Community

You could drive from Watford City to New York City and the distance would be roughly the equivalent of the miles of roads maintained by McKenzie County in the western North Dakota oil patch.

“It’s right around 1,500 to 1,800 miles of roads with gravel and pavement,” says McKenzie County Road Superintendent Layton Northrop.

Howdy Lawlar has driven most of them.

Farming in his tractor or feeding his registered Black Angus cattle.

Driving to county commission meetings as chairman or responding to calls as a volunteer fireman.

A gardener, quilter and fourth-generation McKenzie County resident living on her grandparents’ homestead. A mom and trusted local real estate agent. A U.S. Air Force veteran and Montana transplant turned McKenzie County resident. A proud new dad and long-suffering Minnesota Vikings fan.

What do they all have in common? They are among the more than 3,000 North Dakotans who run North Dakota elections. And, they’re your neighbors.

Voting and elections provide a vehicle for citizens to change laws or introduce new ones they think would benefit their community.

With North Dakota’s ballot measure process, citizens can introduce a statewide ballot measure to change the North Dakota Constitution or state law. A statewide measure can be placed on the ballot by the Legislature or through a petition process initiated by the citizens of North Dakota.

One in five eligible North Dakotans turned out to vote in June’s primary election. My county did better than the state average with 43% voter turnout in Kidder County. But little Billings County in western North Dakota, home to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and 945 people, did better than all of us with 59.25% voter turnout. Teddy would be proud.

As the sweet vanilla scent of the Bells of Ireland fills the air and the morning dew settles on the ranunculus blooming among many specialty flowers on their 11-acre farm, the Dessonvilles start each day deeply rooted in the glories of nature.

When a severe storm sweeps through North Dakota, toppling power poles and triggering outages, electric cooperative members may ask: “Why doesn’t my local electric cooperative bury the lines underground to protect them from the elements?”

The answer isn’t simple.

For 27-year-old Joanna Larson, the desire to return home to take part in the family farm operation in Sheyenne has as much to do with building community as it does farming. A strong independent streak also doesn’t hurt.

She’d like to see things done differently and wants to put her stamp on the farm and further afield.

That includes eventually transitioning to more sustainable agricultural practices at the family farm.

Construction equipment will be a new addition to the 44th annual Big Iron Farm Show presented by the Cass County Farm Bureau this year.

The annual celebration of agriculture includes informational exhibit booths and opportunities to see the latest in agriculture unveiled. And admission and parking are free!

On July 5, Carrington Fire Chief Ken Wangen had a call for a “locomotive fire.” When he arrived on scene about 9 miles southeast of Carrington near Bordulac, he found 29 rail cars carrying hazardous materials, including anhydrous ammonia, had derailed, causing a massive fire.

Thanks to the quick response by Wangen and other local responders, and with assistance from urban and rural fire departments in Jamestown, Kensal, Pingree, New Rockford, Sykeston, Harvey, Devils Lake and Rugby, there were no casualties.

North Dakota Living, the state’s largest-circulated publication and statewide electric cooperative magazine, will conduct a readership survey later this summer. If you are randomly selected to participate, we ask you to consider taking the survey.
Magazine readership surveys are conducted at regular intervals, ideally every three to five years. The last North Dakota Living readership survey was completed in May 2020.