enriching the State’s Outdoors Experience
Posted by- Kylie Blanchard, Co-Editor 3/8/2022
North Dakota State Parks were established more than 100 years ago, and since then, have been providing outdoor recreation for the state’s residents and visitors, as well as conserving important natural areas for future generations. In the last five decades, the number of North Dakota state parks has nearly doubled, and their popularity has increased as parks have upgraded infrastructure, technology and recreational offerings.
Tigirlily: North Dakota Grown Country Duo Makes Its Way to the Top
Posted by- Kylie Blanchard, Co-Editor 3/8/2022
In the heart of North Dakota, Hazen natives Krista and Kendra Slaubaugh, who form the country duo Tigirlily, started their singing career in their local church and talents shows. “Music was always a passion of ours from the time we could talk,” says Kendra. “Our community was encouraging of our love of music at an early age as well.”
Cloverdale Foods: A North Dakota staple for generations
Posted by- Kylie Blanchard, Co-Editor, Photos courtesy of Cloverdale Foods 3/8/2022
Tangy summer sausage, red franks, thick-cut bacon, and tear drop hams are products synonymous with the Cloverdale Foods (Cloverdale) name in North Dakota. The Mandan-based company that first found its roots in the dairy business more than a century ago, has evolved to provide a variety of popular meat products that have become a staple for generations of North Dakotans and families across the United States.
Medora: North Dakota’s #1 Tourist Destination
Posted by- Annie Bennett, Co-Editor 6/14/2021
According to the 2020 U.S Census, Medora’s population is only 139 people, however, during the summer months, the small town grows immensely. Medora is North Dakota’s number one tourist destination, and each summer season, visitors come from around the state, nation and world to the small community in western North Dakota.
Medora, located just off Interstate 94 near the Montana border, is known for its ties to Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th U.S. President; the Medora Musical, a Broadway-style show highlighting patriotism and the western charm; and other family-friendly entertainment. “Medora is important to North Dakota because it is a true legacy of the North Dakota nice spirit and living the Roughrider spirit of working hard at work worth doing,” says Kaelee Knoell, marketing manager for the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation (TRMF).
The Cowboy Doctor
Posted by- By Mary Patricia Martell Jones 12/8/2020
On a warm day in late July 1927, all of Dickinson shut down. Stores and businesses were empty, their doors closed. There was no heart to carry on business as usual. Crowding the cemetery, people were saying goodbye to their beloved “Cowboy Doctor.” He didn’t just heal and console, he was a friend to almost every family in the region. He was remembered with overwhelming gratitude for his gift of love and 44 years of dedicated service to the people he came to cherish.
2021 North Dakota Horizons Scenic Calendar Photography
Posted by- Annie Bennett, Co-Editor 9/9/2020
The 2021 North Dakota Horizons scenic calendar highlights the beauty of North Dakota with breathtaking images, taken around the state and across all seasons, by talented photographers. Below, the 2021 calendar photographers share the stories behind their stunning images.
North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame Celebrates 25 Years
Posted by- Mary Patricia Martell Jones 6/8/2020
The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame (NDCHF) is celebrating its 25th anniversary. One man’s dream of preserving the stories and character of the state’s forebears has become a renowned center of western culture.
GERMANS FROM RUSSIA HERITAGE SOCIETY: Celebrating 50 Years of Preserving History
Posted by- Annie Bennett, Co-Editor 3/10/2020
In 1970, the Germans from Russia Heritage Society (GRHS) was established in Bismarck to preserve the history of the Germans from Russia who started immigrating to the United States and Canada to escape a variety of difficult problems in their homeland in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many settled in North Dakota and, today, their descendants still reside in communities across the state.
Bottineau Winter Park: 50 years of fun in the Turtle Mountains
Posted by- Kylie Blanchard, Co-Editor 3/10/2020
This year marked the 50th anniversary of Bottineau Winter Park (BWP), which started as a grassroots movement to promote recreation and tourism in the Bottineau community and surrounding region in north central North Dakota. Today, the park boasts ski/snowboard slopes, snowtubing runs, activity trails and year-round adaptive programming through the help of dedicated staff, volunteers and generous supporters.
THE NORTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR’S WALLEYE CUP
Posted by- Annie Bennett, Co-Editor 6/17/2019
The North Dakota Governor’s Walleye Cup (Governor’s Cup) is one of the largest fishing tournaments in the state. Fishermen and women travel from across the state, the U.S. and Canada to compete for the top prize of $15,000 and, of course, bragging rights. The 44th annual event will be held July 19-20 at Fort Stevenson State Park (FSSP) in Garrison.
Saving the Maah Daah Hey Trail: Endless dedication, grit and love keeps trail alive in North Dakota
Posted by- Kylie Blanchard, Co-Editor; Photos Copyright Chad Ziemendorf www.ziemendorf.com 3/18/2019
The Maah Daah Hey (MDH) trail, located in western North Dakota, is the longest, continuous, non-motorized, single-track trail in the country. Now stretching 150 miles, the remote trail winds through the scenic Badlands, inviting visitors on foot, bike or horseback to take in the area’s stunning terrain and solitude.
Nancy Hendrickson: North Dakota photographer and true trailblazer
Posted by- Annie Bennett, Co-Editor 12/3/2018
In today’s world of computers, digital cameras, and editing programs, a person can take many photos and make them look like anything is possible. Back in the early 1900s, just owning a camera was unique, and so was a motorcycling woman who wasn’t afraid to think outside the box.
The Hired Men
Posted by- Larry Aasen 8/28/2018
The men jumped off freight trains at Taft, four miles north of Hillsboro. They had been riding in train box cars and looked like it. They wore dirty, ragged overalls. Riding in a railroad box car for many miles did not help their appearance. A few of the men were lucky and came in beat, old cars.
Dakota Storm Stalker
Posted by- Annie Bennett, Co-Editor; Photography by Brian Heskin 6/12/2018
North Dakota’s weather is unique, covering blizzards, wind, sun, wind, storms, and wind. For Brian Heskin, his love of watching North Dakota’s weather unfold started at a young age and has now developed quite a following through his Dakota Storm Stalker (DSS) Facebook page.
North Dakota … Home Away From Home
Posted by- Shauna McNaughton 4/10/2018
I am what a North Dakotan would consider to be an “out-of-stater.” In fact, I’m so far out-of-state its practically like I’m from another country. Well actually, I am from another country.
Brewing an Impressive Collection of Beer Cans and Memorabilia
Posted by- Kylie Blanchard, Co-Editor 2/20/2018
A surge in beer can and memorabilia collecting first took place in the United States in the 1970s, with the industry capitalizing on its popularity by creating specialty cans like Billy Beer, J.R. Beer and M*A*S*H* Beer to market to collectors. With a growth in the popularity of micro-breweries, there was a resurgence in the hobby in the 1990s and interest in collecting was again rekindled across the nation.
Skating Through the Cold
Posted by- Hannah Straw 1/10/2018
As North Dakotans we are accustomed to extremely cold winters. When the first snow flake falls from the sky and the winter coats are brought out from storage, some citizens of the state bunker down in their warm cozy homes and dream of warmer temperatures.
Gutes Essen: Good Eating in German-Russian Country- A PBS documentary and companion recipe book
Posted by- Annie Bennett 12/13/2017
Most North Dakotans have likely tried cheese buttons, pickled beets or fleischkuekle. In the state’s German-Russian Country, identified as Emmons, Logan and McIntosh counties, it is believed this good food equals a good life. The Gutes Essen: Good Eating in German-Russian Country documentary highlights just that, food from recipes that have stood the test of time.
Thanksgiving Traditions
Posted by- Jennifer Greuel 11/21/2017
This year is a very special Thanksgiving at my house, as we were blessed with our long-desired first child. With the birth of our daughter, we have begun to discuss our families’ traditions and how best to blend them and begin our own traditions for her.
A Delightful Trash Can Dinner
Posted by- By Kylie Blanchard 8/23/2017
Last month, my family gathered at the lake for a few days of fun together. The weather was close to perfect, the fun was abundant, and the company was great. We also enjoyed some wonderful meals together and one in particular was new to me, the Trash Can Dinner.
More than Just a Sport
Posted by- Shauna McNaughton 7/18/2017
Summer is in full swing and that means fishing at the lake, sizzling by the swimming pool and countless community events to celebrate. Along with these, and endless other summer activities, rodeos hold a particularly special place in the hearts of North Dakotans.
Club de Skinautique: 60 seasons on Lake Metigoshe
Posted by- By Kylie Blanchard, Co-Editor 6/19/2017
This summer marks the Club de Skinautique water ski club’s 60th season performing on Lake Metigoshe. What started with a single performance by a group of young skiers has now grown to a club spanning generations with annual performances attended by hundreds of spectators.
An Unbreakable Bond
Posted by- Hannah Straw 5/8/2017
As the summer months draw near, it’s once again time to celebrate the hardest workers, most loving souls and, most importantly, the ones who gave us life, our mothers. Lucky for me, I’ve been surrounded by extremely strong and caring women throughout my life who have played somewhat of a motherly role. Between my grandmothers, aunts, bosses, coworkers, teachers and coaches, I’ve always had a motherly figure to look up to. Yet no one, let me repeat myself, absolutely no one, is nearly as important or special to me as my very own mother and forever best friend, Jennifer Jane Straw.
Bauska- An Easter Bread Tradition
Posted by- Annie Bennett 4/27/2017
For as long as I can remember, my Grandma Alice has made Bauska (Easter Bread.) I haven’t met anyone outside of my family that makes this unique bread quite like my family.
North Dakota Capitol-The Skyscraper on the Prairie
Posted by- Annie Bennett 3/8/2017
The North Dakota State Capitol is the tallest building in North Dakota and is known as the “Skyscraper on the Prairie.” The view from the top of the capitol allows one to see the beautiful North Dakota landscape for miles. The building itself has an interesting history and unique features.
Lovely Gifts
Posted by- Shauna McNaughton 2/6/2017
Valentine’s Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. The way that people try to show their affections for one another has always melted my usually cold fingers and toes. This Valentine’s Day, however, is particularly special as it is the first one in which my significant other, Lane, and I will be celebrating as an engaged couple!
Wishek: Famous for Sausage and Sauerkraut
Posted by- Annie Bennett 1/3/2017
The small town of Wishek, located in south central North Dakota in the heart of Germans-from-Russia country, has quite a reputation for only having a population of 1,200 people. For generations, this small town has attracted people from across the country, thanks to its famous sausage and sauerkraut.
A Christmas Tradition
Posted by- Annie Bennett 12/14/2016
My husband and I were lucky enough to travel quite a bit before we had kids. We lived in Scotland for five years, which made traveling to other countries easy and very affordable. Over the five years, we traveled to 16 counties together. (I actually got to 17. I was lucky enough to go to Denmark with my grandma when she came to visit!)
Thanksgiving at "The Farm"
Posted by- Hannah Straw 11/16/2016
For as long as I can remember, my family has celebrated Thanksgiving the same way each year, almost like clockwork. And for someone who isn’t fond of change, I can’t imagine spending my Thanksgiving any other way.
School Bells Ring All Too Soon
Posted by- Annie Bennett 11/16/2016
A little over two weeks ago, I sent my oldest daughter to kindergarten.
Since I was lucky enough to work part-time, I was able to spend a lot of time with her, and we both got pretty attached to each other. With her birthday in late July, she just made the cut off to attend kindergarten, so my husband and I struggled with the decision of whether to send her this year or keep her home another year. She is a great kid, a rule-follower and loves to learn. She is also shy, never in a hurry and tends to let people push in front of her.
A Winter Issue Preview
Posted by- Kylie Blanchard, Staff Writer 11/16/2016
The upcoming winter issue of North Dakota Horizons will be perfect to pick up and enjoy over the Holiday Season. From North Dakota-grown musicians to winter fun across the state and favorite cookie recipes, it is guaranteed to pique the interest of the whole family.
Grandma Alvilde Olson’s Fattiman Recipe
Posted by- Janet (Olson) Watson 11/16/2016
There are so many wonderful memories of our family’s Scandinavian Christmases on the farm in Valley City. My grandparents immigrated from Norway and bought the farm in the early 1900s. They carried their delicious baking traditions with them from Oslo and Larvik. My mother learned all the recipes and baking traditions as a 17-year-old hired girl at the farm – her future mother-in-law taught her well!
Berlinekranser (Berlin Wreaths)
Posted by- Susan Sande 11/16/2016
Norwegian and Danish families seem to have an unwritten rule requiring each household to bake at least seven kinds of cookies for the holiday season. Observing the Advent season as a time of preparation of the home and baking the goodies, the festivities would begin on December 24 with the unveiling of the decorated Christmas tree, and then enjoying the company of friends and neighbors, sampling the variety of beautiful, lovingly created, and tasty treats. This would take place during the “12 days of Christmas” (until January 5 – Epiphany).
Blachinda Recipe
Posted by- Kate Zander 11/16/2016
Baking with my mom will always bring me fond memories, just as she tells me of her memories baking with her mother. She tells me that when she was young, after the pumpkin was cleaned out and the shell removed, she sat at a table with her father, cutting the pumpkin up into small pieces in order to make their favorite fall treat, blachinda, with her mother. Her mother would get her apron on, get out her rolling pin, and then they would work together to roll out dough, tell stories, and get the blachinda ready to be baked. She said it was put in their “cook stove” but has no idea of a temperature setting, as the stove was always on to keep the house warm, She said they just baked it “until it looked nice and brown.” These days, I love making blachinda with my mom and now she wears her apron and gets out her rolling pin. We are making our own memories, but things are a little different, as now the pumpkin is prepared by putting it through a food processor and we have a temperature setting and time. You know the holidays are near when you stop at mom’s house and the smell of blachinda fills the air.
Chocolate Popcorn Balls
Posted by- Carolyn Kolstoe 11/16/2016
As a child, I thought all popcorn balls were chocolate. My mother made them for winter holidays and of course, we all had to help form them, which was great fun. I have never come across another recipe for chocolate popcorn balls, and whenever I share them with others, they are as excited about them as we have been. When one of our boys was in grade school, his friend brought popcorn balls to treat the class for his birthday. When my son saw them later, he was shocked – they were not chocolate! Aren’t all popcorn balls chocolate?
Christmas Kringle
Posted by- Robyn Wagner 11/16/2016
Kringle has been on the table every Christmas morning as far back as I can remember. It never failed, every Christmas when we seven kids sneaked up the stairs to peek under the tree, the first things we saw were apple, date, and pecan flavored kringles all sitting on the table. They were almost too pretty to cut into, with their white layer of frosting, a dusting of chopped walnuts and the crowning glory – several bright-red maraschino cherry halves scattered over the top. For a minute or two, we forgot about what we were really looking for and had a piece of each one!
Sandbakkels
Posted by- Dorothy Haberlock 11/16/2016
One of my favorite recipes to make around Christmas is sandbakkels, a traditional Norweigan cookie. I started making them with a friend more than 60 years ago, and it has become a Christmas tradition. About 40 years ago, my daughter, Coni Jo and granddaughter, Melanie, lived up the street from me in Minot, and always seemed to know when I was baking, especially sandbakkels. They would always head down to my house and search high and low for the sandbakkels I had put away for Christmas day. They were even on their stomach looking for sandbakkels in the lowest cupboards!
Chocolate Refrigerator Cookies
Posted by- Mary Ann Brauhn 11/16/2016
My great-grandma, Anna Fisher, passed down her chocolate refrigerator cookies that have been a favorite for five generations. These cookies, with their lovely combination of chocolate and cinnamon, were made only for Christmas. They are little medallions of flavor that my sons especially look forward to receiving. A handful goes great with a glass of milk. Grandma Anna died when my mother was nine years old, but her spirit lives on in the savory and memorable cookies she invented.
Do you have a cookbook you can’t live without? One you always seem to use?
Posted by- Annie Bennett 11/16/2016
My mom’s favorite is her “Prairie Rose Panthers” cookbook, which she bought for a school fundraiser when I was in elementary school. All the students submitted their favorite recipes, and now, 20 years later, it is still her go-to book. Her favorite recipe is from Allison, a girl from my little sister’s first-grade class. The recipe is for caramels, which my mom makes every Christmas, and they are the first treat I pick off of her Christmas goodie platter. They are melt-in-your-mouth good! She uses many other recipes from the book daily, including my favorite recipes I submitted all those years ago. The book is so well loved, that in order for it to stay in one piece, it has to have a rubber band around it to hold it together.
Thanksgiving Abroad
Posted by- Annie Bennett 11/16/2016
Making a full Thanksgiving meal for 30-plus people is hard. But when you add in a dorm-sized fridge and freezer, tiny oven, and small living space, it seems almost impossible. And to top it off, being unable to find canned pumpkin in a British grocery store makes it even more difficult. After all, what is Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie?
Christmas Fondue
Posted by- Jennifer Greuel and Hannah Harvey 11/16/2016
Our aunt Tammy, who passed away almost 20 years ago, loved Christmas. Although she enjoyed many Christmas activities, one memorable tradition she started was fonduing each Christmas Eve. When our parents were first married, they would sometimes spend Christmas Eve with our aunt, and liked the tradition.
Enjoy Winter in North Dakota, because 'The Snow Will be Gone before We Know It'
Posted by- Kylie Blanchard 11/16/2016
Recently, there was a short break from the "artic air mass" (that's what the weather man was calling it) that had camped itself over North Dakota, and the morning temperature reading was a balmy 18 degrees ABOVE zero. Compared to the sub-zero temperatures of the previous days, this was approaching a winter heat wave, and my mom and I decided to take this opportunity to enjoy a bit of our North Dakota winter and go cross-country skiing.
North Dakota Loses a Legend
Posted by- Jennifer Greuel 11/16/2016
The North Dakota Horizons team was saddened last week with the news of the passing of one of North Dakota’s legends, Sheila Schafer. In January, I had the pleasure of being one of a group of Bismarck-Mandan young professionals who attended a roundtable event featuring Sheila. A bubbly and energetic speaker, the 91-year-old recounted tales of her life and her dedication to her late husband, Harold Schafer; Medora; and the whole of North Dakota.
My Big, Fat, German Meal
Posted by- Angela Magstadt 11/16/2016
Strudla. I don’t know how we got to talking about it, but at a recent family gathering, the topic of German food came up, and I mentioned that even growing up in a German-Russian household, I’d never had, or even heard of, the savory dish until I married my husband 15 years ago.
New York, New York....
Posted by- Annie Bennett 11/16/2016
My hubby and I just got back from a five-day vacation in New York City to celebrate our 10-year wedding anniversary. We lived in Scotland for five years while my husband attended Veterinary School before moving back to North Dakota. While living abroad, we visited many different countries and saw many different sites, including the Coliseum in Rome, the Tower of London, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the pyramids in Egypt just to name a few. But since moving back to North Dakota, we hadn’t really been on any adventurous vacations.
My Transformation from a Sioux to a Bison
Posted by- Hannah Straw 11/16/2016
Growing up in the somewhat small town of East Grand Forks, Minnesota, which happens to be a quick drive over the Red River into Grand Forks, I was no stranger to everything UND (University of North Dakota). I was that kid, with my little brother Zach, who joined the “Sioux Kids Club” as soon as we could. We were lucky enough to ride the Zamboni at the Ralph Engelstad Arena during the men’s hockey games and run out of the inflatable football helmet with the team before the football games at the Alerus Center.
Suzy's Super Fast Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Posted by- Susan Beehler 11/16/2016
This is not a cookie recipe, but it is something pretty traditional made in a not-so-traditional way. I bake my pumpkin pies in the microwave. I came across a recipe for a pumpkin pie in one of those old microwave cookbooks they gave back when microwaves were first introduced. I added my changes and that is what I use. I have not baked a pumpkin pie in the oven since. I used this recipe to make several pies for a fundraiser for a church ski trip in 2003, because we had a small window of time to bake, and this helped get it done. The pie has a creamy texture, the crust is not as crispy, and it is super fast when company is coming over.
Favorite Family Recipes
Posted by- by Kylie Blanchard, staff writer 11/16/2016
The cool air and crisp apples ready to be picked from hanging branches makes me think of one of my favorite family recipes for fall - Rug Pie. Now most people are a little taken aback by its name and maybe even hesitant to give it a try, but let me put your mind at ease by saying it's simply an easy apple pie with a fun story behind its name.
Goin' Showin'
Posted by- JaCee Aaseth 11/16/2016
Showing cattle has always been a hobby of my family’s. I started showing when I was six years old and it stuck with me for 14 years. I never imagined I would still be this interested in a hobby I started when I was six, but really, it’s much more than a hobby, it’s an opportunity to get our family’s name out there in the cattle business. When I realized that, what I once considered a hobby soon turned into my way of life.
County Seat Wars: How Some Small Towns Earned or Stole the Coveted Title
Posted by- Bill Vossler 11/16/2016
One way for early struggling towns to import wealth and prestige into their streets just prior to 1889 statehood was to be chosen as a county seat. Or steal it, by hook or by crook. Following are the stories of how some of North Dakota’s small towns earned the coveted title of county seat.
Historic Homes Update
Posted by- By Kylie Blanchard, Staff Writer 11/16/2016
The Summer 2014 issue of North Dakota Horizons featured a story on Historic Homes in North Dakota. Recently we received a letter from a gentleman who was raised in Minot and now resides in Idaho.