Communities across rural America are engaged in revitalization efforts to renew downtown areas and restore them to their former prominence as a center of community activity. In 2020, HomeSnacks named Oakes, pictured here, one of the 10 best places to live in the Peace Garden State. Photo by NDAREC/Liza Kessel

“It will never go back to the way it was,” says Becky McCray. “We have to start from here and move forward.”

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Then again, how do you feel about farming in the future – about being part of all that?

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As I tucked my 3-year-old Superman into bed (my first night of babysitting), he said, “Grandma, you forgot to sing ‘You are My Shwunshine.’” I enth

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The second habit is exercise. Make a goal of going outside for a walk every day.

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I ponder the different conditions seen over generations.

David Straley

FAMILY REUNION

Josh Kramer

Do you ever have those moments?

Bismarck State College (BSC) lineworker students provide demonstrations at a May 6 event celebrating a 50-year partnership between BSC and the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives.

“I loved the job, loved who I worked with and being outside,” Kraft says.

Gov. Doug Burgum signs House Bill 1412 into law. The legislation provides lignite power plant and conversion facility operators five years of immediate tax relief from coal conversion taxes. With the North Dakota lignite industry facing pressures from the federal government and skewed energy market prices, House Bill 1412 will help level the playing field for the lignite industry and make lignite-fueled electricity more competitive on the electric grid. PHOTO BY NDAREC/LIZA KESSEL

While this session marked an incredible accomplishment in transparency and adoption of technology to remove barriers to the legislative process, ma

Josh Kramer

The BSC lineworker training program provides a great introduction to this critical trade, but completing the program is just the beginning.