FATHERS | MR. FULL-TIME DAD
WRITTEN BY: BEN HANSON • PHOTO BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
It was about 8:45 a.m. when Macklin rolled over to ask “Can I have another one?” Still in our pajamas, neither he nor I had gotten out of bed yet. Mom was out of town for a couple of days on a work trip, so of course we took advantage and had ourselves a little sleepover in the big bed. We had fallen asleep watching cartoons and then picked right back up where we left off once the sun came up and roused us awake. After a couple episodes of PJ Masks, Mack was now asking for just one more. Importantly, it was a Tuesday. As I cued up another harrowing adventure for Gecko, Owelette and Catboy, a stinging sense of shame came over me. The emotion hit before the recognition, but soon enough I realized what was happening — I had become a lazy parent, way too eager to hit “play” on the ol’ Netflix babysitter while I sat glued to my iPhone lost in an endless Twitter scroll… and rightly so did I feel ashamed. Remember, this was a Tuesday. If it had been a Saturday morning, fine. Good. Great! Weekends are for relaxing. But it was Tuesday. Mack had to get to school, and I had 2 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
to get to work… and it was already 8:45. While I am fortunate to have an incredibly flexible schedule, clearly I had let it all get away from me. And the worst part was, not only was this a fairly good representation of our typical weekday, it was also becoming more and more representative of the parenting mode into which I had let myself fall. I had let easiness and convenience start to dictate my parenting decisions. Too many cartoons, too many chicken nuggets, too much time lounging in our undies. Not nearly enough outside play, books or vegetables. I had become lazy, and whatever made life easier for me was what Macklin got. When I was a stay-at-home dad, Mack and I were as active as possible. We walked or road bike almost everywhere we needed to be. Our diets were full of fresh fruits and veggies (after he started eating solid foods, that is). He was probably 2 before he even knew the screen on the wall could turn on. Now, the both of us can rattle off an embarrassingly long list of our favorite cartoons. And we both like way too much ranch on our nuggets. The good news about shame, at least in this case, is that it can be quite motivating. As soon as I saw the pattern we were in, I decided we needed to get back to the good habits that defined our routine. And here’s even better
news: unlike my usual columns, I actually have some sound advice to offer you! Kids are resilient, adaptable and possess the long-term memory function of a goldfish. In other words, change is usually easier for them than it is for us adults. It may be rough for a duration, but after swimming around in circles a few times, they seem to altogether forget what changed. So, parents, never fret about introducing change — your kids will delight you with how fast they can adjust. After we moved into a new house this past summer, Mack was all settled in after the first night he slept in his new room. I, on the other hand, for weeks kept finding excuses to drive by the old house. The change was definitely harder on me than it was for him. When I made the choice to remove the iPad from the breakfast/lunch/dinner counter where Mack prefers to take his meals, yes he threw a bit of a fit… for about 48 hours. From then on, however, it was as if the iPad never existed. He happily ate his food — or pushed it around the plate enough times to earn his participation pass to be excused — without any cartoons or technological stimulation of any kind. As I began reintroducing the healthier habits that had prior been our norm and watched Mack adapt to each and every one with whimsical ease, it became crystal clear the decline of Civilization Hanson was entirely my fault. Mack didn’t one day decide broccoli was gross and the backyard was scary. No, I had simply gotten lazy. Playing inside was easier than going out for real exercise. Frozen dinners were easier than cleaning and chopping fresh produce. Cartoons at breakfast while I showered was easier than me getting up before him and being ready when he deserved my attention. I’ve never gotten into the New Year’s resolution tradition, but this year I actually have resolve! I don’t want to be a lazy parent. I don’t want Mack to be able to outrun me anytime soon. Nor do I want to buy new, bigger pants. I like my pants. More than anything, though, I don’t want Mack to fall into a routine built on convenience. Not just yet, anyway. I don’t want to ruin his early 20s. • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 3
CONTENTS
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2020
VOLUME 7 • ISSUE 4
2 6
8
FATHERS
A LAZY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION
12
ASK 30 WOMEN
WHAT SURPRISED YOU THE MOST WHEN YOU MOVED IN TOGETHER?
24 ONE DONUT BARES ALL LIFE AT SANDY'S
16
TAXIDERMY
AN UNEXPECTED FORM OF ARTISTRY
HAVING A BEER WITH CHOW
ON-AIR RADIO HOST FOR Q105.1
SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE WINTER BLUES
18
ON THE COVER
30
LOCAL HERO - DAMON BRADSHAW
A FUTURE FORESHADOWED - SHERIFF JAHNER DECADES IN THE MAKING ARMY VETERAN AND LIEUTENANT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) HOSPITAL POLICE DEPARTMENT
PUBLISHED BY Urban Toad Media LLP www.urbantoadmedia.com OWNER / PHOTOGRAPHER Darren Losee darren@urbantoadmedia.com OWNER / GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dawn Siewert dawn@urbantoadmedia.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Meghan Feir Alexandra Floersch Katie Jenison Ben Hanson Alexis Swenson ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Darren Losee darren@urbantoadmedia.com
READ A PAST ISSUE yumpu.com/user/thegoodlife FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/urbantoadmedia FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @urbantoadmedia FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @urbantoadmedia
The Good Life Men’s Magazine is distributed six times a year by Urban Toad Media LLP. Material may not be reproduced without permission. The Good Life Men’s Magazine accepts no liability for reader dissatisfaction arising from content in this publication. The opinions expressed, or advice given, are the views of individual writers or advertisers and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of The Good Life Men’s Magazine.
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ASK 30 WOMEN
ASK 30 WOMEN
WHAT SURPRISED YOU THE MOST WHEN YOU MOVED IN TOGETHER? You never know what to expect when moving in together. Leaving the cap off the toothpaste may send her over the edge. While making the bed is a pleasant surprise. We asked 30 Women, “What surprised you the most when you moved in together?” Read on for their answers. 1. How clean he keeps his toilet. 2. The amount of time spent playing video games.
3. He knew how to fix things. 4. The amount of junk food
intake that was well hidden before the move in... Who eats a family size box of potato chips and a 2 liter of soda in one sitting?
5. It surprised me that he was so sweet and helpful with washing the dishes after I cooked. 6. How bad he snores. 7. How much he loves hockey.
14. Hair everywhere! In the
sink, stuck to the soap, in the bathtub. Why?!
15. The giant flag he brought
that he wanted to hang above the couch.
16. He is an OCD clean freak. He is constantly cleaning even after I’m done cleaning.
17. I was surprised he owned more shoes than me! 18. He doesn’t really need as much alone time as me.
I never expected how much yelling at the tv would take place.
19. He hates
8. He's super particular about
20. How long he spends in the bathroom.
his laundry.
9. He absolutely had zero
cooking skills... as in Hamburger Helper or boxed Mac & Cheese was a challenge.
10. How much he wants to talk. 11. The thing that was most surprising was his lack of knowledge of cleaning.
12. He leaves his socks everywhere!
13. How messy he is! He always
kept his ice castle and other toys beyond clean. The house.... not so/ THE much. 6 GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
to clean the stove top.
21. How long
it takes him to get ready in the morning and the list of things he has to do every day!
23. How unorganized he is, but somehow he seems to know where everything is.
24. I was
surprised how much stuff he had and all of the noises that come out of his body.
25. He never matches up his socks. 26. He poos naked. 27. It surprised me that he's only grown more cuddly as we've been married, and I love that he loves to cuddle as much as I do (which is saying a lot)! 28. I was very happy and surprised when I opened the cupboard door and found my partner had written a very big note for himself, “Help more in the household!” 29. His love for cats.
22. When we moved in together, all the hubs could say was, “we’re gonna keep things picked up” but he is the most messy person ever!
30. Turns out he was a paper hoarder. Dude had boxes of bank statements and pay stubs going all the way back to high school.
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Taxidermy An Unexpected Form of Artistry
WRITTEN BY: KATIE JENISON • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
When you hear the word taxidermy, what do you think of? The thought alone may make some people squirm, often viewing it as a way to glorify the slaying of a beautiful animal. Others take an entirely different stance, believing taxidermy is about honoring the animal. For professionals in the industry, taxidermy is just as much about the latter as it is about the art. And that’s just it; regardless of what camp you fall in, there’s no denying taxidermy requires a unique set of skills.
Local taxidermist, Jody Slusher, has those skills and the artistic talent to boot. He and his wife, Karla, own and operate J & K Taxidermy in Horace, North Dakota. Slusher, a certified taxidermist through the National Taxidermist Association, handles all the taxidermy work while Karla manages the day-to-day operations of the business. Slusher took an interest in taxidermy from a very young age and worked in the industry for a decade before setting up shop 1988. Since then, he and Karla have accumulated clients that hunt all around the world. From a local deer to a New Zealand red stag— and even a 15-foot python—Slusher has worked on mounts of all types and sizes. With decades working as a professional taxidermist, it’s safe to say Slusher has encountered his fair share of misconceptions about the industry. One of the biggest? The term “stuffing.” The concept of stuffing an animal comes from the early 16th 8 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
The word ‘taxidermy’ comes from ‘taxi’ which means to move and ‘dermy’ which is derived from the word, epidermis, meaning skin.
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century when a Dutch nobleman set about preserving a bird. He first skinned and stuffed the bird with preservative spices, and then used a wire to hold the skin in place. While the term, “stuffing” is still used today, modern taxidermy calls for a different technique that can be explained in its name. The word “taxidermy” comes from “taxi” which means to move and “dermy” which is derived from the word, epidermis, meaning skin. The technique used today involves a taxidermist fitting a tanned hide over a sculpted mannequin or polyurethane foam form and is used in both a shoulder-mount and a full-body mount.
Another misconception is that taxidermy is only meant to preserve exotic game trophies from a once in a lifetime hunt or the big buck most hunters dream of bagging at the season opener. Even small, seemingly inconsequential mounts matter, especially when it comes to preserving a memory. Slusher notes, “A child’s first fish is equally important as a seasoned hunter’s Marco Polo sheep.” Many taxidermists echo this sentiment, believing it’s not always just the mount itself that’s meaningful but the memories tied to it. On that same note, taxidermy isn’t simply for creating trophies or maintaining memories. It can also be used for educational purposes. In fact, museums rely on taxidermy to depict and teach visitors about different species, including those that are extinct or threatened. The National Museum of Modern History even has a whole wing dedicated to displaying species found throughout history. It’s Hall of Mammals features an array of creatures; from the well-known rhinoceros to the more obscure short-beaked echidna, taxidermy makes it possible to create life-size and realistic compositions of animals found around the world.
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Whether a personal trophy or for educational purposes, mounted animals have to look as real as possible in order to make an impact. For that reason, many taxidermists have spent years and even decades honing their craft. That dedication and hard work results in the ability to produce hyper-
realistic mounts that look so lifelike, you wonder if they’ll get up and walk away. Those who have achieved such a high level of skill are often rewarded for their talents by taking part in taxidermy competitions, which are held worldwide and honor the best of the best. Slusher himself competed heavily in the 90s and early 00s. He has been named North Dakota’s “Best All-Around Taxidermist” five times and has been awarded the “Grand Master Achievement Award” by the International Guild of Taxidermy. Other notable awards include the National Taxidermy “Award of Excellence” and 7 WASCO awards for “Most Artistic Composition.” Once he stopped competing, Slusher went on to teach instructional seminars and served as a judge at the state, national, and international levels. Though he liked being active in that side of the industry, his booming business soon began to demand his full attention. With a bevy of achievements under his belt, there’s no doubt Slusher is not only good at what he does, but he truly enjoys it. When asked what the good life means to him, he simply states, “Freedom—being able to do what I love to do and make a living at it. Spending time with family, friends, and working alongside my wife, Karla. We have been very blessed with supportive, quality, and loyal clients and we are where we are today because of them.” •
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HAVING A BEER WITH | CHOW
WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR
• PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
HAVING A BEER WITH
CH OW
Dan Virchow, also known as Chow, left the radio world three years ago to pursue his other passions—photography and videography—but now he’s combined his love for it all by doing photography on the side and being a mid-day, on-air host for Q105.1. On one of the milder days this winter, we sat down, first in some snow, then in Drekker’s Brewhalla for a glass of beer and air as we discussed some pretty pressing topics. Read on to learn more about his love for Anakin Skywalker and where Chow would raise a family—if he ever had to do that sort of thing. 12 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Good Life: A little bird told me you’re a great concert photographer. How did you get into that? Dan Virchow: Through my radio connections. My mom was a photographer, so I was always fascinated and played with her cameras. The first show I ever shot was an Anthrax show in Grand Forks. I had no idea what I was doing, but afterward I was like, “Wow, this is just a front-row ticket to any show you want to go to.” Then I got obsessed with it. I just love doing it, especially when you’re at a music festival and there are 40,000 people behind you and no one closer to the stage than you.
"Basically, only my mom and my sister call me Daniel. My close friends call me Dan. People I’m acquainted with call me Danny, and the majority of people call me Chow."
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HAVING A BEER WITH | CHOW
GL: If someone were to see you on the street, would you prefer they call you Dan, Danny, Daniel or Chow? Could you tell I had no idea what to call you and how I changed your name in the emails every time? DV: I totally understand. Basically, only my mom and my sister call me Daniel. My close friends call me Dan. People I’m acquainted with call me Danny, and the majority of people call me Chow. I introduce myself as Dan. I never introduce myself as Chow, but after I introduce myself, I have to say, “Hey, if people call me Chow, just go with it.” It’s confusing, even for me. GL: If you had to live in a small town in America, which would you choose? DV: If I could choose one small town it would be no small town. I am very past that. I grew up on a farm, which wasn’t even in a town, and it felt very isolated. Even now when I go home, it’s really nice to see my family and relax, but small-town life is just not for me. If I had to pick… GL: You have to pick. DV: This is the hardest question I’ve ever been asked… I would choose Brookings, S.D. I went to college there and it’s just a nice town with really nice people. I kind of like that. I mean, I could raise a family there if I wanted to—god forbid. 14 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
GL: Maybe I’m giving you ideas now. You’re going to want to move to Brookings now. DV: I don’t know about that. GL: What’s the best Valentine’s present for a girl or a guy? DV: The best present you can give someone is your presence. Take them out to eat, spend the night with them and just have no other focus than them. That sounded way too romantic compared to how I am in real life, but that’s how I feel. Gifts aren’t a great way to express yourself and how you feel. Sit down and have a conversation with each other and talk about your lives, goals and aspirations, which is something not a lot of people talk about enough. GL: Who’s your favorite movie character and why? DV: I would say Anakin Skywalker. I feel like those Star Wars prequel movies got a bad wrap because there was some poor acting and the CGI was a little much. But when it’s deconstructed and you get to the core, it had this really good story of this kid who questioned everything. I think that’s something everyone should do. Don’t just do something because people tell you to do it. Respect and work with them, but just because someone tells you it’s the right way doesn’t mean it is. Yes,
obviously the second half of his story is very dark and horrid and I would never say that’s the kind of person I relate to, but that first half—that’s just how I’ve been my whole life. I question everything. I’ve never enjoyed being told what to do, so I’m going to go with Anakin Skywalker—my man. GL: Where did you grow up? DV: Willow Lake, S.D. I feel like everyone just kind of inherently hates where they grew up while you’re there because you just wish you were somewhere else. When I was growing up on the farm, I always thought of city kids as smarter than me and that they got to do more things. I just felt like I existed but I didn’t live. Then you grow up and you go back to the farm and you realize how beautiful and peaceful it is and how you can do whatever you want there. You get a whole different perspective. I still only do that for a few days at a time, but you get a weird appreciation the older you get. GL: What is something that looks stupid no matter who is doing it? DV: The Cupid Shuffle. GL: I hate the Cupid Shuffle. DV: Any time that song comes on, I leave the room, or leave the venue, or leave the state and get out of there
"Find the positivity in everything, and if you can do that you’re living the good life." – CHOW because I don’t get it. It’s not fun. No one looks like they’re having fun when they’re doing it, and nobody looks cool. GL: What does living “the good life” mean to you? DV: I think it’s very simple. Live the most stress-free life as possible. Never get yourself into situations where there’s no positive outcome. Always have fun. I just feel like I have this constant need to have fun. Live it up, be kind to everybody and have a positive outlook on life. For the longest time I was the biggest cynic. I just found the negativity in everything. That does nothing for you but constantly put you in a down mood. So embrace this life of positivity, opportunity and fun. My two life mottos are “Show no weakness” and “Keep moving.” Find the positivity in everything, and if you can do that you’re living the good life. •
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MEN'S HEALTH
Seasonal Affective Disorder A Closer Look at The Winter Blues WRITTEN BY: BEN HANSON
It’s rare when an acronym so perfectly captures the very essence of the thing for which it stands. TBD, ASAP, BTW, GIF… sure they’ve all taken on the appropriate meanings and are recognized well enough to be used in lieu of the full phrase, but on their own they mean nothing. SAD, however, stands on its own. SAD is sad, and when you suffer from SAD, you’re absolutely sad. SAD is such the perfect acronym (borderline synonym!) I imagine it makes the ADDs and OCDs of the world downright PO’d. So what is SAD? As obvious as it may seem, there’s more to this seasonal affliction than its rather on the nose three-letter shorthand. SAD: Seasonal Affective Disorder Often referred to as “the winter blues” or seasonal depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that affects individuals specifically during the winter months. About half a million people — mostly young adults — in the U.S. suffer from seasonal affective disorders, though 10 to 20 percent of those c a s e s may, in fact, be a milder form of the winter blues. Wo m e n are three t i m e s more likely than men to experience SAD, and younger adults overall seem to be more at risk than older adults. Aside from age and gender, 16 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
location also seems to play a major factor in predicting who is most susceptible to seasonal affective disorder. “Here in the Upper Midwest, we’re definitely more at risk for seasonal affective disorder,” explains Dr. Forrest Sauer, founder of Twin Oaks Health Solutions in Fargo. “Because it seems to be so closely connected with the change in seasons and amount of sunlight present, people like us living so far north are at a greater risk. But there’s more to it than just the weather. Things like diet, exercise, daily stress all play a part.” According to Dr. Sauer, lifestyle factors are key in both identifying the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, as well as proactively trying to reverse its effects. He says the foods we eat and the beverages we consume are a major factor. “Typical Midwest guys think they’re tough as nails and can eat whatever they want without being affected,” Dr. Sauer says, “but most of us aren’t getting enough real foods. We eat way too much sugar, too many carbs and in many cases too much alcohol.” What Causes SAD? There’s a tremendous amount of anecdotal evidence that points a big, perhaps lethargic finger at one main cause seasonal affective disorder: changes in the amount of daily sunlight. It’s right in the name; it’s a seasonal condition that comes on in the fall, progressively gets worse as the days grow shorter in the winter and subsiding again in the spring with the return of summer sunshine. Still, the exact cause is still unknown. One of the leading theories surmises that with the reduced sun exposure comes a reduction in the body’s natural ability to regulate its internal clock, which in turn regulates things like mood, sleep and hormones. When these things fall out of balance, the combination can result in the symptoms associated with seasonal affective disorder. Another theory maintains the same root cause (lack of sunlight) but takes it in a different direction from there. Some believe certain important neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, that are responsible for communication channels in the brain may be altered in people suffering
from SAD. In both theories, it is thought that additional exposure to light may correct these imbalances or help reset the body’s internal clock. Finally, some research suggests that melatonin, a chemical that plays an important role in the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, may also play a role in seasonal affective disorder. The idea behind this theory holds that a lack of sunlight over-stimulates the body’s production of melatonin, which can result in symptoms of fatigue and sluggishness — both hallmark symptoms of SAD. What are the Symptoms? So what are the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder? According to the Cleveland Clinic, People who suffer from SAD have many of the common signs of depression, including: • Sadness • Anxiety • Irritability • Loss of interest in usual activities • Withdrawal from social activities • Inability to concentrate • Extreme fatigue and lack of energy • A “leaden” sensation in the limbs • Increased need for sleep • Craving for carbohydrates • Weight gain In my case, the weight gain is more a cause than symptom of my SADness… but that’s a story for another time. According to Dr. Sauer, it’s the small hints that something may be off that we need to be watching for, both in ourselves and others. “A lot of the signs can be very subtle,” he says. “When you’re really suffering with depression, it can feel normal to you [to feel down], because you’ve felt that way for a long time. So common symptoms include feeling empty, like a ship without a rudder, that life is stuck in neutral and you’re not going anywhere. Everyone feels off some days, but if it’s happening more often than not, it’s a sign.” If you identify with any of these symptoms and have noticed yourself feeling down when the summer sun gives way to the dark winter months, consult with your doctor or primary care provider for guidance and treatment options. • Special thanks to Dr. Forrest Sauer at Twin Oaks Health Solutions, medical consultant for our Men’s Health section.
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ON THE COVER | JESSE JAHNER
WRITTEN BY: ALEXANDRA FLOERSCH PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
An inconspicuous photograph from 1977 sits upon the top shelf in Jesse Jahner's office. Yellowed by the years since it was taken, the image is of a 4-year-old boy dressed in a cowboy hat, leather vest and holster. Strung around his neck is a homemade sign penned in marker, reading “Sheriff Jahner” – a better example of foreshadowing you may never find. Or destiny, perhaps. You see, the little boy in the photograph was proudly representing Grandpa Frank in a local parade. Not only would the boy’s grandfather go on to serve as Emmons County sheriff for 12 years, decades later that same little boy would earn the title of “Sheriff Jahner” himself in Cass County, North Dakota. Climbing the Ranks "From a very young age, I knew,” says 46-year-old Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner. "Law enforcement and military experience runs in our family. My dad was part-time law enforcement in Strasburg, N.D., and fulltime in the military." Graduating from Fargo North High School, Jahner went on to North Dakota State University where he earned his degree in criminal justice. "One of my
18 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
biggest accomplishments in life was working full time and putting myself through college,” he explains. “It took me five years to get through it, but I paid for it as I went." It isn’t just a law enforcement career that Jahner shares with his father and grandfather. He attributes his work ethic to them as well. "It was what my parents always taught me: work hard, and you'll get what you want to achieve. That's been ingrained in me my whole life." Applying with the Sheriff’s Office almost immediately after graduating, it took Jahner three tries before he finally got hired. The old Cass County Jail had a fencedin basketball court for outdoor recreation, and his first role was to stand outside and supervise inmates day to day. "I started from the very lowest position,” he said. A year and three months later, Jahner moved to Page, N.D., to patrol the western region of Cass County before returning back home. In Fargo, he remained on Cass County patrol until he was promoted to narcotics detective and, eventually, training division sergeant. "Then, I was asked to supervise the metro-area street crimes unit as sergeant,” he says.
"It was what my parents always taught me: work hard, and you'll get what you want to achieve. That's been ingrained in me my whole life." – Jesse Jahner
In the meantime, he also joined Red River Valley SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) Team in 2002. “Being on SWAT gave me a lot of opportunities, including 2,900 hours of specialized training over my career,” he says. “I was also an instructor and provided more than 2,100 hours of training to law enforcement as well." In 2016, Sheriff Paul Laney promoted Jahner to captain of the field services division, where he supervised patrol, agency-wide training, emergency preparedness, search and rescue, special operations, the school resource program and use of force deployments. When he was elected as Cass County sheriff in 2019, Jahner left SWAT as assistant commander after 17 years, having completed one of the longeststanding terms with the agency. Faith, Family and Fun It’s no surprise that a resume like Jahner’s left him little time to focus on his personal life throughout his career. "I received the most overtime at this agency for many, many years,” he says. "That played a lot into my personal life, so I didn't get married until I was 40.” Acting as airboat commander with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Jahner met his future wife, Tonya, while assisting Morton and Burleigh counties with their flood in 2011. The two dated long-distance for a couple years before Tonya moved to Fargo, and they married in 2014. Though Jahner didn’t have kids of his own, he longed to make a difference in a child’s life even early in his career. That’s why he decided to sponsor a young girl from Ethiopia through Compassion International and Hope Lutheran Church in 2008. "Her name is Birtukan,” he says. “I didn't have kids, but corresponded with and assisted her. The money I sent
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ON THE COVER | JESSE JAHNER
to her helped buy school supplies and feed her family. She just finished school in 2018."
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: CASS COUNTY SHERIFF' S OFFICE
Birtukan isn’t the only benefactor of Jahner’s desire to give back. An avid Harley rider, Jahner makes an annual trip to Sturgis with his dad and participates in local charity rides, including the Ride to Fight Suicide and the 61 for 61 Ride, the annual fundraiser for Roger Maris.
"I went from street crimes and SWAT to meeting with people and talking. It's all the positive side of law enforcement." – Jesse Jahner Perhaps the ride that tugged at his heart most came from a conversation at a parade in the summer of 2018, when a local mother shared that her 4-year-old was sexually assaulted by a family friend. 20 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
“She was trying to figure out what the process was through the criminal justice system. Through that conversation – and conversations with a local representative – a bill was sponsored through the legislature,” Jahner says. “I was asked if I would write a letter of support. I did, and it passed.” In April 2019, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum signed Natalee's Law, which changed parts of the state's juvenile justice code to address cases like Natalee's. In August, Jahner volunteered for “Let’s
Ride with Natalee”, a motorcycle ride that raised money for the Red River Children’s Advocacy Center. ‘Sheriff Jahner’ Nearly 42 years after his parade photo was taken, Jahner was sworn in on January 2, 2019. He can’t help but thank his predecessor, former Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney. "I'm totally grateful for all the opportunities (Laney) gave me,” Jahner says. “A lot of what I learned from him was discipline, hard work and leadership by example – he was good at that.” When Jahner ran for sheriff, his campaign focused on community relations and preparedness. Since then, he has partnered with local organizations to establish Project Stand Up, a text-a-tip crime reporting program; the SafeTY Jacket Program which provides local responders with emergency information about individuals with autism; and to teach active threat response strategies to businesses throughout the county. "I've probably trained 1,000 employees since I started. I really do like to teach," he says. Aside from community outreach, Jahner’s role varies greatly – from overseeing the jail to all of field services.
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ON THE COVER | JESSE JAHNER
“Obviously, my role now is different. I went from street crimes and SWAT to meeting with people and talking,” he says. “It's all the positive side of law enforcement. Last week, I was reading a book to a kindergarten class." A Numbers Game With about 212 employees, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office is the largest law enforcement agency in North Dakota. Roughly 102 of those jobs reside within the jail. "The most challenging part of my job right now is that we're in a constant state of hiring. Every week I have one or two folders on my desk to hire people in the jail,” he says. “Most people don’t go into law enforcement to work in a jail; they want to go out on patrol."
If there aren’t any patrol openings, new grads will typically start in the jail. But as soon as a patrol opportunity presents itself at another agency, some of them will leave for those positions, Jahner explains. "The jail is a tough place to work, but the communication skills our people learn in there is invaluable,” Jahner says. “You'll have two deputies in a pod with 35-plus inmates. If you can't communicate, you’re not going to be successful.” Those are the skills deputies need most out on the streets. "Our patrol is different than Fargo or West Fargo; we don't have backup as quick as they do,” Jahner says. “If you're going to arrest someone out in Page, N.D., and things aren't going well, you have to be able to use your communication skills to talk to the person, otherwise things could go bad really quick." Building Relationships One Town at a Time A unique aspect of Jahner’s position is that – unlike police chief – Cass County sheriff is an elected position. "When you get up every day, you want to do the best you can for the citizens of Cass County,” Jahner says. "I answer to the people. At least once a week I try to go out somewhere in the county to have coffee with citizens and talk about what we're doing, get feedback and hear what they'd like to see." Jahner tries to instill that same philosophy within his department, encouraging his deputies to hit at least three communities during their shift to build those relationships. "In our small towns, people know who's doing everything, and if we're not getting out to those communities and people aren't meeting our deputies and trusting them, they're not going to pass that information on to us," he says. “In doing that, we're going to be able to curb a lot of criminal activity or figure out who's doing it." In the next three years of his term, Jahner plans to focus on the same principles he has in 2019: emergency preparedness, community trust and education. "I want
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people to see our patrol staff and think, 'Hey, that's our law enforcement. Whatever we need, they will be there for us.' Just to have that trust in us." With a 22-year career in law enforcement, it’s easy to become jaded. But when it comes to defining the good life, Jahner doesn’t lose sight of his purpose. "To me, the good life means having the opportunity to wear this uniform every day, work alongside the men and women of the Cass County Sheriff's Office and to serve the citizens of Cass – the greatest citizens in the state of North Dakota," he says. •
"When you get up every day, you want to do the best you can for the citizens of Cass County.” – Jesse Jahner
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Few businesses are more beloved in the Fargo-Moorhead area than Sandy’s Donuts. 24 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
LIFE AT SANDY'S
ONE DONUT BARES ALL WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Few businesses are more beloved in the FargoMoorhead area than Sandy’s Donuts. Their beginning is a beautiful illustration of how hardships can be turned into something sweet and successful. Sandy Ostlund, the founder of Sandy’s Donuts, was well known in his neighborhood. He loved making donuts, and he would generously deliver plates of them to his neighbors. When he lost his job at the age of 52, instead of panicking, he put even more pressure on himself. With the encouragement of his family and friends, he took out a $20,000 loan to embark on a new adventure: starting a donut shop.
Since its opening day in 1983, the community and their appetites have happily supported Sandy’s Donuts, and it’s only continued to grow in business and popularity. Perhaps you’re one of the many people who love the business and what they produce, but what you don’t know might surprise you. About a week ago, we received an unexpected letter from one of Sandy’s very own donuts, Donald Ut. He wanted customers to learn about the lives of donuts— what it’s like for them to be born and become adults in three hours flat, and how the donut-sized hole in their hearts can only be filled by you (and Sandy’s iconic angel icing, of course). urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 25
Please take a little coffee break to read this letter from Donald. To whom it may concern, My name is Donald Ut. You can call me Don. I am, in fact, a glazed donut. Before you make assumptions and throw me into the category of one of those boring, desert-dry (or dessert, in this case) donuts, let me just stop you right there. I hail from Sandy’s Donuts, and they raised me right. I may not spark as many “oohs” and “ahhs” as my younger brother, Long John, with his adornments of maple and bacon, but I’m the familiar one you know you’ll love—the old standby, as it were. I am a few minutes away from being consumed with joy and fulfilling my purpose in life— bringing happiness to taste buds and making them dance. I’m waiting in this brown bag until my new friend stops driving, relaxes his shoulders, takes a sip of coffee and sinks his teeth into me with anticipation. Did I make it weird? Sorry. Before all that happens, I feel compelled to tell you our story—life from the donut’s point of view, from when I was just a glint in my baker’s eye to the day I met this old guy with the pearly white dentures. You see, life begins at the West Fargo shop for us, and it’s quite the process. We’re no simpletons. We’re donuts, and that means we take time, attention and a lot of TLC. It all starts with the mixing of our DNA—flour, sugar, milk, love and other
trade secrets. For 20-30 minutes, we rise, unless you’re a cake donut. We’re then dropped on a wooden table and cut into loaves (no pain, no gain) where we’re allowed to rise a second time. After we grow up a little bit, we’re taken to a sheeter that flattens us (being born is slightly traumatizing), followed by the cutter that, well, cuts us again, this time in octagon shapes to utilize every square inch of dough. Next thing we know, we’re being placed on a screen and carted off to the proofers. It’s like a Floridian July in there. The humidity and 98-degree heat makes us rise a third and final time. Then we’re wheeled off to the fryers where each of us, one screen at a time, is dropped into intensely hot oil. After floating for 30 seconds on each side, we’re totally fried, resembling a bunch of bronzed beach beauties. Following our oil bath, we’re each put on a rack to cool down and dry off before being blanketed in a magical waterfall of glaze. Our bakers then place us gently on our trays for a little nap before your visit so we’re refreshed and ready to impress. Earlier today, I saw thousands of my sisters and brothers embark on their own adventures. Some were placed in boxes and delivered to our two other stores or area gas stations. Many more were picked up and taken to meetings all across town. Others yet were sitting with me in the case until their new friends handpicked them with love. Twenty minutes have gone by since my friend walked in and chose me. The truck’s rumble has stopped. He’s taking a sip of his coffee. It’s time to make someone’s life a little bit sweeter. Sincerely,
Don Ut
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Sweet Facts
• Sandy’s Donuts makes almost
10,000 donuts every day. • From Almond Joy to peanut butter cup donuts, angel iced Bismarks to Bavarian cream, long Johns to donut balls, they produce over 100 classic and unique varieties of donuts every week. • They have three locations: West Fargo, Osgood and Downtown Fargo. • Mark Ostlund, Sandy’s son, began working for his dad six months after the business began. He’s been there ever since and worked nearly every position, from donut decorating to managing, social media manager to CEO. Mark has been fully running the business since 2002 and took it over in 2008 after Sandy passed away, continuing their family’s legacy in the community. • Mark still manages the Sandy’s Donuts social media accounts himself. • The idea for Sandy’s mascot, the caveman pushing the donut, can be credited to a staff member’s husband and Mark. “He thought I should put a guy pushing a donut on our plain, white van,” Mark said. “I thought the donut looked like a wheel when I drew it out, so bam—I had a mascot and our one-liner: ‘We didn’t invent the donut, but we perfected it.’” urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 27
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LOCAL HERO | DAMON BRADSHAW
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WRITTEN BY: ALEXIS SWENSON PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
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LOCAL HERO | DAMON BRADSHAW
Damon Bradshaw, Lieutenant for the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Hospital Police Department moved from Chicago, Illinois to West Fargo as a 14-year-old at his mom’s prompting. She was originally from the F-M area and wanted to get her young son out of the violence of Chicago. “Our neighborhood was kind of so-so, there was an increase in violence and crime, and Chicago is a place where you can be in the wrong place at the wrong time. That happened to a couple of my friends in the neighborhood - they got shot. So, we packed up and within a month I was enrolled in West Fargo High School. It was such a culture shock. In Chicago, you need to have a heightened sense of awareness and here you didn’t. It was different to trust people and realize, ‘Oh, they’re legitimately nice. There’s no gimmick here, no strings attached – they’re just nice,’” said Lt. Bradshaw. Upon graduating from Shanley High School, Lt. Bradshaw attended Mayville State University on a baseball scholarship for a season. Looking to play in a larger town, Lt. Bradshaw took a small detour to Fergus Falls Community College to play for a coach 32 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
he respected who had connections with the Cincinnati Reds. Following one season there, Lt. Bradshaw transferred to Colorado State to play baseball for two years. It was in Colorado that Lt. Bradshaw joined the Army. “At the time, I felt like I needed to grow up a little bit. I’ve always wanted the experience of being in the military. My grandpa and a lot of other relatives served in the military. I didn’t want to ever look back and regret not doing it. I just told my mom one day, ‘Mom, I enlisted
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: DAMON BRADSHAW
in the Army.’ And, I just went,” said Lt. Bradshaw.
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: DAMON BRADSHAW
Lt. Bradshaw took an interest in the role of a Combat Engineer (12-B) where he was trained in explosives and demolitions. For the majority of his four years serving in the Army, Lt. Bradshaw was stationed at Fort Drum, New York.
“In the military, I developed some very close friendships and it is like a bond like no other. It’s different when you know there’s people to your left and right who would die for you and you’d die for them. During my time in the service, I received hours and hours of training. I was handling TNT dynamite and C4 – you don’t want to take that stuff lightly. My job was dangerous, yet exciting,” said Lt. Bradshaw. During an 8-month deployment to Egypt and Israel, his unit’s mission was to sniff out explosives that had been out in the desert since WWII as well as to seek out various terrorist cells and limit terrorist activity. “That’s pretty much all we did 5 days a week. Various people would report things to our chain of command and we’d try to locate these unexploded landmines that had been out in the desert since WWII. There’s a lot of pride in being a 12-B. You know that you’re really depended on by other units. They want those Combat Engineers to lead the way and make an area safe for them to operate in,” said Lt. Bradshaw. “I was in Egypt when 9/11 happened. It was kind of a wild time and sort of scary. Tensions were really high in the Middle East at that time. Our camp that we were at was pretty heavily fortified anyway, but after 9/11 you really sensed a higher security,” said Lt. Bradshaw. Life in Law Enforcement After receiving a medical discharge from sustaining an injury, Lt. Bradshaw was encouraged by a friend to consider a career in law enforcement. Lt. Bradshaw was soon enrolled in the North Dakota Police Academy and said, “I’ve never looked back or regretted it. It’s been a fun ride so far, and now I’m going on 15 years.” Upon graduating from the Police Academy, Lt. Bradshaw worked a total of roughly six years in the Mayville Police Department serving as a Patrolman for four years and urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 33
LOCAL HERO | DAMON BRADSHAW
Chief of Police for about two years. Wanting to get back to the Fargo area, he was intrigued to learn that the VA Hospital had their own police department. He applied, attended a grueling 10-week federal academy in Little Rock, Arkansas, and took a job at the VA Hospital in 2011.
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: DAMON BRADSHAW
Lt. Bradshaw started at the VA Hospital as a Patrolman and was promoted to Corporal, Sergeant, and now, Lieutenant. Currently he is charged with leading the department of 17 and is responsible for the coordination of scheduling and issuing most of the training. He serves as Firearms Instructor, Tactical Firearms Instructor, and Defensive Tactics Instructor, ensuring that the department qualifies and certifies for firearms defensive tactics every quarter. “When you’re working at the VA, you deal with a different clientele. Pretty much everyone is a veteran. Sometimes you deal with more behavioral issues in the VA than
when you’re on the street. We really train on our verbal de escalation skills – we call it verbal judo. I’m a Verbal Judo Instructor so I’ve completed extra training to learn how to de escalate things whether it takes 10 minutes or an hour before having to use any type of physical force. Sometimes it takes officers awhile to adjust, but once they realize that their voice is the strongest weapon they have, they can really get out of a lot of situations and de escalate a lot of situations if they just take the time,” said Lt. Bradshaw. All officers at the VA are veterans themselves and wear color-coded tags on their shirts that signify their veteran status. This allows for officers to quickly point it out and say, “We’re Veterans, also.” The VA maintains “I Care” value statements which include, “I Care about those who have served, my fellow VA employees, choosing ‘the harder right instead of the easier wrong’, and performing my duties to the very best of my ability.” Lt. Bradshaw honors these and enjoys representing the ICARE acronym of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence. The Fundamentals Stemming from his firearms expertise, Lt. Bradshaw felt obligated to ensure that people are well-trained in the fundamentals of firearm safety and founded Bradshaw Firearms & Safety. Lt. Bradshaw is certified to instruct Class I and Class II Conceal & Carry Trainings and currently meets people at their location in addition to consulting for active shooter drills for local businesses. “Since ND is an open carry state, I find it very terrifying that there are people carrying firearms and guns without any training. Complacency can be deadly, so
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my whole purpose is to teach the fundamentals so that people can keep themselves safe and, more importantly, not hurt anyone else if they choose to carry a firearm,” said Lt. Bradshaw. Healthy Outlet With a myriad of experiences from living in Chicago, serving in the military, and working in law enforcement for 15 years, Lt. Bradshaw recognizes the importance of developing healthy outlets and coping strategies. “At the VA, we talk about mental health a lot. For veterans and police in general, you see a lot of bad things and sometimes people are afraid to address it. I would like people to know that it’s okay; you’re human. It doesn’t make you weak or any less of an officer or veteran if you have emotional periods of time. Just stay focused and find a healthy outlet. For me and dealing with PTSD issues, my outlet is family time and rooting for the Cubs. Family really puts things in perspective if I’m having a bad day or a bad experience. I’ll look at my newborn son and instantly think, ‘Okay, this is what life is about,’” said Lt. Bradshaw. With a 14-year-old daughter, 3-year-old daughter, and a newborn baby boy, Lt. Bradshaw and Katie, his wife, try to get as much family time as possible. After welcoming their son into the world in September, life lately for Lt. Bradshaw has looked a bit like Daddy Day Care, ushering kids to dance lessons, voice lessons, school, and daycare. The family of five spends a lot of time plotting their next adventure with plans to purchase an RV motor home and are active in the Christian community with their church, St. Benedict’s and through exchanging letters with their sponsored “foster daughter” in Bolivia through an organization called Compassion, Int’l. Embracing The Good Life “Embracing all the experiences I’ve had – the good and the bad and being able to overcome all of the difficult experiences. Not everything is rainbows and unicorns, but it’s important, it makes you who you are. That’s what this life is about – you have those challenging experiences, you learn and grow. I have a lot to be thankful for and I don’t take that for granted. A beautiful family, a house - that’s the good life for me. I look forward to what the next 40 years have in store for me,” said Lt. Bradshaw. •
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