>>> CARDINALS TAKE ON TORNADOES AT HOME The official newspaper of Cavalier County Theborderlandpress.com
In this issue:
Friday, January 3, 2025
Volume 3, Number 52
NORTH DAKOTA’S FIND THE GOOD LIFE CAMPAIGN AIMS FOR ‘BOOMERANG FAMILIES’ By Michael Achterling/The North Dakota Monitor
News: Walhalla wraps up another festive season with Light Up Walhalla, Pg. A2
Some move away for school, or a job, or to stay with their partner.
the cost of living outside of N.D. can be eye-opening.
Some vow never to move back to North Dakota. Until they do.
Max and Melissa Otto grew up in N.D., but decided to move to Michigan in 2018 so Max could complete his medical residency. They also moved to Salt Lake City during a one-year fellowship as part of his training.
“We had Thanksgiving with our family for the first time in years … the simple things like that have really been a blessing,” said Max Otto, a N.D. native who moved away for a five-year medical residency, but moved back to the Peace Garden State with his wife and newborn daughter in August. N.D.’s Find The Good Life campaign is hoping family members around the state can lure their out-of-state family members to move back to N.D.
Agriculture: NDSU celebrates Cavalier County agriculturists at 50th Anniversary Harvest Bowl, Pg. A3
Region: Volunteers make community Christmas cheer possible, Pg. A10
Weather Jan. 3
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Jan. 4
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Jan. 5
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The advertising and workforce program, administered through the Department of Commerce, is geared toward promoting N.D.’s main industries to address workforce shortages, but also showing former residents what they are missing. Sara Otte Coleman, director of the tourism and marketing team for the Department of Commerce, said the program’s goal is to create a national talent attraction program through advertising and a website assistance portal that helps with moves to the state. The program targets young families, new college graduates, veterans and boomerang residents — people who previously lived in the state that could potentially be drawn back. “I know a lot of boomerangs and my kids are kind of at that age,” Otte Coleman said. She added her daughter and some of her friends moved back to N.D. after living out of state. A lot of those people who move away realize that it’s harder to get away when grandparents aren’t there to help out with the kids, Otte Coleman said, and
“It was a discussion,” Max Otto said. “When I left, I had no intention of coming back to N.D.” But the family’s thinking evolved over their six years away from the state, they said. After much consideration, the Ottos decided they missed their families, friends and the state’s outdoor recreation opportunities and moved back to N.D., where Max took a job at Sanford Health in Bismarck as a colorectal and general trauma surgeon. “For us, we had to love a place enough to be far away from family and I feel like we never really found that,” Melissa Otto said. “That was the thing we kept coming back to.” Max Otto said they were thinking about moving back to Michigan once his fellowship ended in Utah, but they realized they were missing too many family moments back home. The couple also wanted to raise their daughter among the smiling faces of their grandparents.
Max Otto said he missed the outdoors, but also the people and the culture of N.D. He added that Michigan was very friendly and welcoming, but it wasn’t “North Dakota nice.” “Nowhere else I’ve lived could I drive five minutes and be out of town and be hunting or going fishing, or something like that,” he said. “It’s just so easy to go and access the peacefulness of the outdoors here.” With many families gearing up for large family gatherings during the holidays, Otte Coleman said it might be a good time to have some conversations. “Just because there’s so many people that do come home over the holidays, it’s a good time to start the conversation. Get them thinking about it when they are in-state,” Otte Coleman said. She said the Find The Good Life program is designed in a way that creates different ways to connect with the website’s help desk and the program’s community champions. “Ultimately, we think we’re going to have more of a chance of getting them to move to North Dakota if we have more connection points,” Otte Coleman said. In total, the Find The Good Life program received $12 million from the 2023-25 budget, which was split evenly between the department’s workforce and tourism/marketing divisions, she said.
120 million impressions across the country and netted more than 4,100 engagements with the program’s help desk. One person can have multiple impressions across a range of electronic devices and media. Of those help desk engagements, nearly 2,400 people entered the program’s candidate marketplace, which led to more than 1,300 people connecting with a community champion. Ultimately, the department reported 43 people completed the process all the way through and made moves to N.D. The new arrivals relocated into 17 different communities over the past two years. However, Otte Coleman said those totals can be misleading because they don’t track the number of people who received information from the help desk and then used those resources to complete the process of securing a job and moving to the state on their own. Brooke Leno grew up in Dickinson and then moved to the Twin Cities to attend the University of Minnesota. She was interested in pursuing a career in the fashion industry and interned for a time in New York. “I was one of the people that were like, ‘I gotta get out of here. This place sucks.’ But being away, I think you just really realize how great N.D. is,” Leno said. She moved back to Dickinson in 2011.
“When we finally told everybody we were taking the job here, our family Leno believed the oil boom in northwas so ecstatic,” Max Otto said. “It Since the program launched in its west N.D. was bringing a lot of people current form in 2022, the campaign and capital into the state, so when was hilarious.” Melissa Otto said N.D. sunsets were something she missed during her time away.
has spent about $2.2 million in advertising through television, audio, digital and print media, according to a Department of Commerce fact sheet. Those ads created more than
her father and some other investors wanted to open a clothing business, she jumped at the opportunity to run it. cont’d. on page A5
Two fundraisers, one night of community fun in Langdon By Rebecca Davis Langdon residents have an exciting evening to look forward to on Friday, Jan. 10, as two fundraisers combine efforts for a night filled with good food, fun, and community spirit at the Langdon Eagles Club.
Roxy Theater fundraiser From 5:00 to 8:00 PM, the Northern Lights Arts Council will host a fundraiser to support renovations for the historic Roxy Theater. The event coincides with the Eagles Club’s popular Burger Night and includes a bake sale. All proceeds will go toward enhancements at the theater, such as a lighted outdoor movie poster display box, updated carpeting, aisle lighting, and premium seats. Amber Benoit, executive director of the Northern Lights Arts Council, shared her excitement for the planned updates. "These renovations are on our wish list to make the Roxy even more inviting for the community.” Ladies Auxiliary Trivia Night At 8:00 PM, the Eagles Club will transform into a trivia battleground for the first annual Ladies Auxiliary Trivia Night. Hosted by Kyle Gagner, this fun-filled event will feature up to eight categories of trivia, making it enjoyable for participants of all knowledge levels. Teams can consist of up to four players with a registration fee of $125 per team, which includes four drink tickets. The winning team will take home the prize of $500 in cash.
The Ladies Auxiliary hopes to attract 20 teams with proceeds going toward community initiatives such as high school scholarships and other local projects. Organizer Brandi Mittleider emphasized the event’s inclusive nature. "We’ve kept the categories neutral, so everyone—whether local or from a neighboring community—has a fair shot." Participants are encouraged to enjoy dinner at the Roxy fundraiser before testing their trivia skills. For those who miss Burger Night, the Eagles Club offers frozen pizzas and other snacks. How to join the fun Pre-registration for trivia night is available by contacting Taylor Benneweis by text at 701-680-9413. Those who do not pre-register are welcome to sign up at the door. Community members can also learn more about supporting or joining the Ladies Auxiliary by visiting the Eagles Club. This joint effort highlights the community’s dedication to supporting local organizations while providing a lively night of entertainment. Whether you're there for the burgers, the trivia, or both, Jan. 10 promises to be a night of fun for Langdon. For more details on the Roxy Theater fundraiser, visit the Northern Lights Arts Council’s Facebook page. Proceeds from the fundraisers will go toward enhancements at the theater.