North Dakota
North Dakota FFA Foundation to make plans for record donations
BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota FFA Foundation has had a big start to 2025, beginning on Jan. 18, when the Governor’s Heritage Foundation announced during Gov. Kelly Armstrong’s inaugural ball a $200,000 donation to the FFA Foundation. That’s the largest single monetary donation the foundation has ever received.
“As you can imagine, it was incredibly overwhelming,” said
Laiken DeMorrett, executive director of the North Dakota FFA Foundation
. The Governor’s Heritage Foundation also gave $200,000 to Great Plains Food Bank.
The donation to the North Dakota FFA Foundation was followed by more than $73,000 in donations during Giving Hearts Day, a one-day online fundraising drive for charities in North Dakota in February. That was about $5,000 less than the foundation’s goal but still more than raised in previous years at the event, which launched in 2008. Giving Hearts Day has become a major fundraiser for the foundation and even has inspired a similar effort for National FFA — Give FFA Day.
Contributed
DeMorrett said the board is meeting soon to begin making plans for the $200,000 donation from the Governor’s Heritage Foundation, but it’s uncharted territory.
“We’ve never gotten to deal with so much at once,” DeMorrett said.
The Governor’s Heritage Foundation did not put any restrictions on how the money needed to be used.
“It’s completely unrestricted funding, which is huge for a nonprofit organization when there are no strings attached. So we can use it exactly how we need it, and we can have some fun with it, too,” DeMorrett said.
She anticipates a portion will be used on existing programs supporting FFA and agriculture education in the state.
“But it’s going to give us an opportunity to dream a little bit and maybe kick off something that is unique to North Dakota FFA that we can maybe borrow from some other states who are doing some really cool things,” she said.
What is the North Dakota FFA Foundation?
The North Dakota FFA Foundation was established in 1980 to support agriculture education in the state. DeMorrett said that encompasses more than just supporting FFA and extends to things like the North Dakota Association of Agricultural Educators, North Dakota Farm Management Education Program, state FFA alumni and some collegiate agriculture education programs.
When it comes to supporting FFA, DeMorrett said one of the foundation’s “hallmark programs” is “Blue Jackets, Bright Futures,” which provides new students with a blue FFA jacket. The jackets cost $85, and National FFA kicks in $5, leaving $80 to be covered by members. Blue Jackets, Bright Futures picks up the remaining $80 for students who qualify, which gives them a jacket and a tie or scarf.
“The jacket’s kind of the equalizer, so regardless of financial position at home, or anything else in that student’s life, when they put that jacket on, they’re an FFA member, and they can focus on being an FFA member,” DeMorrett said.
The program has provided almost 4,000 jackets to students so far.
The foundation also provides college scholarships, funds for supervised agriculture experiences, stipends for travel to the Washington Leadership Conference or the National FFA Convention, funds for awards and sponsorships to reduce costs of events and other things that can reduce barriers to participation.
“Something that might not be known is FFA members in North Dakota actually only pay to attend two of the events that are available to them every year, and that’d be the State FFA Convention, and then the Leadership Convention,” DeMorrett said.
Removing financial barriers to participation means more students can learn skills that may lead to future employment or get to use their unique skills outside of the classroom. And DeMorrett said it also can help them find their place to belong.
“Everybody wants to fit in. Everybody wants to find a place, find a home where they belong,” she said.
She remembers a memorable FFA bus trip of her own, where the wheels fell off the bus, leading to her chapter spending eight hours together waiting for a replacement bus. She got to know fellow members who weren’t in the same social circles or the same FFA contests with her on a different level. That’s how she got to know her best friend, who later would officiate her wedding.
“It puts you in a different environment, where you can really allow yourself to be kind of more authentic and explore what those friendships could look like with somebody outside of your of your circle,” she said of her FFA experience.
DeMorrett emphasizes that the foundation team works closely with the North Dakota FFA Association to provide opportunities to students. She recently took a statewide trip with Nikki Fideldy-Doll, North Dakota state agriculture education supervisor and FFA advisor, and a National FFA officer. Seeing the passion Fideldy-Doll and others in the association, including Darin Spelhaug, agriculture education supervisor and executive secretary, and Breanna Mueller, agriculture education assistant supervisor, have for agriculture education and FFA was inspiring, she said.
“I’m lucky to be in this position and be able to support them in this way,” she said.
The North Dakota FFA Foundation has other long-standing sources of funding, notably including
the Bakk Farm, a large North Dakota farm that was willed to North Dakota FFA by farmer Fridtjov “Fred” Bakk.
Anyone who wants to donate toward the foundation’s goals should reach out to foundation staff. But DeMorrett said needs exist beyond finances, including volunteers to help judge contests or mentor students.
FARGO — One season ago, a Cinderella run for the West Fargo United girls hockey team came up just short in the state championship game.
United, the No. 7 seed, fell to Legacy/Bismarck in the 2025 final.
This time around, the team had momentum swaying in its favor, riding nine consecutive wins into Saturday’s title game against Grand Forks at Scheels Arena.
Led by goals from a pair of senior captains, United capped its redemption season with a 10th straight victory, fending off the KnightRiders 2-1 to claim the North Dakota girls hockey state tournament championship.
“It just means everything,” said United’s Payton Stocker, whose goal at the 12:31 mark of the second period gave her team a 1-0 lead. “We’ve worked so hard and throughout the season, it’s just been such a battle. Winning and coming out on top is just such a great feeling.”
Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald
Stocker was followed up in scoring by United captain Rachel Spanier. The defenseman fired a slap shot from the left point that beat Grand Forks goaltender Kylie Schmaltz to make it 2-0 with 35 seconds remaining in the middle frame.
Reagan Wilson locked things down in net for United, finishing with 23 saves and picking up an all-tournament team nod.
“This is my first year of high school hockey,” the sophomore goaltender said. “I can’t believe coming in here and winning a state title with all of these girls. I just love them so much.”
While it was the senior duo of Stocker and Spanier finding the net for United on Saturday, contributions were seen across the board.
Sophomore Emma Hassler also put forth an all-tournament campaign with five goals and an assist for six points over the three-day stretch.
Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald
Freshman Kaylee Augdahl finished the tournament with four points — including
a double-overtime winner
over Fargo North/South in Friday’s semifinals — and junior Liana Williamson added three assists.
“It wasn’t just us (seniors),” said Stocker, who joined Hassler and Wilson on the all-tourney team. “It was everyone collectively. Being seniors, it feels a lot better. It was a great feeling.”
United, the No. 5 seed this year, capped its season with a record of 17-9-0.
“These girls are awesome,” first-year United head coach Kennedy Blair said. “They’ve worked super, super hard since last April. Wake up early in the mornings, go into off-ice training, on-ice training and all that.
“This group of girls is really special. They’re a really close-knit group, and they trusted our coaching staff coming in as a first-year group.”
Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald
Blair knows a thing or two about winning championships. She was a North Dakota state champion goaltender with the former Bismarck Blizzard co-op and also won an NCAA Division I national title with the Wisconsin women’s program in 2021.
Yet, she never imagined ending her first year as a high school varsity coach with a state championship.
“No, I didn’t,” said Blair, who also won North Dakota High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year honors. “But I had belief in these girls that we could get to the state championship again.”
It’s the United co-op’s first-ever state title — which consists of West Fargo, West Fargo Sheyenne and West Fargo Horace high schools.
Prior to Saturday, the last time a West Fargo girls program won the state title was in 2014 when it was still a standalone program competing as the Packers.
“It’s amazing considering United hockey has never won a championship game,” Wilson said.
Grand Forks, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, ended its campaign with a 21-5-0 record.
Ella Yahna’s fourth goal of the tournament — which came on a 2-on-1 rush with the assist from teammate Reese Meagher, put the KnightRiders within one shot with 8:17 remaining in the third.
Grand Forks, however, was unable to find the equalizer as its bid for a first state championship came up just short.
“I thought we came out in the first and we had a tough time,” Grand Forks head coach Kelly Kilgore said. “I felt we battled some nerves. I really liked our second period … We carried the play and tilted the ice a little bit back in our favor. The shots kind of started to really turn in our favor.”
Stocker said she wouldn’t have wanted to win a state title as a senior with any other group of teammates.
“(They mean) everything,” Stocker said. “We’re so tight and they’re all my friends. Leaving them is going to be hard. But they mean everything to me. We’re all so close and I love them a lot.”
FIRST PERIOD: No scoring.
SECOND PERIOD: 1, WFU, Stocker (Augdahl, Hassler), 12:31. 2, WFU, Spanier (Augdahl, Stocker), 16:25.
THIRD PERIOD: 3, GF, Yahna (R. Meagher), 8:43.
SAVES: WFU, Wilson 7-13-3—23. GF, Schmaltz 7-3-14—24.
Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald
GRAND FORKS — The Grand Forks Children’s Museum has revealed the anonymous donor of the $2 million in matching funds that prompted others to step forward and bring the fundraising campaign closer to its goal of $35 million.
“It is with deep gratitude that the Grand Forks Children’s Museum now shares the name behind that bold vision,” said Katie Mayer, executive director of the museum, in naming Pam Laffen of Grand Forks as the anonymous donor.
With this gift and other major contributions, the fundraising campaign “stands at just $1.75 million remaining, bringing the finish line clearly into view,” Mayer said.
The museum “reflects Pam’s passion for learning and her belief in creating meaningful opportunities for children which have guided her life’s work and are deeply reflected in this gift,” she said.
Laffen said, “I am honored to be part of a community that supports a project dedicated to encouraging growth in education and service for future generations.”
Recognizing the impact of Laffen’s gift, Mayer said, “Pam and her late husband, Lonnie, shared a deep appreciation for this community. Being raised in a rural area in North Dakota taught them to be actively engaged in their immediate and surrounding communities across the state.”
Contributed / Grand Forks Children’s Museum
At the start of the “Unlocking Tomorrow, Together Challenge,” the $2 million would be released, or “unlocked,” with the receipt of each of eight $250,000 donations. The challenge actually resulted in “securing nearly 10 leadership-level commitments and accelerating the campaign even further,” Mayer said.
A leadership gift of $250,000 from the Pancratz Family Foundation, based with the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation, has helped to “unlock one of the final keys in the challenge,” according to an announcement from the museum. The gift has added “meaningful momentum at a pivotal time in the campaign.”
The foundation’s commitment to the museum “reflects a strong belief in expanding opportunity for children and families, and helped carry the challenge to completion.”
The final keys to the $2 million matching grant were “propelled by an extraordinary wave of generosity from families and businesses across our community,” Mayer said.
A vertical climber, to be named for Pam Laffen, is designed to physically and symbolically connect the land and sky levels of the museum, Mayer said. It will span two stories and include a slide. Designed to face 42nd Street, it will be visible from the road, serving as a signature feature of the building.
The climber will reflect the guiding phrase “In land, we root. Through sky, we rise. Together, we grow.”
“The words echo both the spirit of the community and the belief that learning, curiosity, exploration and opportunity are built step-by-step, grounded in place and lifted by possibility,” Mayer said.
Kalamazoo — There’ll be a new champion in the NCHC.
Will Zellers scored the game-winning goal in the third period as No. 3 North Dakota downed No. 4 Western Michigan, 5-3, Friday night at Lawson Arena. The Broncos never led and trailed all of the third period, though a late push nearly tied the game with the net empty.
“Overall in the game, I thought it was a pretty tightly contested effort. I thought they just scored too easy,” Western Michigan coach Pat Ferschweiler said. “You know, for us, we had a couple breakdowns, and they’re so talented, so good, they took advantage when we broke down.”
The teams finish the regular season Saturday night. Western Michigan came into Friday’s game tied with Denver in standings points and five points behind North Dakota, needing that many to get a share of the Penrose Cup it won last season en route to an NCAA championship, too.
As far as regular season results go, the Broncos will play for second seed in the NCHC Tournament, needing to outpace Denver, which plays Arizona State this weekend.
Western Michigan (23-9-1, 15-7-1 NCHC) goaltender Hampton Slukynsky made 16 saves on 20 shots in the loss while North Dakota’s Jan Spunar stopped 22 of 25 shots. It was a battle of two of the NCHC’s top netminders, and each made key stops in a tight-checking, physical game.
Zellers put North Dakota (25-7-1, 17-5-1) up 4-2 4:42 into the third period off an assist from Detroit Red Wings draft choice Dylan James.
“He kind of made a play out of nothing there,” said North Dakota coach Dane Jackson, who is in his first season as head coach after being on the coaching staff since 2006. “And that was a really nice kind of moment where you go OK, we got a little got a little leeway here, and we can just kind of play a little bit more free.”
North Dakota took a 3-2 lead into the third period with goals from defenseman Sam Laurila alongside forwards Ollie Josephson and Josh Zakreski. Defenseman Zach Bookman and forward Liam Valente scored for Western Michigan.
One too many times in the second frame, Western Michigan’s blue line let a North Dakota forward in all alone to face Slukynsky, who stopped a couple of rushes in the opening minutes of the period.
With four minutes until the intermission, the Broncos finally got burned. On a feed from linemate Anthony Menghini, Lakreski cut to the glove side of a sprawling Slukynsky and beat him with the backhand. The goal gave North Dakota the 3-2 lead, after a seeing-eye shot from Bookman along the right wall had tied it up two apiece 8:10 into the period.
“I actually thought the second period was our best period,” Ferschweiler said. “… We started to take over. We got the goal, tied 2-2, and are kind of just humming along. Four minutes left, we just hand them a goal. Blown coverage. That was inexcusable, honestly, with some of our better players on the ice.”
The opening period played out as a back and forth track meet through the neutral zone as each side settled in. Laurila put North Dakota up 1-0 with his first career goal. After Slukynsky denied him on a trio of tries earlier in the shift, he fired a shot to beat the Western Michigan netminder 4:40 into the game.
It took just a minute and 34 seconds after Laurila’s opener for Western Michigan’s top line to get it right back. A blue-collar shift from captain Owen Michaels fed linemate Will Whitelaw along the left boards, and he sprung Valente for a breakaway goal that evened up the score.
“I thought we gave it to them too easy a couple times tonight,” Whitelaw said. “And I think when you’re playing a team like that, obviously they’re gonna put it in your net. But I think it’ll be a big lesson for our group going forward.”
For the better part of the first period, the Lawson Lunatics peppered North Dakota defenseman Jake Livanavage with jeers, but he got his own licks in with 7:48 left in the first period as he fed Josephson right at the net for the 2-1 goal. That score held through the first period.
With 2:02 remaining and Slukynsky pulled, forward Zaccharya Wisdom pulled Western Michigan within one. He nearly had the equalizer with 40 seconds on the clock on a backdoor try, but he mistimed the shot. Mac Swanson scored an empty-netter with 20.7 seconds on the clock to clinch the win, and with it the Penrose Cup, presented to North Dakota in the locker room and then paraded around the ice.
“It’s the hardest regular season championship to win, in my opinion,” North Dakota forward Ben Strinden said. “So it’s awesome. Obviously, it’s not our end goal, but we’re going to enjoy it for sure.”
cearegood@detroitnews.com
@ConnorEaregood
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