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.

Looking To Build? Why Not Wishek?

Enjoy the benefits of small town living and your dream home at the same time!  

Wishek's newest housing development, located south of the school and hospital, is an affordable way to build the home you have always wanted to have.  There are no special assessments and each lot includes city water and sewer.  Telephone and power will also be installed at no charge.  Prices range from $15,000 to $18,000 for 140' x 105' lot.  

Whether you are looking to build your dream home, or move a house into town, Wishek's Fifteenth Addition is the perfect place to live.  It offers the best of country and city living.  Acres of farm land surround the addition, but it is located on the edge of town, providing quick access to the many businesses and amenities that Wishek offers.

For more information, contact the Wishek JDA at 701-452-2371 or at wishekjda@bektel.com.

As you can see, the view from your new home will be priceless!

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...

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.

Fishing, Camping & Birding on Green Lake in North Dakota

Where can you go to escape hurriedness of the city and the chaos of working life? 

You can find renewal and peacefulness on the North Dakota prairie.

One favorite North Dakota place to escape is in and around Green Lake, located 7 miles southeast of Wishek, North Dakota. 

Green Lake, 7 miles southeast of Wishek, North Dakota

 Green Lake is a simple prairie lake amidst prairie grasslands

 With the snow gone and Spring's arrival, Green Lake will soon be full of fishing boats, campers and bird watchers. 

 Green Lake is home to summer lake dwellers.

 The North Dakota prairie offers tranquility that cannot be found elsewhere. It is an advantage to living in and around Wishek to be able to spend quality family time at Green Lake.

Have you visited Green Lake?

What's your favorite pastime to find peacefulness and renewal?

For camping reservations at Green Lake this summer, please contact the Wishek Park Board by calling Jay Kamletz at 701.269.2116.

What Spring brings to a North Dakota small town...

 Spring brings hope to our North Dakota small town of Wishek. The North Dakota economy is booming through energy, agriculture and manufacturing sectors. Our state is financially strong. North Dakota boasts the lowest unemployment rate in the nation. In Wishek, our taxable sales continue to rise, pointing to strong economic growth. We have quality jobs readily available. There are affordable homes for sale in Wishek. New city housing lots with city water and sewer provided and no special assessments are now for sale.

With melting snow and warm temperatures, we are relishing in the arrival of an array of species of birds all around us.

The air is fresh and there is a silence across our prairie with the only sounds often coming from the birds singing, honking, quacking and squawking. 

While we know there is always a chance there could be a little more snow and ice in the month of April, it won't last for long. Farmers are busy planning for an upcoming farming season. Many local Wishek residents are planning their summer vegetable gardens. Track and field and golf season have kicked off for our local junior high and high school kids. The local city park is filled with children sliding and swinging with glee as their parents enjoy the outdoors alongside of them.

No matter the season, there is always time to polka in Wishek. The young and old enjoy our native Germans from Russia heritage. 

 On a Saturday night, you might find Wishek residents taking some yodeling and country music like they did last Saturday night from local talent, Kristi Goldade.  Dakota Air The Radio Show came to Wishek and an old fashioned variety show was held in front of a packed house at the Wishek Civic Center.

 Spring brings continued success from our students. Youth are the future in Wishek. Whether it's the success of the Speech team, the above State Science Fair participants, the State Dual Wrestling Champions or State Music participants, our students excel across numerous academic, musical and athletic activities. 

The future is bright this Spring in Wishek. What is your favorite aspect of Spring?

Let us know by leaving a comment below. It's easy to comment and we love hearing from you.