North Dakota

Rock stars: Bottineau geology students propose new North Dakota symbol • North Dakota Monitor

Published

1 year ago

January 19, 2025

Rock stars: Bottineau geology students propose new North Dakota symbol • North Dakota Monitor

North Dakota could be getting its first-ever state rock: a cola-colored stone called Knife River Flint.

The idea came from a group of young geology enthusiasts from Bottineau Public Schools, who discovered last year that North Dakota is one of two states lacking an official rock.

Members of the so-called Bottineau Rockhounds club traveled to the Capitol last week to tell lawmakers why they should approve House Bill 1186 and give Knife River Flint that title.

The rock is only found in North Dakota, for one. Because it’s easy to shape, it has been mined by Native cultures for thousands of years.

“Knife River Flint is a smooth, durable rock that is made of very small crystals which makes it easy to chip in various forms and turn into useful tools,” fifth grader Grace Motl told members of the House Political Subdivisions Committee on Thursday.

Silas Fredriksen of the Bottineau Public Schools Rockhounds club testifies in favor of a bill to make Knife River Flint the official state rock of North Dakota during a meeting of the House Political Subdivisions Committee on Jan. 16, 2025. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)

It was traded widely and has been found in archaeological sites across the continent, according to the Rockhounds.

“It has been an important stone for trading by many different cultures throughout North Dakota’s history,” Avery Kitzman, a sixth grader, said.

Knife River Flint prevailed among four other suggestions proposed by the Rockhounds, said fifth grade teacher and club adviser David Cauley. Those included chalcedony, aventurine, moss agate and prairie agate.

They held an election to determine the winner.

“Since this last year was a big election year, we decided that it would be a really fun idea to have our own election that could teach students how elections work,” Cauley told lawmakers.

Cauley’s wife, Michelle — an instructor at Dakota College and another adviser to the Bottineau Rockhounds — said the college, three local high schools and Rockhounds clubs in Bismarck and Grand Forks participated in the contest, too.

Rep. Dan Vollmer, R-Willow City, holds a sample of Knife River Flint. Vollmer is sponsoring a bill suggested by a young geologists club from Bottineau Public Schools to make Knife River Flint the official rock of North Dakota. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)

The Bottineau Rockhounds even made campaign posters to hang up in the hallway.

“The school was just abuzz for the two or three weeks before the election,” Cauley said.

In all, 541 votes were cast. Knife River Flint emerged the victor with 56% approval.

Rep. Dan Vollmer, whose district includes Bottineau, is sponsoring the bill. Vollmer and Rep. Macy Bolinske, who carried the bill on behalf of the House Political Subdivisions Committee, brought samples of Knife River Flint to the House floor on Friday to show their peers.

The House voted unanimously to forward the bill. It’ll also need approval from the Senate.

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North Dakota

Current state of gas prices even though North Dakota has oil presence

Published

8 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

Current state of gas prices even though North Dakota has oil presence

MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) — The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to impact gas prices here at home.

We wanted to learn more about the current state of prices and why they aren’t lower due to the presence of the oil industry in our state.

On Monday, we told you gas prices are up roughly 15 cents across the peace garden state since last Monday and almost half a dollar in the past month.

The statewide average of $3.60 a gallon remains well below most of the rest of the country.

Eugene Graner of Heartland Investors said prices should eventually come back down as we approach an end to the conflict overseas.

Graner added that it’s typical for prices to increase as warmer weather approaches, as summer blends require a more expensive refining process.

“Prices currently may have peaked out and conversely see the prices decline towards summer, when we normally expect a price rise,” said Graner.

While North Dakota has drilling, pipelines and refineries, Graner added that doesn’t mean motorists in our state will necessarily see lower prices at the pump, as it still needs to be transported to refineries and then to market.

He added that Fargo can sometimes have ‘lower’ prices since they have three pipelines in the area.

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North Dakota

Watford City Wrestlers Compete at 2026 USAW ND State Folkstyle Individual Tourney, Regional & National Duels

Published

20 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

Watford City Wrestlers Compete at 2026 USAW ND State Folkstyle Individual Tourney, Regional & National Duels

On March 27-28, North Dakota State USA wrestling championships hosted 1700+ wrestlers at the Civic Center in Bismarck ND. Wrestlers from age 5-14 from Watford City Wolves Wrestling Club competed. “Out of 61 teams Watford City came out in 6th place and was actually sitting in first for a long time.” according to coach Adam Greenhaw. “Us coaches are…

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North Dakota

North Dakota’s Grand Farm to lead national farm tech research

Published

1 day ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

North Dakota’s Grand Farm to lead national farm tech research

Jeff Beach
| North Dakota Monitor

North Dakota will lead a new U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative to advance farm technology.
Grand Farm, a research campus near Fargo, will manage the national program and serve as its first proving ground.
The project will launch with $11 million in funding and initially focus on weed control in North Dakota and Georgia.

CASSELTON, N.D. — North Dakota will lead the nation in a U.S. Department of Agriculture push to improve farm technology and research, federal officials announced Tuesday.

U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said Grand Farm, a research campus west of Fargo, will be the national program manager for USDA’s National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech. Grand Farm will also be the first proving ground in the network, focusing on weed control.

North Dakota launched Grand Farm seven years ago, integrating research capabilities from North Dakota State University at Fargo with industry partners such as tech giant Microsoft.

Hoeven said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who visited Grand Farm last year, recognized that North Dakota provided a model for ag tech research and could be the manager for the rollout.

“It’s a huge deal,” Hoeven said. “It’s Grand Farm going national.”

Hoeven announced that $11 million will launch the proving grounds, a collaboration of Grand Farm, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and NDSU.

Scott Hutchins, USDA under secretary for research, education and economics, said the first year of research will be concentrated in North Dakota and Georgia. The University of Georgia announced a partnership with Grand Farm in 2024.

He said after reviewing results from the first year, the department plans to accept proposals for research hubs in other states, eventually creating the national network.

Hutchins said profitability is a top priority. He said there has been a boom in ag technology, but farmers need help sifting through it all.

“Which one can provide the greatest return on investment?” he asked.

Hoeven said focusing on profitability is a must during rough economic times. “Right now, if you’re growing a crop, in most cases, you’re not making money,” Hoeven said.

The North Dakota Legislature invested $10 million in 2021 to help propel Grand Farm, which covers 590 acres near Casselton. Operating from tents and with portable bathrooms in its first years, the research site opened its first building in 2024. The Legislature invested an additional $7 million in 2025.

“The National Proving Grounds is the next chapter,” said Brian Carroll, chief operating officer for Grand Farm.

George Vellidis, of the University of Georgia’s Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture, said Georgia is one year into operating its 250-acre research area similar to Grand Farm.

He said the goal is to translate the research in the Upper Midwest to crops grown in the southeast. A robot that can be taught to recognize weeds in North Dakota will have to be taught a different set of weeds that grow in Georgia, for example.

Grand Farm board member Kyle Courtney, who farms near Oakes, North Dakota, said the initiative will help field test practices “under a unified umbrella to help farmers make better decisions.”

North Dakota Monitor is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

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