Tri-County Fair 2012 in Wishek, North Dakota

Our 86th annual Tri-County Fair wrapped up last night on the fairgrounds located, 1 mile west of Wishek. If you want to experience what rural living is all about a county fair is an excellent way to see the spirit, values, community and fun. Here are 20 plus captures from the 4-H Exhibits and livestock barn. If you have more photos to share of Wishek, please email them to wishekjda@bektel.com as we working on completing a new, freshly updated Wishek web site and are looking for a wide array of photos. 

Wishek's Easter Egg Hunt

The Wishek Association of Commerce sponsored an Easter Egg Hunt in the Wishek City Park today. It was organized by volunteers with help with the Wishek Nursing Home and Prairie Hill Assisted Living. In addition, several local businesses today prizes for the 12 golden egg prizes. Thank you to BEK Communications, Danzig Honey Company, Lora's Boutique, McTwist and Raile Insurance. The Wishek Park Board awarded the grand prize of an individual swimming pass to the Wishek Pool.

The weather was stunning and a perfect day. Over 80 children ages 0-8 attended with their parents. Here are a few photos from our community Easter Egg Hunt...

Stay tuned for more blogging from Wishek! On Monday, the Wishek Job Development Authority will be introducing you to our new director via our blog and Facebook page. You will be able to follow weekly updates on this blog about businesses and community events.

A New Year Start with Small Town Success

The New Year kicked off in Wishek this week with record setting warm temperatures and two home town boys basketball games. A junior high girls choir sang the National Anthem for both Tuesday and Thursday night games.

 Both games kept our small town on the edge of their seats and our boys delivered excitement.

 Tuesday night's win came against the Central Prairie Firebirds. 58-55 was the final score.

Thursday night's win came against the Kidder County Pirates. 55-53 was the final score.

Whether it be a sporting, academic, musical, drama, speech or other event, our small town school gives our kids an amazing foundation to build upon successes in life. It's a unique, small town school that is supported whole heartedly by our community, win or lose.

What's your favorite thing about the small town environment?

Sauerkraut Day: What You Can Expect Tomorrow in Wishek

Tomorrow is a big day on the North Dakota prairie. It's Sauerkraut Day where people come from far and wide across the prairie to line up for a free lunch of sauerkraut and fixings in Wishek.

There will be pumpkins to buy, crafters sharing their treasures for you to purchase and plenty of background on the German Russian heritage of our unique rural area.

You might see people at Sauerkraut Day wearing t-shirts like the above one. But you don't need to have German heritage to enjoy Sauerkraut Day and our community.

We welcome you...

with a warm polka...

and the Kraut Mobile delivering fresh cooked sauerkraut from the Wishek Association of Commerce.

It might not look gourmet but thousands will enjoy the sauerkraut, potatoes, weiners and more meal tomorrow in Wishek.

Important will people show up on Sauerkraut Day to our small town...like the Governor, Senators and more. Plus it seems most every community member is there to visit with guests.

Business owners and employees serve all that go through the Sauerkraut serving line. In the end, it's not about the kraut. Sauerkraut Day is about community, connecting you to our rural area and all that we have to offer. 

But we sure would like it if you enjoy the sauerkraut too.

Homecoming parade: Building community for the future

Today is the Homecoming parade in Wishek. The streets fill as the parade wraps around our small town.

The Homecoming king and queen drive through town. While businesses and school classes have original floats.

Generations gather in the community to take in the event. It's free. It's important. You can't create an event like this in a city. It's homemade small town entertainment. You know everyone by name.

The kids along the street watching scramble for candy being thrown.

Flags fly proudly and rivalries are strong in our homecoming parade.

Businesses like Wishek Manufacturing are large employers in our community and are growing. They pull a Wishek disc through the parade.

We are building a community for the future in Wishek, North Dakota. Kids dream big in Wishek and our small town rallies around them through education, activities and community events to give them a foundation for success.

What's a favorite memory you have of a small town parade or Homecoming event?

Singing To Remember Our Germans from Russia Heritage (Video)

On Saturday night, the Germans From Russia Heritage Collection visited Wishek with a tour through our community. The evening entertainment included our Wishek Public School choir featuring kids in grades 7-12. Mrs. Janet Wolff is the director and has taught the choir native German from Russia folk songs. Here are a photos and two short videos from the choir's evening of entertainment.

Advantage to raising your kids in Wishek: "Bedbugs" Play Recap

Often people wonder the advantages and disadvantages of raising kids in a small town environment. Is it the right choice for you? There are many that choose small town advantages and choose Wishek for their family. Education is one of the greatest advantages to raising kids in Wishek.

In Wishek, we have a kindergarten through grade 12 school with strong leadership and excellent teachers. There are ample activities for kids to engage in and participate from drama, music and sports. In just a couple weeks, preschool will begin in our school thanks to the volunteering of numerous parents to rally to jump start the new program.

This past Sunday evening we were reminded of another advantage of raising kids in Wishek and that is community involvement and spirit. Through the rallying of parents to create a new preschool in Wishek, parents involved their children in a community play, "Bedbugs" directed by local moms, Tammy Rohweder and Janet Wolff. Mrs. Wolff also serves as the Wishek School music teacher. Kids from ages 4 through grade 12 participated. Community members attended and hugely supported the play which raised over $1300 in profit for the preschool program.

What is important to see in our community is that there are young families willing to volunteer, work and reach out to keep a program like preschool going. Not only did they raise money to keep preschool going but alongside our school's administration and staff, preschool has been improved, creating a state accredited preschool program over the federally funded Headstart program that was previously offered

Wishek is a rural community that it thriving, growing and blossoming on the North Dakota prairie. By offering a wide array of services in our community, we are a stronger community that will attract more young families, potential business owners and employees to Wishek. Thank you to each of you who make our community thrive.

Whether you are local or not to our community, what are advantages or any disadvantages you find in raising kids in a small town? Let us know with a simple comment below.

Take a look at the 17 photos of "Bedbugs" and see the next generation of our community...

North Dakota camping, fishing & family fun at Green Lake

One advantage of living and working in Wishek, North Dakota is the close proximity to Green Lake, just seven miles from Wishek. It's a popular destination for summer camping, boating, fishing and recreation for families. Here are a few sneak peeks into a weekend of family fun on Green Lake from this past weekend...

Local Play "Bedbugs" To Support New Pre-School

Wishek parents have rallied to support and start a new pre-school program. Registration for students ages 4-5 is due at Wishek Public School July 28th. Mrs. Angel Kuntz will be teaching the two morning a week class. There is a lot of excitement around our community for pre-school and it is because of the parents who have rallied to fund raise and support this program for the next generation of students in Wishek. 

Sneak peek at Tri-County Fair fun

 What do you love about a fair? 

Wishek is home to the Tri-County fair, including Emmons, Logan and McIntosh counties. This year marks the 85th annual Tri-County Fair. It truly represents our community, our people and our way of life in Wishek. Multi-generational families gather for food and fun at the fair. Kids participate in 4-H exhibits. There are concerts, races, rodeos, rides and more. 

 Here are just a few favorite moments from today at the Tri-County Fair...

Small town entertainment: Wishek 5K Walk Run

You've heard the statement before, "There's nothing to do in a small town."

We disagree. 

In Wishek, our community offers activities and events that engage our community and region. It is up to you on whether you want to participate or not but there is always something to do in Wishek. 

This time of year activities may include a local weekend quilt show, races at the fairgrounds, a local softball or baseball game, family night at the local swimming pool and picnics in the city park. By July, the local farmers market run by the FFA chapter will be open on Saturday mornings and the Tri-County Fair will be happening in mid-July. 

What is there to do this weekend in Wishek?

Our community will be busy with hundreds of Wishek High School alumni visiting for alumni weekend. 

Then on Saturday morning, many from the community and area will gather for...

Wishek's 2nd annual 5K Walk Run that kicks off at 9AM on Saturday morning on the east side of town along the main highway. Registration begins at 8:30AM.