North Dakota
Huge dairy farms planned for eastern North Dakota • Minnesota Reformer
Two dairy farms planned for eastern North Dakota would more than quadruple the number of dairy cows in North Dakota and provide a dramatic shift to the livestock industry in a state that has fallen behind its neighbors in animal agriculture.
Riverview Dairy, based in Morris, Minnesota, hopes to build a 25,000-cow dairy farm southeast of Hillsboro in Traill County and a 12,500-head dairy north of Wahpeton in Richland County.
The Traill County dairy would create about 100 jobs and the Richland Dairy 45 to 50 jobs, Riverview officials said.
Riverview held an open house Tuesday in Halstad, Minnesota, the closest community to the proposed Traill County dairy, to provide information and answer questions. It has not held a similar event for the Richland County project.
Traill is an estimated $180 million project and Richland at $90 million.
Jim Murphy of the Traill County Economic Development Commission called it a “once-in-a-lifetime event for any community.”
Randy Paulsrud is a neighbor who rents the land. He said at first he wasn’t happy about losing a section of land that he farms for a dairy but now is interested in selling feed to the dairy and buying manure to fertilize other nearby fields.
“I’m on board with it,” Paulsrud said. He said he toured Riverview’s dairy near Gary, Minnesota, and came away impressed, with no concern about odor from covered manure pits.
“Oh man, it was clean,” he said.
Leslie Viker, who owns the Herberg Township land near Hillsboro where Riverview plans to build, said she plans to continue to live near the dairy after it’s built.
“I think this is going to be great,” she said.
Martha Koehl, Riverview spokesperson, said the cows will be kept in climate-controlled barns and milking machines will operate 22 hours a day, with the other two hours for cleaning.
Koehl said the projects are contingent on Riverview finding a market for the milk they produce. She could not offer a definitive timeline for when construction and operations might begin.
North Dakota’s dairy industry has been dwindling for decades, shrinking to about 10,000 dairy cows and just 24 dairy farms.
North Dakota state Rep. Dawson Holle, R-Mandan, who operates one of North Dakota’s larger dairy farms, said he has mixed feelings about the mega-dairy.
“I’m very concerned when it is a corporate farm that is coming in, not a family farm,” said Holle, who operates an 1,100-cow dairy farm.
Riverview is technically not a corporation, but is a limited liability partnership. It has built other large dairy farms in Minnesota and also has plans for one at DeSmet, South Dakota.
Loosening North Dakota’s restrictions on corporate farm ownership for livestock operations was one of the goals for Gov. Doug Burgum going into the 2023 legislative session.
The Legislature passed a bill that made it easier to bring in outside capital in modern livestock operations that have become major investments.
North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said Riverview’s business structure would have allowed it to operate in the state even without the changes. But he added the bill sent a message that the state is receptive to livestock projects.
Holle was among those who voted against the corporate farm changes. Rep. Mike Beltz, R-Hillsboro, voted in favor and gave some credit to the changes for bringing the dairy to his home district.
The Legislature also passed a bill to support infrastructure projects related to agribusiness development. Beltz said that could be tapped to help pay for improving the 1-mile road that would connect the Traill County dairy to North Dakota Highway 200 and possibly for utility work.
“There’s some opportunities for some infrastructure work around the site,” Beltz said.
The Traill dairy will be called Herberg Dairy for Herberg Township and is planned just south of North Dakota Highway 200 near the Red River, about 7 miles east of Interstate 29.
The Richland site would be in Abercrombie Township and called Abercrombie Dairy, about 7 miles north of Wahpeton. Riverview has already applied for a permit with the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality for that project.
Todd Leake of Grand Forks County questioned whether state regulators are equipped to enforce environmental regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations.
Amber Wood, executive director of the North Dakota Livestock Alliance, has been working to stimulate animal agriculture in the state.
She said she expects the growth in the dairy industry to continue to be along the Interstate 29 corridor, where there is better access to milk processing and livestock feed.
Ethanol plants, sugar beet processing plants and new soybean crushing plants at Casselton and Jamestown all provide byproducts that can be used to feed livestock.
American Crystal Sugar has a beet plant at Hillsboro. Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative has its only beet processing plant at Wahpeton.
“Cattle absolutely love beet pulp,” Wood said.
Koehl said beet pulp and soybean could be part of the feed ration that will be primarily corn and alfalfa hay.
A state Agriculture Department map of dairy farms shows none operating in Traill County and one in Richland.
Morton County, home to the iconic “Salem Sue” dairy cow statue along Interstate 94 west of Bismarck, is down to just four dairy farms, including Holle’s.
While North Dakota’s dairy industry has been shrinking for decades, the situation turned even more dire in 2023 when Prairie Farms Dairy closed its milk processing operation in Bismarck.
Holle said that is forcing him and others to send milk to a cheese plant in Pollock, South Dakota, nearly 90 miles south of Bismarck.
Holle said milk used for cheese production has a lower price than fluid milk and the extra freight cuts into profits.
“A lot of the dairy farmers are crunching the numbers and wondering what their future is,” Holle said.
North Dakota has fallen far behind neighboring states in the livestock sector and especially in dairy.
South Dakota put an emphasis on animal agriculture under Gov. Dennis Daugaard, who served from 2011 to 2019, and its dairy cow numbers rebounded. South Dakota went from 96,000 dairy cows in 2000 to 187,000 in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Holle said the North Dakota Department of Agriculture hasn’t done enough to support dairy farming.
“They can say that they’re doing a lot for farmers in North Dakota, which they are, but they’re not doing a lot for animal ag in North Dakota,” Holle said.
“There isn’t a lot that we can do,” Goehring said. “I mean, short of the Legislature wanting to do something more like build a processing facility, but I don’t see that happening either.”
He said the department can try to address some issues, “but it’s a difficult challenge.”
A key resource for large dairies is water supply, needing 28 to 30 gallons of water per cow each day, Koehl said. That would equal at least 700,000 gallons of water per day for the Traill County site and 350,000 gallons per day for the Richland site.
Koehl said the Riverview farms squeeze the liquid out of the manure, which can be piped to farm fields for fertilizer. The solids from the manure are dried and used for animal bedding.
Koehl said the Traill dairy would fill 22 tanker loads of milk at about 7,900 gallons per tanker – more than 170,000 gallons per day.
Beltz said he was impressed by a tour of a Riverview dairy in Minnesota.
“You wouldn’t know you were standing on a site with that many animals,” Beltz said. “They’ve been here for a while. They know how to do it right.”
This story first appeared in North Dakota Monitor, a sibling site of the Minnesota Reformer and part of States Newsroom.
TRAILL COUNTY, N.D. — More than a dozen fire departments across North Dakota have battled two grain elevator fires over the last two weeks.
${t||””}${r?`(${n}: ${r})`.replace(/s+/g,” “):””}
`;var u=n(2799),i=n(974);function o(e,t){const{message:n,code:o}=t,s=r(e.get(“id”),n,e.get(“localization”).errors.errorCode,o.toString()),a=e.get(“width”),c=e.get(“height”),l=(0,u.az)(s);return(0,i.oB)(l,{width:a.toString().indexOf(“%”)>0?a:`${a}px`,height:c.toString().indexOf(“%”)>0?c:`${c}px`}),l}},9926:(e,t,n)=>{“use strict”;n.d(t,{Z:()=>c});var r=n(1776),u=n(2799),i=n(974);const o=[];let s=-1;const a=()=>{(0,r.W)(s),s=(0,r.U)(()=>{o.forEach(e=>{e.view.updateBounds();const t=e.view.model.get(“containerWidth”);e.resized=e.width!==t,e.width=t}),o.forEach(e=>{e.contractElement.scrollLeft=2*e.width}),o.forEach(e=>{(0,i.oB)(e.expandChild,{width:e.width+1}),e.resized&&e.view.model.get(“visibility”)&&e.view.updateStyles()}),o.forEach(e=>{e.expandElement.scrollLeft=e.width+1}),o.forEach(e=>{e.resized&&e.view.checkResized()})})};class c{constructor(e,t,n){const r={display:”block”,position:”absolute”,top:0,left:0},s={width:”100%”,height:”100%”},c=(0,u.az)(”),l=c.firstChild,d=l.firstChild,f=l.nextSibling;(0,i.oB)([l,f],Object.assign({overflow:”auto”},r,s)),(0,i.oB)(c,Object.assign({},r,s)),this.expandElement=l,this.expandChild=d,this.contractElement=f,this.hiddenElement=c,this.element=e,this.view=t,this.model=n,this.width=0,this.resized=!1,e.firstChild?e.insertBefore(c,e.firstChild):e.appendChild(c),e.addEventListener(“scroll”,a,!0),o.push(this),a()}destroy(){if(this.view){const e=o.indexOf(this);-1!==e&&o.splice(e,1),this.element.removeEventListener(“scroll”,a,!0),this.element.removeChild(this.hiddenElement),this.view=this.model=null}}}},4671:(e,t,n)=>{“use strict”;n.d(t,{Z:()=>D});var r=n(6875);const u=[],i=[],o=[],s={};let a,c=!1;const l=(e,t)=>{for(let n=t.length;n–;){const r=t[n];if(e.target===r.getContainer()){r.setIntersection(e);break}}},d=()=>{u.forEach(e=>{e.model.set(“activeTab”,(0,r.Z)())})},f=(e,t)=>{const n=t.indexOf(e);-1!==n&&t.splice(n,1)},h=e=>{o.forEach(t=>{t(e)})};document.addEventListener(“visibilitychange”,d),document.addEventListener(“webkitvisibilitychange”,d);const D={add(e){u.push(e)},remove(e){f(e,u),document.removeEventListener(“visibilitychange”,d),document.removeEventListener(“webkitvisibilitychange”,d),window.removeEventListener(“scroll”,h)},addScrollHandler(e){c||(c=!0,window.addEventListener(“scroll”,h)),o.push(e)},removeScrollHandler(e){const t=o.indexOf(e);-1!==t&&o.splice(t,1)},addWidget(e){i.push(e)},removeWidget(e){f(e,i)},size:()=>u.length,observe(e){(()=>{const e=window.IntersectionObserver;a||(a=new e(e=>{if(null!=e&&e.length)for(let t=e.length;t–;){const n=e[t];l(n,u),l(n,i)}},{threshold:[0,.1,.2,.3,.4,.5,.6,.7,.8,.9,1]}))})(),s[e.id]||(s[e.id]=!0,a.observe(e))},unobserve(e){a&&s[e.id]&&(delete s[e.id],a.unobserve(e))}}},2445:(e,t,n)=>{“use strict”;n.d(t,{ZP:()=>v,qG:()=>F});var r=n(5083),u=n(1569),i=n(6042),o=n(7034),s=n(6577),a=n(6599),c=n(462);const l=”__CONTEXTUAL__”,d=(e,t)=>{const n=e.querySelector(t);if(n)return n.getAttribute(“content”)};var f=n(4737),h=n.n(f),D=n(67),p=n(7164);const g=e=>”string”==typeof e&&/^//(?:content.jwplatform|cdn.jwplayer).com//.test(e),m=e=>`https:${e}`,y=e=>{const t=(0,c.Z)(e.edition),n=e.related,r=!t(“discovery”)||n!==Object(n),u=!n||”none”!==n.displayMode,i=n||{};let o=void 0===i.oncomplete?”none”:i.oncomplete,s=i.autoplaytimer;!1===o||e.repeat?o=”hide”:”none”===o&&(s=0);const a=”autoplay”===o&&s{if(t){e[t.client||(0,p.sb)(n)]=t,delete t.client}},F=e=>{const t=Object.assign({},e.plugins),n=(0,c.Z)(e.edition);if(n(“ads”)){const n=Object.assign({},e.advertising),r=n.client;if(r){t[(0,p.sb)(r)||r]=n,delete n.client}n.bids&&C(t,n.bids,”bidding”)}if(n(“jwpsrv”)){let n=e.analytics;n!==Object(n)&&(n={}),C(t,n,”jwpsrv”)}return C(t,e.ga,”gapro”),C(t,e.interactive,”interactive”),C(t,e.keepWatching,”keepWatching”),t},v=function(e,t){var c;let f=(0,r.ZP)(e,t);const p=f.key||s.default.key,C=new a.ZP(p),v=C.edition();if(“free”===C.edition()&&(f=Object.assign({skin:{active:”#ff0046″,timeslider:{progress:”none”}},logo:{position:”control-bar”,file:h()}},r.ke,(0,i.ei)(f,[“analytics”,”aspectratio”,”base”,”file”,”height”,”playlist”,”sources”,”timeSlider”,”width”]))),f.key=p,f.edition=v,f.error=C.error(),f.generateSEOMetadata=f.generateSEOMetadata||!1,null!=(c=f).enableVideoThumbnails||(c.enableVideoThumbnails=!0),”unlimited”===v){const e=(0,u.getScriptPath)(“jwplayer.js”);if(!e)throw new Error(“Error setting up player: Could not locate jwplayer.js script tag”);n.p=e}var A,E,b;if(f.related=y(f),f.ab&&(f.ab=(e=>{let t=e.ab;return t.clone&&(t=t.clone()),Object.keys(t.tests).forEach(n=>{t.tests[n].forEach(t=>{t.addConfig&&t.addConfig(e,t.selection)})}),t})(f)),f.plugins=F(f),A=f.playlist,(0,i.HD)(A)&&A.indexOf(l)>-1&&(f.playlist=((e,t)=>{var n;const r=null==e||null==e.querySelector||null==(n=e.querySelector(“title”))?void 0:n.textContent,u=d(e,’meta[property=”og:title”]’);let i=encodeURIComponent(u||r||””);const o=d(e,’meta[property=”og:description”]’)||d(e,’meta[name=”description”]’);return o&&(i+=`&page_description=${encodeURIComponent(o)}`),t.replace(l,i)})(document,f.playlist),f.contextual=!0),(0,o.isFileProtocol)()){const{playlist:e,t}=f;g(e)&&(f.playlist=m(e)),t&&g(t.file)&&(t.file=m(t.file))}return f.__abSendDomainToFeeds&&(b=f.playlist,/.jwplatform.com|.jwplayer.com/.test(b))&&(f.playlist=(E=f.playlist)+`${-1!==E.indexOf(“?”)?”&”:”?”}page_domain=${encodeURIComponent((0,D.X)())}`),f}},6577:(e,t,n)=>{“use strict”;n.d(t,{default:()=>re});var r=n(1096),u=n.n(r);window.Promise||(window.Promise=u());var i=n(1569),o=n(6391),s=n(6593),a=n(670);const c={availableProviders:s.B,registerProvider:a.Z};var l=n(4425);c.registerPlugin=function(e,t,n){“jwpsrv”!==e&&(0,l.fo)(e,t,n)};const d=c;var f=n(6601),h=n(4742),D=n(8348),p=n(9750),g=n(1643),m=n(7411),y=n(328),C=n(7164);const F=[[“vastxml”,”adtag”,”schedules”]],v={googima:F,vast:F,cnx:F},A=(e,t)=>{const n=e.getPlugin(t),r=Object.keys(v);if(-1===r.indexOf(t))throw new Error(`destroyDynamicPlugin must be called with plugins with one of the following plugins: ${r.toString()}`);if(!n)return;if(n.resize&&e.off(“resize”,n.resizeHandler),delete e.plugins[t],n.destroy)try{n.destroy()}catch(t){e.utils.logger.debug(“jwplayer/plugins/dynamic-plugins: “,t)}const u=n.div;null!=u&&u.parentElement&&u.parentElement.removeChild(u),e.trigger(“pluginDestroyed”,{type:”pluginDestroyed”,name:t})},E=(e,t,n,r)=>{const u=(0,C.Nq)(t),i=Object.keys(v),o=((e,t)=>{if(t[e])return t[e];const n=(0,C.sb)(e);if(t[n])return t[n];const r=(0,C.Nq)(e);return t[r]?t[r]:{}})(t,r);if(-1===i.indexOf(u))throw new Error(`setupDynamicPlugin must be called with plugins with one of the following plugins: ${i.toString()}`);A(e,u);const s=((e,t,n)=>{const r=Object.assign({},e),u=Object.assign({},t),i=Object.keys(u).filter(e=>null===e);return i.forEach(e=>delete r[e]),i.forEach(e=>delete u[e]),n.forEach(e=>{e.some(e=>u[e])&&e.forEach(e=>delete r[e])}),Object.assign({},r,u)})(o,n,v[u]);return(0,l.Ve)(t,s,e)};var b=n(8494),w=n(6042),B=n(8762);let k=0;const j=function(e,t){const n=new p.ZP(t);return n.on(g.Rc,t=>{e._qoe.tick(“ready”),t.setupTime=e._qoe.between(“setup”,”ready”)}),n.on(“all”,(t,n)=>{e.trigger(t,n)}),n},P=function(e,t){const n=e.plugins,r=Object.keys(n).map(e=>{const t=n[e];return delete n[e],t}),u=e.utils.logger.child(“jwplayer/api/api”);t.get(“setupConfig”)&&e.trigger(“remove”),e.off(),t.playerDestroy(),r.forEach(e=>{if(e.reset)try{e.reset()}catch(e){u.debug(e)}else if(e.destroy)try{e.destroy()}catch(e){u.debug(e)}}),t.getContainer().removeAttribute(“data-jwplayer-id”)};function S(e){const t=++k,n=e.id||`player-${t}`,r=new m.Z,u={},i=new B.Z(`JWPlayer[${n}]`);let s=j(this,e);r.tick(“init”),e.setAttribute(“data-jwplayer-id”,n),Object.defineProperties(this,{id:{enumerable:!0,get:()=>n},uniqueId:{enumerable:!0,get:()=>t},plugins:{enumerable:!0,get:()=>u},_qoe:{enumerable:!0,get:()=>r},version:{enumerable:!0,get:()=>f.i},Events:{enumerable:!0,get:()=>y.ZP},utils:{enumerable:!0,get:()=>Object.assign({},b.Z,{logger:i})},_:{enumerable:!0,get:()=>w.ZP}}),Object.assign(this,{_events:{},setup(t){return r.clear(“ready”),r.tick(“setup”),s&&P(this,s),s=j(this,e),s.init(t,this),this.on(t.events,null,this)},remove(){return this.getPip()&&this.setPip(!1),function(e){for(let t=o.Z.length;t–;)if(o.Z[t].uniqueId===e.uniqueId){o.Z.splice(t,1);break}}(this),s&&P(this,s),Object.keys(u).forEach(e=>{delete u[e]}),this},qoe(){const e=s.getItemQoe();return{setupTime:this._qoe.between(“setup”,”ready”),firstFrame:e.getFirstFrame?e.getFirstFrame():null,player:this._qoe.dump(),item:e.dump()}},addCues(e){return Array.isArray(e)&&s.addCues(e),this},getAudioTracks:()=>s.getAudioTracks(),getBuffer:()=>s.get(“buffer”),getCaptions:()=>s.get(“captions”),getCaptionsList:()=>s.getCaptionsList(),getConfig:()=>s.getConfig(),getContainer:()=>s.getContainer(),getControls:()=>s.get(“controls”),getCues:()=>s.getCues(),getCurrentAudioTrack:()=>s.getCurrentAudioTrack(),getCurrentCaptions:()=>s.getCurrentCaptions(),getCurrentQuality:()=>s.getCurrentQuality(),getCurrentTime:()=>s.get(“currentTime”),getAbsolutePosition:()=>s.getAbsolutePosition(),getDuration:()=>s.get(“duration”),getEnvironment:()=>D,getFullscreen:()=>s.get(“fullscreen”),getHeight:()=>s.getHeight(),getItemMeta:()=>s.get(“itemMeta”)||{},getMute:()=>s.getMute(),getContainerPercentViewable:()=>s.get(“intersectionRatio”),getPercentViewable:()=>s.get(“visibility”),getPip:()=>s.get(“pip”),getPlaybackRate:()=>s.get(“playbackRate”),getPlaylist:()=>s.get(“playlist”),getPlaylistIndex:()=>s.get(“item”),getPlaylistItem(e){if(!b.Z.exists(e))return s.get(“playlistItem”);const t=this.getPlaylist();return t?t[e]:null},getPosition:()=>s.get(“position”),getProvider:()=>s.getProvider(),getQualityLevels:()=>s.getQualityLevels(),getSafeRegion:(e=!0)=>s.getSafeRegion(e),getState:()=>s.getState(),getStretching:()=>s.get(“stretching”),getContainerViewable:()=>s.get(“containerViewable”),getViewable:()=>s.get(“viewable”),getVisualQuality:()=>s.getVisualQuality(),getVolume:()=>s.get(“volume”),getWidth:()=>s.getWidth(),isReady:()=>s.isReady(),setCaptions(e){return s.setCaptions(e),this},setConfig(e){return s.setConfig(e),this},setControls(e){return s.setControls(e),this},setCurrentAudioTrack(e){s.setCurrentAudioTrack(e)},setCurrentCaptions(e){s.setCurrentCaptions(e)},setCurrentQuality(e){s.setCurrentQuality(e)},setFullscreen(e){return s.setFullscreen(e),this},setAllowFullscreen(e){return s.setAllowFullscreen(e),this},setMute(e){return s.setMute(e),this},setPip(e){return s.setPip(e),this},setPlaybackRate(e){return s.setPlaybackRate(e),this},setPlaylistItem(e,t){return s.setPlaylistItem(e,t),this},setCues(e){return Array.isArray(e)&&s.setCues(e),this},setVolume(e){return s.setVolume(e),this},load(e,t){return s.load(e,t),this},play(e){return s.play(e),this},pause(e){return s.pause(e),this},playToggle(e){switch(this.getState()){case g.r0:case g.Kb:return this.pause(e);default:return this.play(e)}},seek(e,t){return s.seek(e,t),this},playlistItem(e,t){return s.playlistItem(e,t),this},playlistNext(e){return s.playlistNext(e),this},playlistPrev(e){return s.playlistPrev(e),this},next(e){return s.next(e),this},requestPip(e){return s.requestPip(e),this},castToggle(){return s.castToggle(),this},stopCasting(){return s.stopCasting(),this},requestCast(e){return s.requestCast(e),this},createInstream:()=>s.createInstream(),stop(){return s.stop(),this},resize(e,t){return s.resize(e,t),this},addButton(e,t,n,r,u){return s.addButton(e,t,n,r,u),this},removeButton(e){return s.removeButton(e),this},getMediaElement:()=>s.getMediaElement(),attachMedia(){return s.attachMedia(),this},detachMedia(){return s.detachMedia(),this},isBeforeComplete:()=>s.isBeforeComplete(),isBeforePlay:()=>s.isBeforePlay(),setPlaylistItemCallback(e,t){s.setItemCallback(e,t)},removePlaylistItemCallback(){s.setItemCallback(null)},getPlaylistItemPromise:e=>s.getItemPromise(e),getFloating:()=>Boolean(s.get(“isFloating”)),setFloating(e){s.setConfig({floating:{mode:e?”always”:”never”}})},getChapters:()=>s.getChapters(),getCurrentChapter:()=>s.getCurrentChapter(),setChapter:e=>s.setChapter(e),setupDynamicPlugin(e,t){return e?E(this,e,t,s.get(“plugins”)):Promise.resolve()},destroyDynamicPlugin(e){if(e)return A(this,e)}})}Object.assign(S.prototype,{on(e,t,n){return y.on.call(this,e,t,n)},once(e,t,n){return y.IH.call(this,e,t,n)},off(e,t,n){return y.S1.call(this,e,t,n)},trigger(e,t){return(t=w.ZP.isObject(t)?Object.assign({},t):{}).type=e,h.Z.debug?y.X$.call(this,e,t):y.wj.call(this,e,t)},getPlugin(e){return this.plugins[e]},addPlugin(e,t){this.plugins[e]=t,”function”==typeof t.addToPlayer&&(this.isReady()?t.addToPlayer.call(this,!0):this.on(“ready”,function(){t.addToPlayer.call(this,!1)})),t.resize&&this.on(“resize”,t.resizeHandler)},registerPlugin(e,t,n){(0,l.fo)(e,t,n)},getAdBlock:()=>!1,playAd(e){},pauseAd(e){},skipAd(){},setAdMacros(e){},getAdMacros(){},updateQueryJSAdTargeting(e){},getQueryJSAdTargeting(){}}),n.p=(0,i.loadFrom)();const O=e=>{for(let t=0;t
“);
}
var jwConfig = {
“advertising”: {
“adscheduleid”: “23452342”,
“client”: “googima”,
“tag”: “https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/live/ads?iu=/7021/forumcomm/inforum/news/north-dakota&description_url=__page-url__&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=400×300%7C640x480&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&plcmt=1&vpmute=0&correlator=&cust_params=kw%3Dnews%2Cnorth-dakota%2Cinforum%2CMAYVILLE%2CFIRES”,
},
“aspectratio”: “16:9”,
“autoPause”: {
“viewability”: false
},
“autostart”: false,
“captions”: {
“backgroundColor”: “#000000”,
“backgroundOpacity”: 75,
“color”: “#FFFFFF”,
“edgeStyle”: “none”,
“fontFamily”: “sans-serif”,
“fontOpacity”: 100,
“fontSize”: 15,
“windowColor”: “#000000”,
“windowOpacity”: 0
},
“cast”: {},
“controls”: true,
“displayHeading”: false,
“displaydescription”: true,
“displaytitle”: true,
“floating”: {
“mode”: “never”
},
“generateSEOMetadata”: false,
“height”: 360,
“include_compatibility_script”: false,
“interactive”: false,
“intl”: {
“en”: {
“advertising”: {
“admessage”: “”,
“cuetext”: “”,
“skipmessage”: “”
}
}
},
“key”: “tG+SycuU80pGBCEKDcqobS1axF/GNyekuzUWKlO2C38ifVfUdpz54BegYOJLciHH”,
“logo”: {
“hide”: false,
“position”: “top-right”
},
“mute”: false,
“ph”: 3,
“pid”: “3trNsOiL”,
“pipIcon”: “disabled”,
“playbackRateControls”: false,
“playlist”: “//cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/sites/l0XScfRd/media/v8j6Crlv/playback.json?recommendations_playlist_id=rVQsKIGU”,
“preload”: “metadata”,
“repeat”: false,
“skin”: {
“controlbar”: {
“background”: “rgba(0,0,0,0)”,
“icons”: “rgba(255,255,255,0.8)”,
“iconsActive”: “#FFFFFF”,
“text”: “#FFFFFF”
},
“menus”: {
“background”: “#333333”,
“text”: “rgba(255,255,255,0.8)”,
“textActive”: “#FFFFFF”
},
“timeslider”: {
“progress”: “#F2F2F2”,
“rail”: “rgba(255,255,255,0.3)”
},
“tooltips”: {
“background”: “#FFFFFF”,
“text”: “#000000”
}
},
“stretching”: “uniform”,
“width”: “100%”
}; // end config
(function(playerConfig, testConfig) {
}(jwConfig, “”));
jwplayer(“botr_v8j6Crlv_3trNsOiL_div”).setup(jwConfig);
}());
I did not attend any No Kings demonstrations, but several members of my family did. Senator Cramer, with fine impartially, referred to participants as “nut jobs. “ I assume he issued similar condemnations earlier to denounce the nut jobs who virtually demolished our nation’s capitol building (although those comments were never publicized).
The people exercising their constitutional rights that day were likely born and raised in North Dakota, and so familiar with our value system. One of those values, I think, is the firm expectation that the president of the United States (at the very base) be a decent human being, a requirement Cramer and Trumpers consider an inconvenience.
Perhaps the reason that those North Dakota folks were at the No Kings demonstrations was their concern that actions by the president (and eagerly supported by Cramer and Hoeven) would negatively affect them or their loved ones. And no doubt some at the rally were people who had watched with dismay the razing of historical structures to make room for a self-serving, $300 million ballroom. And OK, maybe some of the nut jobs there were of the Trump “nick picker variety” who didn’t feel they should be on the hook for $80 million to fund a billionaire’s golf trips.
Hey, Senator, remember back up in North Dakota how a man’s word was his bond? Picture now the fact that the somebody to whom you and Hoeven have given unwavering support is a consummate liar. What’s with the switch? A British newspaper has opined that the world is a much more dangerous place now that the president of the United States is a liar.
Think for a moment how the North Dakota values held by those “nut jobs” were challenged by rumors of sexually abusive behavior. Did you see any of those photos floating around of a man with his arm around a convicted sexual predator with the accompanied statement: “We have a lot in common”?
Senator, I have wondered about the naming of that “Big Beautiful Bill.“ Was it labeled “beautiful” because it left senate membership benefits untouched?
Perhaps you and Senator Hoeven (in your numerous public appearances) might address some of the issues raised by folks writing letters to the editor.
And keep in mind the so-called “nut jobs” contain voters who supported both of you in previous elections.
Buyer’s remorse, anyone?
Dominic Schaff is a resident of Bismarck.
GRAND FORKS – The Alerus Center bustled with thousands of eager shoppers Saturday, Nov. 15, as the Pride of Dakota Holiday Showcase opened for the start of its two-day event.
The facility became an enticing, can’t-miss mecca for those in search of unusual or unique items for themselves or Christmas gift-giving. It was expected to draw more than 9,000 visitors, one of the hundreds of vendors told the Herald.
Administered and hosted by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, the Pride of Dakota program is an opportunity for businesses and organizations to connect with people in this region and beyond. More than 500 member companies participate in the program.
The event is also held annually in several other cities throughout the state.
“I come here every year,” said Autumn Maurstad, of East Grand Forks. “It’s one of all my stops.”
She was shopping for Christmas gifts, along with her husband Adam Maurstad.
At the “Holly the Potter” booth, she held up a natural-colored ceramic mug. Holly Van Santen Knipe, of rural Grand Forks, is the creative potter who has operated this business for many years.
“This coffee cup just spoke to me,” Maurstad said. “The bottom is not too gritty, the handle is good, it holds nice – it’s the perfect coffee cup. I’ve been looking for the perfect coffee cup for two years; I broke my last one.”
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
Tanya and Rick Anderson, of Grand Forks, have operated Tan and Jay Creations for two years.
“We have something for everybody,” Tanya said.
They hand-assemble items including pens, zipper pulls, coffee stirs, key chains and other items.
The work takes “many, many, many hours,” Rick Anderson said.
“It keeps us busy, but I enjoy it,” his wife added.
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
At the Pride of Dakota Showcase, the range of products are as vast and diverse as one could imagine – from the decorative to the functional, most of them handcrafted by North Dakotans. Available for purchase were artwork, food and beverage items, pet supplies, books, pottery, jewelry, photography, kitchenware, products to enhance personal health and well-being, and much more.
Carleen Hennenfent, a retired mortician from Bismarck, displayed her book, “Incomplete,” which offered insights on dealing with grief and the loss of loved ones – people as well as pets.
With memories that are stirred, the holidays can heighten that sense of loss, said Hennenfent, a grief educator. “It’s the nostalgia” that permeates the holiday season.
“People want yesterday to come back,” she said, “and they’re frightened of tomorrow. (It’s important) to live in the now, where at least we have some control.”
Nostalgia also plays a role in attracting customers to the traditional sock monkeys Keith and Leslie Ogden, of Cavalier, North Dakota, offered at their “Smitten with Mittens” booth.
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
Leslie has been making these stuffed figures for 18 years, she said. Each one requires “two socks – original, red-heeled socks – one for the body and one for the extremities.”
When the Odgens go south for the winter each year, neighbors in their retirement community like to buy them for their grandkids, to carry on the memory.
Her husband Keith, a retired state trooper, was selling his second book, “More Humor on the Highway,” which recounts the fun incidents that happened and the funny things people said to him, as a trooper on the job, and regretted later.
“I don’t want to remember the bad things,” said Ogden, a native of East Grand Forks who worked 26 of his 28-year career in Cavalier.
His first book, “Humor on the Highway,” sold 2,500 copies in Pembina County, he said. “(People) wanted to see who’s in it.”
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
On Saturday, the Alerus Center parking lots were nearly full and, inside, lines formed as additional security measures were in place, with personnel checking purses and totes and wanding visitors before entering the venue.
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
The Pride of Dakota Holiday Showcase is also planned for Nov. 21-22 at Scheels Arena in Fargo and Dec. 5-6 at the Bismarck Events Center. Showcases were held earlier this fall in Minot and Dickinson.
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
Report: Poverty rates in New Mexico remain high while job participation rates remain low
Federal immigration agents will expand enforcement action in North Carolina to Raleigh, mayor says
North Dakota crews battle 2 elevator fires in 2 weeks
Top Southwest Ohio junior boys basketball players heading into the 2025-2026 season
Fields floats extending Oklahoma’s school year by 15 days
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Duckworth fires staffer who claimed to be attorney for detained illegal immigrant with criminal history
Calls for answers grow over Canada’s interrogation of Israel critic
Court documents shed light on Indiana shooting that sparked stand-your-ground debate
Video: Border Patrol Descends on Charlotte, N.C.
Trump calls on House Republicans to vote to release Epstein files: ‘We have nothing to hide’
-
Nebraska1 week agoWhere to watch Nebraska vs UCLA today: Time, TV channel for Week 11 game
-
Hawaii1 week agoMissing Kapolei man found in Waipio, attorney says
-
Vermont6 days agoNorthern Lights to dazzle skies across these US states tonight – from Washington to Vermont to Maine | Today News
-
New Jersey1 week agoPolice investigate car collision, shooting in Orange, New Jersey
-
West Virginia7 days ago
Search for coal miner trapped in flooded West Virginia mine continues for third day
-
Seattle, WA1 week agoSoundgarden Enlist Jim Carrey and Seattle All-Stars for Rock Hall 2025 Ceremony
-
Detroit, MI1 week agoHere’s the snow forecast for Metro Detroit heading into next week
-
Louisiana1 week agoLouisiana high school football final scores, results — November 7, 2025
