Moorhead Magazine Spring 2015 by MSU Moorhead

MOORHEAD minnesota state university moorhead

The magazine for alumni, friends and community.

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Inside: MSUM RECEIVES $5 MILLION PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR BEFORE THE DRILLING BAKKEN STORYTELLERS SPRING 2015 | Vol. 15, No. 1

President Anne Blackhurst kicked off her presidency with a unique and unprecedented event, Laps for the Long Run. The fundraiser was part of homecoming and presidential inauguration week activities to support the university. To jump-start the challenge, Blackhurst personally pledged $1,000 per lap for a total of $50,000 toward the President’s Merit Scholarship Endowment. More than 250 “Anne fans,” including faculty, staff, administrators, students, alumni and friends, ran laps with the president to show their support and to help raise money. To date, more than $1.2 million has been raised in this successful fundraiser. “A lot of it is going toward student scholarships, and all of it is going to things that benefit students. I believe in MSUM, and I believe we’re worth the investment,” President Blackhurst said.

MOORHEAD minnesota state university moorhead

ALUMNI FEATURES

magazine

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Before the Drilling

Storytellers Expose

Artists respond to the oil boom The good, the bad and the ugly

Passion and Price Bakken educators’ struggles

Protect and Serve The underbelly of the boom

bakken.com Powered by Dragons

NEWS BRIEFS

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Scheels Donates $1M for Football Field

Pasekas Donate $5M for Business School

GO! TEAM Boosts Athletics

Walthall Named Coach of the Year

Kristjansson-Nelson is Professor of the Year

Class Notes

Administration

Staff

President: Anne Blackhurst president@mnstate.edu

Executive Editor: David Wahlberg ’81 david.wahlberg@mnstate.edu

Interim Provost/Senior VP, Academic Affairs: Michelle Malott

Editor: Kristi Monson ’84, ’96 kristi.monson@mnstate.edu

VP, Alumni Foundation: Laura Huth

Art Director: Derek Lien liende@mnstate.edu

VP, Finance & Administration: Janet Mahoney VP, Enrollment Management/ Student Affairs: Yvette Underdue Murph Executive Director, Marketing & Communications: David Wahlberg

Photographer: Ande Sailer ’13 Editorial Team: Meghan Feir ’13 Katie Faken ’12 Katie Berning ’12 Danielle Rebel, intern

Chief Information Officer: Daniel Heckaman Chief Diversity Officer: Donna Brown Chief Human Resources Officer: Ann Hiedeman Minnesota State University Moorhead Magazine is published by the Marketing & Communications Office for the MSUM community of alumni, employees, students, supporters, friends and neighbors. Contact us: magazine@mnstate.edu or 218.477.2110. Minnesota State University Moorhead is an equal opportunity educator and employer and is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.

PRESIDENT’S LETTER Dear Alumni and Friends, s I write this, the university is in the midst of a record-breaking fundraising year. Since the beginning of the year, we have announced nearly $7 million in gifts to our School of Business—one of which was the largest single gift in the history of MSUM. While the size of these gifts makes them noteworthy, they share one important characteristic with virtually every gift we receive: They represent the profound gratitude of alumni who credit their success in life to their alma mater. Put another way, the donors—like virtually all of the alumni I have spoken to during the past seven months—believe their lives were transformed by their MSUM education. In fact, “transformative” is by far the most common descriptor I hear from alumni who want to make sure I understand what MSUM has meant to them and why they are motivated to give back to the university. Of course, this is not a surprise to me. Every day, I see evidence of aweinspiring transformation on our campus. For some of our students, the transformation begins the moment they step on campus and realize there is a world of opportunities they never knew existed. For others, the transformation occurs as they discover their passion or purpose in life. For the vast majority of our students, the most profound transformation is in their self-confidence and their beliefs about what they are capable of achieving. Often, this transformation occurs as a result of the mentoring relationships between students and members of our outstanding faculty. Just ask Kyja Kristjansson-Nelson, the 2014 Minnesota Professor of the Year and MSUM’s 11th CASE Professor, who has witnessed the transformative power of an MSUM education firsthand. Better yet, ask her students. They’ll tell you that Kyja—and many more professors like her—transformed their understanding of themselves and the world in ways that enabled them to achieve more than they ever thought possible. I hear similar stories about our faculty every day. And I know that our staff play an equally important role as they create the conditions for growth and nurture our students’ development outside of the classroom—whether by providing the services and support that allow students to fully engage in the learning process and achieve their potential, or providing a physical environment that inspires our students to collaborate, create, or pause for the reflection that true transformation requires. Regardless of our role, we have daily opportunities to make a lasting and life-altering impact on our students, who in turn will create lasting change in our world. Personally, I can’t think of a more noble or inspiring purpose than transforming the world by transforming the lives of our students. I am grateful for the many ways our alumni and friends contribute to this purpose. Because of you, and the incredible things our students accomplish with your support, our world is a better place. Best wishes,

Anne

Connect with President Anne facebook.com/PresidentAnne

twitter.com/PrezBlackhurst

NEWS BRIEFS

The Long Run Pres. Anne to Lead for the Long Run Minnesota State University Moorhead officially installed Anne Blackhurst as its 11th president on Friday, September 26, 2014, in an inspiring ceremony marked by academic pageantry and campus-wide enthusiasm. The campus mall was packed with hundreds of students, or “Anne fans,” who lined the walkways to show support for their new president. Highlights of inauguration week included the installation ceremony, a community block party, and the Laps for the Long Run fundraiser, as well as numerous homecomingrelated activities. In her inaugural address, President Anne spoke of “Leading for the Long Run,” playing on her passion for long-distance running, as well as her commitment to bringing lasting change and stability to MSU Moorhead. She spoke of how the university can lead the change efforts that will be necessary for all of us, including our students, their families, and their communities.

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EDITOR’S NOTE s part of our rebrand of the magazine two years ago, we elected to adopt a theme for each issue and explore that theme from different perspectives. Our Fall 2014 issue, for example, showcased alumni working in various sportsrelated fields. We received a lot of positive feedback about that issue, as well as concern that the issue focused too much on sports. Such diversity in response is valuable. What do you think about themed issues? Let us know your thoughts as it helps shape future editions. This issue takes a personal look at alumni working in and around western North Dakota, where the Bakken and its stories make local, regional and national headlines almost weekly. We feature graduates from myriad majors and backgrounds, all making a difference in their part of the world. They told us that while the national media portrays a fairly negative picture of what’s happening out west, the people who live and work there have a much more positive experience and hope for the future. We are proud to feature MSUM’s 11th award-winning Minnesota CASE professor, Kyja KristjanssonNelson. She joins an inspiring list of faculty who are committed to their students and passionate about their work. Rest assured, MSUM students are taught by the best. Finally, we’re excited about the generous gifts from alumni and friends who share our desire to make MSUM the best university it can be. There’s a renewed sense of optimism as we head into 2015. These gifts are a tremendous start to a new year. Enjoy. Kristi (Storebo) Monson, ’84, ’96 Editor | kristi.monson@mnstate.edu

Check out web exclusive content that didn’t make it into the print magazine at mnstate.edu/magazine.

Perks, Pride & Insider Information We work hard to bring you great information in this magazine as well as pride and perks that last beyond. Don’t miss out! ▸ Receive special access to the online directory to find alumni and friends nationwide. It only takes a minute to register at mnstate.edu/alumni to access these perks and monthly news. Once registered, the alumni directory displays on the left side of the page. ▸ Sign up for your own Dragon VIP discount and perks card. ▸ There are gatherings galore, from CNSA and Economics to the Fargo Marathon and more. Check the alumni event calendar often!

See inauguration videos, photos and read her inauguration address at mnstate.edu/inauguration.

Stay in the know and celebrate the Perks and Pride of being a Dragon! SPRING 2015

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Pasekas Donate $5 MILLION

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

“We are honored the Pasekas believe MSUM is worth their investment.” ~ Anne Blackhurst, MSUM President > Pictured L to R: Dean Marsha Weber, Carolyn and Rodney Paseka, and Pres. Anne Blackhurst

Business School Renamed Paseka School of Business Rodney and Carolyn Paseka have donated $5 million to MSUM’s School of Business, which is now renamed the Paseka School of Business. “The naming of the school was secondary to what my purpose in this gift is,” said Rodney Paseka, CEO of Fargo-based brick-making company Hebron Brick. “This is less about me than it is those students.” At least 80 percent of the Rodney and Carolyn Paseka School of Business Endowment created by their donation will go toward scholarships for business school students. The rest could go to research, faculty positions, program development or other uses. Rodney Paseka ’71 (accounting & business administration) is a visionary credited with transforming an aging manufacturing company in a mature industry. He has catapulted Hebron Brick from $4 million in annual sales to more than $40 million in sales in 2014. Carolyn attended MSUM and later began working at the university as a senior clerk in the offices of Financial Aid, Affirmative Action, Philosophy and Publications. She retired from MSUM in 2001 after a 15-year career. The Pasekas believe in the power of education to transform lives, and they have consistently demonstrated that philosophy by sponsoring annual scholarships for single mothers, because

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they believe an education is the surest way to break the cycle of poverty. “Rodney and Carolyn have been loyal supporters of MSUM for many years. This generous gift to the School of Business is historic and truly transformative,” said MSUM President Anne Blackhurst. “Our students will benefit from their gift for years to come.” The Pasekas hope students receiving the scholarships will pay it forward by sharing with others down the road. “One person can do so much,” Rodney Paseka said. “A lot of people can do a lot of little things that could be just as important.” “The School of Business, which is accredited by AACSB, the premier accrediting agency for business schools in the world, has a long history of excellence; many graduates from the business programs are in highly successful and visible careers,” said Dean Marsha Weber, College of Business and Innovation. “There are a lot of people who succeed in smaller, but significant ways, and it’s all because they had some opportunity and it comes from having an education like this,” Rodney Paseka said.

Read more about Rodney and Carolyn Paseka at mnstate.edu/magazine.

The gift serves “as a call to action for the many of us that have been sitting on the sidelines, and now it’s our time to follow your lead and consider major gifts of our own.” ~ Scott Nelson ’74 (accounting) Alumni Foundation President

“The donation is a big deal for MSUM, not only as a boost for the business school but also as a message for students. Paseka himself, as an MSUM alumnus, is an example of what can be done with an education from MSUM. His success speaks for itself. But in addition, the generosity he and his wife have extended to the school is a realword expression of a business person’s faith in the university. That’s a strong positive message for current and future students.” ~ Forum editorial, February 25, 2015

70k

Scheels Donates $1 MILLION for Football Field, Artificial Turf

Founders Gala

Nearly 300 guests attended the Feb. 20 Founders Scholarship Gala. The annual event raised more than $70,000 to increase the endowment and the annual awards for need-based scholarships. Scholarship recipients shared their stories of grit and heart, while guests enjoyed music by Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome, free hors d’oeuvres and champagne, a silent and live auction, dinner and dessert, and a mystery wine sale. > Pictured L to R: Pres. Anne Blackhurst, AD Doug Peters, and Scheels CEO Steve Scheel

Giving Hearts Alumni and friends raised more than $50,000 for MSUM in just 24 hours during Giving Hearts Day Feb. 12. Gifts collected totaled $25,675. Combined with the $25,000 matching gift, that is $50,675 in funds that will support opportunities for students.

$50,675

On behalf of Scheels, CEO Steve Scheel donated $1 million for a new football field with artificial turf, which will be named Scheels Field.

seem to go hand in hand, and we are pleased to be able to help build Dragon Athletics by providing an all-weather turf field for the MSUM football field.”

A groundbreaking ceremony for Scheels Field will be held April 25 after the spring football game, both of which are part of the Dragon Athletics Spring Thaw event. Festivities include multiple alumni games and an alumni gathering that evening at the Courtyard by Marriott. More details can be found at msumdragons.com.

“Building partnerships with regional businesses is one of my most important priorities,” Blackhurst said. “The businesses in this area look to MSUM for well-prepared graduates and, in turn, this pledge from Scheels shows how the private sector continues to support the university and its students.”

Interested fans and alumni can follow the process of design and installation of the new turf and lights at msumdragons.com/ScheelsField.

“We absolutely believe that MSUM and Dragon Athletics are an important part of our regional community,” said MSUM Athletic Director Doug Peters. “This investment and partnership with Scheels lets us know they stand beside us as we continue to serve our region.”

The gift was for the Laps for the Long Run campaign, which was part of President Anne Blackhurst’s inauguration activities. Blackhurst, an avid long-distance runner, began her presidency July 1, and Laps for the Long Run recognized the beginning of her term by raising money for donor-selected university projects. “We look forward to partnering with MSUM and President Blackhurst to help MSUM become a stronger player in our community of FargoMoorhead,” Scheel said. “Scheels and athletics

Other sports that may use the field include softball, soccer and intramural sports. And when other fields are muddy, the Scheels Field will be an additional option, clearly benefiting the entire campus community. Last year, 1,500 MSUM students participated in intramurals, and there were 225 club teams.

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NEWS BRIEFS

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GO! TEAM Boosts Athletics Profile

GO! TEAM

> The GO! TEAM rousing the crowds of Nemzek with the Human Hoop.

Dragon Athletics has built momentum the last few years, and one team has been hiding in the background while greatly impacting the way people interact with the department. GO! TEAM is an internship program nearly 40 students strong. Students do marketing, social media, sports information, statistics, photography, videography, video streaming, operations, promotions, graphic design, 3D animation, mascots, digital signage, journalism, and live televised broadcasts. The program started with the over $1 million technology upgrade to Nemzek Fieldhouse almost three years ago. “We saw an opportunity to connect the areas of study on campus with real-world, hands-on, state-of-the-art lab experiences, where students could practice what they were learning in the classroom,” said Jon Wepking, assistant athletics director for marketing and promotions and manager of the GO! TEAM program. “In response to the growing interest and opportunities in sports communication, we developed course work to support career opportunities in that area,” said Colan Hanson, chair of the School of Communication and Journalism. “We now offer both a minor in sports communication, and within the communication studies major offer an emphasis in sports communication.”

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Cinema arts and digital technologies major Caleb Stumpfl is the video production coordinator for the GO! TEAM. He shoots and edits open videos, commercials, game promos, and shoots for the DragonsLIVE coaches show. “This internship helped me get a job in the cities at WCCO doing production work last summer, helped tune my editing for my latest video that made the Huffington Post, and honestly I just had a lot of fun with the whole team taking what we do to the next level,” Stumpfl said. Stumpf l is not alone in moving from the GO! TEAM to bigger things. Graduates of the program work for organizations like Disney, Houston Astros, University of Idaho, Concordia College, Minnesota Timberwolves/ Lynx, Colorado State, WDAY, Valley News Live, Fox News, Fox Sports North, and Scheels, to name a few. “In a few short years we’ve grown from four students to 40,” Wepking said. “That growth happened because the capacity and quality of our students took what we were doing above and beyond anywhere we thought possible. They are the reason we’re on TV. Their talent created a student-run production company that now caters to outside clients, and what we’re capable of in the future is possible because of the foundation these student have left behind them.”

“The GO! TEAM exemplifies what we’re trying to do at Dragon Athletics,” said Athletics Director Doug Peters. “We continually strive to be first in everything we do, cutting edge in our technologies, and most importantly, in being student-centered. This program showcases our student-athletes’ talents through the talents of other MSUM students. I’m fired up to see what they’ll do next.” Students wanting to know more about how to become involved with the GO! TEAM should visit MSUMDragons.com/GOTEAM for openings, job descriptions, and videos on the experience made, of course, by the students themselves. Watch GO! TEAM videos at MSUMDragons.com/GOTEAM

coach of the year

Alum creates mobile app for MSUM As the national sales director at Fargo-based developer Myriad Mobile, Jeremy Johnson ’01 (economics & marketing) has been working with MSU Moorhead’s Chief Information Officer Dan Heckaman on a mobile app for the university. “As people use their phones and mobile devices more and more, we’re seeing mobile devices taking the place, a lot of times, of computers,” Johnson said.

Chad Walthall Coach of the Year Three Dragons earn honors The 2014-15 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference season awards included four honors for the men’s basketball team. Head Coach Chad Walthall took home the Coach of the Year honor while his senior leader point guard Jordan Riewer was named CoPlayer of the Year. Junior forward Isaac Sevlie joined Riewer on the All-Conference First Team, while sophomore guard Aaron Lien was named to the Second Team.

This student-driven project began with members of MSUM’s Student Senate sharing a desire for a mobile app in addition to the university’s established website and social media platforms. The university then began working with Myriad Mobile. About 20-25 students participated in meetings last semester to brainstorm features. Students named which functions would be most useful to them: a campus map, dining hall menus, the academic calendar. They also wanted personal features: grades, class schedules and a list of courses they still need to take. Not all of the students’ desired features have been integrated into the app, but Heckaman said, “This is a long-term initiative. It’s not something we'll be able to create overnight and then we’ll be done. There will be many opportunities for students to request features.”

This initiative is expected to cost the university $45,000, but the outcome could benefit thousands of students. “(Apps) meet students at their place, in their devices they have in their hands, and that is a significant benefit to our students,” Heckaman said.

Student Wins National Award

Walthall has taken the MSUM program to new heights in his fifth season at the helm of the Dragons. He is 106-43 at MSUM, with a conference record of 73-37 and a winning percentage of 71.1 percent. This year, the Dragons rank first in the NSIC in eight different statistical categories and are top-10 in the nation in 12 statistical categories. Read the full story at msumdragons.com.

The team is planning for a mid-May launch, with more developing and testing to be done throughout the semester.

Freedom of Speech PSA Contest Film production major Naoya Uchida won a $3,000 scholarship in the annual Freedom of Speech PSA Contest, a national competition sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF) and the Broadcast Education Association (BEA). Nearly 200 students around the country competed in the contest, which called for 30-second radio and television spots answering the question, “What does freedom of speech mean to you?” Uchida’s television PSA was judged the best. He produced the spot for Prof. Martin Grindeland’s video production class.

Uchida’s video on YouTube: http://youtu.be/4CkOqFU47jI

This is the third year in a row a student in Grindeland’s class has won a national award in this contest. SPRING 2015

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Minnesota CASE

PROFESSOR YEAR 10

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Kyja Kristjansson-Nelson Named MSUM’s 11th Carnegie Professor of the Year

yja Kristjansson-Nelson balances the big picture against all of the small-picture details, as both a film professor and a filmmaker. Her sharp perspective and deliberate balance she shares with her students is why she was named the 2014 Minnesota Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. She’s MSUM’s 11th professor to be so recognized, which is more than any college or university, public or private, in Minnesota, the Dakotas, Iowa or Wisconsin. The U.S. Professors of the Year awards program celebrates outstanding instructors and is the only national program to recognize excellence in undergraduate education. K-Nelson joined MSUM’s emerging film studies department in 2006. The Fargo South graduate started as an undergraduate at MSUM (astronomy and physics major) before transferring to pursue a film production degree. At the time, MSUM’s program did not include film production, which was added to the curriculum in 2004. “Film combined all of the things I love—sound, design, music, science, math, light and creative writing,” said K-Nelson. “I’m so happy to be a part of MSUM’s film program because this is the exact program I wanted when I was a student.” She has honed her teaching style through supportive faculty colleagues, strong interdisciplinary collaborations and a welcoming community that embraces the creative arts. She praises MSUM’s built-in collaborative laboratory. “One of the greatest strengths of our program, and many MSUM programs, is that students do projects with students in other majors,” she said. “We have excellent programs in theatre arts, music, English and art. These collaborative and creative collisions are powerful.” K-Nelson is a highly decorated educator earning numerous teaching awards. She gives students flexibility to engage in projects that interest them; encourages them to take risks, and to fail; and stresses practice, critique, and more practice. She incorporates real-world experiences by pairing service-learning projects with classroom assignments and providing leadership opportunities that are essential to MSUM’s mission of helping students transform the world.

Zach Marion ’07 (film studies) was a strong cinematographer, editor, and sound designer, but he had a secret desire to direct, “stunted by a great fear of failure,” he said. “I thought people would think my creative voice was insignificant. Kyja identified this fear and used her encouragement and support to create an environment for me to try with my thesis film.” He went on to direct a film that won Best Film at the Rochester Short Film Festival, eradicating his fears about directing. “Kyja came into my life at a moment when I was struggling, and, through her abilities as a film educator, revealed my life’s passion to me,” he said. Today, he is an MFA film-directing candidate at the University of California, Los Angeles. “I want our students to go on to the best graduate programs and to become the best filmmakers ever, but part of being a teacher is helping students find their path in life,” K-Nelson said. Katie Diiro ’07 (film studies) says she was lost her senior year, and “didn’t know where I fit in the world, much less in the world of filmmaking. I met with Kyja weekly to talk about my life,” Diiro said. After graduating, she did not seek a job in film production. On a return trip to campus, she was nervous about reconnecting with her mentor. “I had this idea that I let down the whole film department, but Kyja couldn’t have been happier to see me. I mattered. From that moment on I have been unstoppable. I have achieved more than I ever thought possible because I knew my worth did not depend on success in film,” Diiro said. Diiro has created promotional videos for important non-profits around the globe; work she does pro-bono. “With Kyja’s unending support, I had the confidence to raise funds to travel to Tanzania, Africa, to create documentaries about an orphanage and rural medical clinic, a goal and concept I first developed in Kyja’s Advanced Video Production class years earlier,” Diiro said. Through filmmaking, Diiro found her calling, and is now enrolled in MSUM’s counseling graduate program.

“Students must learn to be collaborators and creators and leaders,” she said.

“Success comes in a lot of different shapes and sizes, and there is no one size that fits all,” K-Nelson said. “To me, it’s more about helping people find their trajectory.”

Aside from outstanding teaching, K-Nelson’s personal and professional commitment to mentoring her students is her greatest impact.

“Kyja did not choose my path for me, yet she guided me every step of the way. She taught me to follow my dreams,” Diiro said. “That is what makes her a truly excellent professor.” ■

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MOORHEAD MAGAZINE

BY MEGHAN FEIR

Photo Credit: Jared Winmill

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Artists respond to North Dakota’s oil boom Before the drilling, fracking and flares, North Dakota was a peaceful state, humble and down to earth, and those outside the confines of the Midwest often confused it as a province of Canada with a population of 100 or the home of Mount Rushmore. Today, you can’t read an article from Forbes without catching the words “Fargo” and “North Dakota” mentioned in top 10 lists for thriving economies and breeding grounds for young professionals.

Despite the growth and heightened opportunities, there are evident drawbacks arising during this boom in attention for the Peace Garden State. MSUM alumni and North Dakota natives, Debra Marquart, Sarah Christianson and Jared Winmill, have all taken the time to document how the oil boom is impacting their native soil through poetry and photography.

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I think artists not only observe what’s going on right now, but they can create pathways to futures that people haven’t imagined yet. I think that’s the value artists have in a society. –Debra Marquart RESEARCH AND POETRY Originally from Napoleon, N.D., a small town about 80 miles southeast of Bismarck, N.D., Debra Marquart ’84 (social work), professor of English at Iowa State University, felt compelled to show others the environmental magnitude the oil boom is having on North Dakota and the surrounding area by painting the picture with poetry.

5. Lament you got gold gold inside of you — John Prine north dakota i’m worried about you the companies you keep all these new friends north dakota

“It’s our job to envision and imagine and reimagine things,” Marquart said. “I think artists not only observe what’s going on right now, but they can create pathways to futures that people haven’t imagined yet. I think that’s the value artists have in a society.” “The Horizontal World: Growing up Wild in the Middle of Nowhere,” Marquart’s memoir, received the “Elle Lettres” award from Elle Magazine, a New York Times Editors’ Choice commendation and the 2007 PEN USA Creative Nonfiction Award. In it, she describes North Dakota as “the middle of nowhere,” but as you read on, you realize she really views it as the center of everything. “With the oil boom has come this incredible influx of people,” Marquart said. “It was interesting to me before because of the history of immigration to the state, my own personal connection to the state, my love of the landscape, and my fascination with the people of North Dakota, but now with the oil boom, there are so many new developments. I’ve taken on a new level of interest in North Dakota again.”

beyond the boom, beyond the extraction of precious resources

do you really think they care what becomes of you

north dakota you used to be the shy one enchanted secret land loved by only a few north dakota when i traveled away and told people i belonged to you north dakota

your name rolled awkwardly from their tongues

a mouth full of rocks, like the name of a foreign country

north dakota you were the blushing wallflower the natural beauty, nearly invisible, always on the periphery north dakota the least visited state in the union now everyone knows your name north dakota the blogs and all the papers are talking about you even 60 minutes

“Small Buried Things,” a poetry collection, is Marquart’s most recent work on North Dakota’s history and current-day events. New Rivers Press, MSUM’s publishing company, published it in March 2015.

“The boom is such a big, sprawling story,” Marquart said.

In Part V, “The Lament,” Marquart presents the issue in a personal manner, asking readers to consider pertinent questions on the future of the state. “The fact that these precious natural resources have been found in the state is potentially a very good thing,” she said. “I think the takeaway is that it’s a one-time resource, and it should be extracted in a responsible way.”

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the pictures of you from space the flare ups in your northern corner like an exploding supernova

a massive city where no city exists

a giant red blight upon the land

and those puncture wounds north dakota take care of yourself the injection sites i see them on the maps six thousand active wells one every two miles all your indicators are up north dakota

eighteen billion barrels, some estimates say

more oil than we have water to extract

more oil than we have air to burn

Photo Credit: Jared Winmill

Written in several parts, “Small Buried Things” is modeled after MSUM emeritus Thomas McGrath’s poem, “Letters to an Imaginary Friend,” and features a more research-based approach to the effects of fracking.

i’m collecting your clippings north dakota

Small Buried Things “Small Buried Things” is available for purchase from New Rivers Press, MSUM’s publishing company. Visit the website for more information at newriverspress.com

POP-UP EATERIES Food trucks and pop-up eateries are seen frequently now in the oilfield.

1 Burned N Turned - Food trucks and little pop-up eateries are seen frequently now in the oilfield, where the hunger from a population boom of workers on the move provide an opportunity for people wanting a slice of oil money, without working directly for the oil companies. Photo by Jared Winmill.

2 Vertical well abandoned in 1983, south of Williston. Photo by Sarah Christianson. 3 Natural gas flare, White Earth River Valley. Photo by Sarah Christianson. 4 Nance Petroleum - North Dakotan landscape situated between a shotgun-pelted oil field sign and a thunderstorm. Photo by Jared Winmill.

5 Taste the Rainbow – “I pulled into an oil site west of Watford City after a beautiful drive through a midday thunderstorm,” Winmill said. “The natural beauty of the Badlands after a storm like that, the glisten of moisture off the recently dry landscape, and a rainbow made for a perfect juxtaposition with the man-made eyesore that is now spreading across western North Dakota.” Photo by Jared Winmill.

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The region has a bright future, if we can only harvest and mind the resource responsibly. We can really build something remarkable for the future of the region, if we do it in a way that’s environmentally responsible. –Debra Marquart PHOTOGRAPHING THE EFFECTS

Photographer Sarah Christianson ’05 (BFA) may have moved to San Francisco in 2009, but her North Dakotan roots go deep into the bedrock that is being drilled into. Christianson grew up in Hillsboro, N.D., in the eastern part of the state, but in the early 1900s, her great-grandparents homesteaded near Watford City, N.D., the heart of Bakken territory. This gave her mother’s side of the family mineral rights and a front row seat to recent changes in the area. “When I was home during a visit in 2012, I was curious to see what was happening out there because mom had been talking about it for quite some time,” Christianson said. “I was taken aback by the amount of change happening. That started the idea for the project.” Through her camera lens, she began analyzing and displaying what has been done to the North Dakota environment after she secured funding for her undertaking through grants. “I tried to reconcile the national media stories about all the jobs and how great it is that North Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate,” Christianson said. “Yet seeing it for myself, there were still traces, remains and effects from the two prior oil booms.” Her 35-picture exhibit, “When the Landscape is Quiet Again: North Dakota’s Oil Boom,” was first showcased in San Francisco last spring, and selected photos are now on display at the Plains Art Museum’s large group show, “The Bakken Boom: Artists Respond to the North Dakota Oil Rush,” which will be open until Aug. 15, 2015. Christianson’s concern for the future of North Dakota is displayed through her photos and poses questions for everyone to consider. “In the future, what are people going to have to live with when the landscape is quiet again, if the industry does pull out? It’s happened before. More people need to be reminded of the lessons of the past, and we need to proceed in a more careful, measured way.” Viewing her role as a long-term documentarian, Christianson continues to make up to four trips to North Dakota every year. “I’m still continuing to work on this project. It’s not done. The nature of the boom is changing all the time. We need to follow this thing through and see what effects could happen long-term.”

View more photos from Sarah Christianson, Jared Winmill and MSUM professor emeritus Wayne Gudmundson on our online gallery at mnstate.edu/magazine.

EXPERIENCING THE BAKKEN

While studying at MSUM, Jared Winmill ’14 (photojournalism) wanted a taste of the Bakken experience before graduating. He took the offer to stay with his aunt and uncle near the Killdeer Mountains not far from Watford City, N.D., and traded his books for work gloves. “The first six months, I didn’t photograph at all,” Winmill said. “I just immersed myself in living life in the oil field, while still being a photojournalist in the back of my mind.” Winmill worked for SM Fencing, often driving back and forth from Dickinson to Williston to check sites, install fencing, pit liners and bird nets, and prevent and control erosion. While scoping out the area during his long drives, Winmill witnessed the litter, erosion and damage to the roads and terrain. “When it comes strictly to the land, it’s doing possibly irreversible damage to the landscape and ecosystems out there,” Winmill said. “I’ve seen people cover up big pits of poison right into the landscape – just cover it up, planting grass over it. I don’t know how that’s okay.” As the glow of the stars diminishes from the viewpoint of the North Dakota landscape, the middle of nowhere is always accompanied by the glow of false city lights from the burning flares of gas. “These intense flames are burning off all that gas because they don’t know what to do with it,” Winmill said. “Every couple inches, there’s trash lined everywhere from people who don’t care. It’s being abused.”

WHAT TO TAKE AWAY There are multiple sides to every story, and through their work, these artists offer audiences a glimpse into some of the concerns surrounding the boom. They are cautious, but optimistic that the land can be saved for generations to come if more measures are taken to preserve the land they love. “The region has a bright future,” Marquart said, “if we can only harvest and mind the resource responsibly. We can really build something remarkable for the future of the region, if we do it in a way that’s environmentally responsible.” ■

For more information on “The Bakken Boom: Artists Respond to the North Dakota Oil Rush” at the Plains Art Museum, visit plainsart.org, or call 701.232.3821.

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MOORHEAD MAGAZINE

THE PASSION (and price) OF

TEACHING BY DANIELLE REBEL

Educators struggle to balance needs of students with own survival Since 2010, thousands of transient oil workers have moved to the Bakken looking for work in the infamous oil field. As they settle into their roles on the rigs, these workers bring their families to the area, flooding schools with thousands of new students and making the jobs of teachers and administrators much more challenging. Those employed in education are stuck in a cruel cycle caused by the Bakken oil boom. Although wages in other fields have improved to accommodate for the sharp rise in the cost of living, teaching wages have remained almost constant. This, coupled with the fact that housing is still scarce–and costs an astronomical amount–is leaving teachers out in the cold. Many are forced to move away from the area, where they can afford to live on teachers’ wages. Administrators are having trouble re-staffing their schools, because, just like those who have left, many new teachers don’t believe they will be able to make it in the wild west of North Dakota. “We’ve had a number of cases in the last couple of years where we’ve made offers to people after they’ve seen the town, have seen the school, and they are interested in coming until they check out what it’s going to cost to rent an apartment or buy a house,” said Paul Johanson ’90 (mathematics), mathematics professor at Dickinson (N.D.) State University. “Then they come back and say, ‘I can’t afford to live there. Sorry. I’m going to take a job somewhere else.’”

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THE PASSION (AND PRICE) OF TEACHING Because of the shortage of teachers in North Dakota, the state is offering that (licensed teachers) can test in the area we want to teach, and if we pass the Praxis exams, we can be certified to teach in that area as well. –Andrea Bervig-Black “Because of the shortage of teachers in North Dakota, the state is offering that (licensed teachers) can test in the area we want to teach, and if we pass the Praxis exams, we can be certified to teach in that area as well,” Black said. “What started out as a favor to help the school as a sub turned into me taking up the state on its offer to certify teachers who are currently holding licenses and see if I could become certified in teaching grades one to six.” Black was previously certified as a high school English, theater and speech teacher, and has now become licensed to teach grades one through six as well. She has seen firsthand the affect of costly housing and low wages on her coworkers. “We literally had a teacher living in the school–which we could do, because it’s a private school,” Black said. “He was showering in the locker room and living in his classroom until he could find an affordable apartment. And it took a few weeks.” Others, such as MSUM student teacher Sarah Fisher ’14 (elementary inclusive education), are forced to get additional jobs outside of the classroom in order to survive.

> Over the past few years, Denise Soehren has seen enrollment nearly double at Prairie Elementary, a country school in Fairfield, N.D.

Johanson’s story is not unique. Denise Soehren ’92 (elementary education), Dickinson resident and principal of the Billings County School District, said housing is the factor that makes or breaks it for most potential hires. “Our base pay is at $34,500 this year, which is still somewhat competitive–we’re right in the middle for a beginner teacher’s salary– but that doesn’t go real far when you start having to pay $1,500 or more for rent,” Soehren said. However, many smaller districts like Billings County have perks that potential hires find valuable. Soehren’s district has up-to-date facilities and technology, and has limited numbers in each classroom–the largest combination classroom (one with two or more grades combined) has only 11 students. Andrea Bervig-Black ’85 (English), Williston, was a 24-year homeschool teacher for her six children. As a favor to a friend, she began teaching fifth grade at Trinity Christian School in August.

> Long-time stay-at-home mom Andrea Bervig-Black recertified her teaching license to teach grades one through six to fill an urgent need at Trinity Christian School in Williston. MOORHEAD MAGAZINE

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> Sarah Fisher accepted a position at Garden Valley Elementary in Williston as a kindergarten teacher following her graduation in December. Her classroom of 12 students has kept her busy, but she enjoys the challenge of meeting each student's needs.

“I took on another job, which my cooperating teacher doesn’t always like,” Fisher said. “She says, ‘Would you rather be a teacher or do you want to be a server?’ I looked at her and said, ‘You can’t make me make this decision, because obviously I’m really passionate about teaching. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.’” Fisher serves and hosts part time at Williston’s Famous Dave’s restaurant. Along with her student teaching position, she works close to 80 hours a week. She and her husband plan to stay in Williston for the next few years, and then move back to Fargo, where they are renting out their house for extra income. “If you’re teaching, you’re still going to get teacher’s wages; you’re not going to get oil wages,” Fisher said. “Which really, if you come out here, you’re passionate about what you’re doing.” Passion is a uniting factor for educators in the Bakken. They have the great desire to help students through difficult times in their lives, which are exaggerated by the oil boom. Many students are living transient

lifestyles as their parents chase jobs across the country, while those who are native to the area are coping with the drastic rise in population and the challenges that come with it. “The kids (living transient lifestyles) haven’t really had much exposure to education,” Fisher said. “Many of the (young) kids don’t know how to count to 10; they can’t even count to three! They didn’t know what a circle or a square or a rectangle is. I don’t want to say parents aren’t doing their job, that’s not what I’m saying at all. It’s just an eye-opener.” Above all, those who choose to pursue education careers in the Bakken do it not for their own benefit, but for their students. “Teachers are working diligently to not allow what is happening in our community to negatively affect our students,” Black said. “If anything, I think it’s wearing out our teachers. There’s a huge shift in their responsibilities and their expectation to carry those through. I commend them for not giving up.” ■

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PROTECT AND

SERVE BY KRISTI MONSON

BE CAREFUL OF THE TRUCKS. THEY DON’T STOP FOR ANYBODY.

Alumna Amber Nelson gave us that advice en route from Tioga, to Williston, N.D. But the drive was quiet, almost peaceful. Silent snowfall and a mist-like haze floated over the bluffs amidst an occasional oil well growing out of the brown earth and reaching upward toward the white, endless sky. It was picturesque. Our last meeting of the day was at Love’s Travel Center in Williston with Forum reporter and alumna Amy Dalrymple. She told us about the human trafficking project she and colleagues had been working on for the past six months. Our conversation took us right up to our next appointment—a 6 p.m. ride along with Williams County Sheriff’s Deputy and alumnus Taylor Savageau. We arrived at the police station weary from a day of travel and meeting many alumni. Taylor came to our car and told us we were going to the scene of an accident. No time to sign papers or use the restroom. Driving nearly 100 miles per hour down the highway, weaving in and out of stalled traffic and clenching our seats, we arrived at our destination: Love’s Travel Center.

Be careful of the trucks. They don’t stop for anybody.

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If I go into a situation where there is a disagreement and I’m able to help both parties leave satisfied, that’s a good day. Helping people and trying to make a difference is what drives me. – Taylor Savageau In the heart of the Bakken, Savageau sees the underbelly of the boom daily, but the problems are not unique. Much of the crime, he says, stems from “single guys making a lot of money and not a lot of women. That’s where the bar fights, the assaults and meth use stem from.” The first human trafficking case in the area made national headlines last year. Savageau says local law enforcement is ill-equipped to deal with this emerging problem. “We just don’t have the resources. We have all the types of crime as any big city because of the large increase in population. This was a small town and, practically overnight, it turned into a big town,” he said. Andrew Weiss ’09 (philosophy), former Bowman County State’s Attorney, said his prosecutorial work load was heavy and clients were waiting up to three months to see an attorney. “We saw that a lot of legal needs were not being met in a timely fashion, so we (he and partner Dan Anderson) decided to open Legacy Law last July,” Weiss said.

> “Williston still has a warm Midwestern feel despite the enormous influx of people. Most individuals who come from other states enjoy the hospitality and the values that people in Williston and North Dakota have,” said Jordon Evert.

eople living and working in western North Dakota know the bustling oil boom brings trucks. Lots of trucks. Williams County Sheriff’s Deputy Taylor Savageau ’11 (criminal justice) travels 150300 miles daily traversing 2,148 square miles in one of the fastest growing micropolitan statistical areas in the country (an urban area with a population between 10,000 and 50,000). The county includes the cities of Williston, Tioga, Ray, Grenora, Alamo and Epping, among others, and grew 32 percent in population from April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013. (U.S. Census Bureau.) By and large, the most visible sign of this bustling boomtown is the traffic. Trucks are backed up for miles. The once small town of Williston has a constant evening glow of headlights veering in every direction. Alumni say the traffic has hugely impacted their lives—that, and the accompanying accidents.

Located in Mandan, N.D., his firm handles a variety of issues stemming from the Bakken region, ranging from family matters to construction issues. Much of their practice focuses on legal work related to both surface and subsurface estates. Many of Weiss’ cases involve contractors completing work in the area and not getting paid, or contractors coming from outside the region to do work and not completing it. “The volume of work is endless,” he said. Jordon Evert ’11 (paralegal) moved to Williston, in part, because his wife is from the area, but also because they didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity the region presents. “The entire state of North Dakota and beyond is fueled by this oil boom and it’s exciting to be a part of it,” Evert said. “We initially thought we’d be here three to five years, but we don’t have any intention to leave.” Evert is a lawyer with Furuseth, Kalil, Olson, & Evert, is the Williston Assistant City Attorney and the Arnegard City Attorney. “We do a lot of municipal and local government representation,” Evert said. “I handle most of Williston’s planning and zoning issues, which is complex with the rapid growth of Williston.”

“We have a lot of car and truck accidents out here. A lot,” Savageau said. He's personally witnessed five traffic fatalities this past year, but says, “there are many more I probably don’t know about.” Accident victims are often life flighted to Minot, N.D., or Billings, Mont., and not heard from again. Savageau serves in a highly visible capacity in the protection of life and property—performing crime prevention by patrolling the county, answering calls for service, and carrying out a variety of law enforcement duties.

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They also deal with oil and gas work to make sure there are no defects when the oil company issues royalty checks—that they pay the right person. All three men protect and serve, yet they feel their hands are often tied by the law. An example shared by Evert and Savageau is a farmer or rancher who wants to help a transient by offering a place to live on his property—whether in a trailer, camper, tent or a spare bedroom. Things may go well for a few months, but if and when things turn sour, the landowner can’t just kick him out.

> “Our expectation coming in to the practice was that we would have a very high criminal defense portion of work,” Andrew Weiss said. “In reality, that has not been the case at all.”

“According to the state, the ‘transient’ has established residency, so the landowner has to evict him, even though there is no formal contract. That’s a lot of the civil action type of stuff we deal with, and it’s one of the most frustrating things because there’s nothing we can do,” Savageau said. Evert agrees. “You might know the guy living on your property is stealing, but you can’t prove it and can’t do anything different besides what the law allows you to do. That’s a big challenge; you want to be able to help people but sometimes you can’t. All you can do is advise them to go through civil court.” Another challenge for law officials in the Bakken is the difficulty of getting documents in defendants’ or plaintiffs’ hands because people move frequently, many new roads are unnamed, and people live in hotels or camps. “For a legal process, how do you find somebody where there is no address? The work is more difficult because we can’t track people down,” Weiss said.

of Williams County), which means that in the next few years “they are probably going to be drilling a lot of oil wells as long as the price of oil remains relatively high.” He says there is an outpouring of legal work into other communities, such as Dickinson, Bismarck and even Fargo-Moorhead. “We see a lot of attorneys from Fargo-Moorhead and Grand Forks making appearances in Williston,” Evert said. The hours are long, the work endless, and the challenges daunting. But these alumni are motivated to protect and to serve, and to improve people’s lives. “At the end of the day, I think most attorneys enter the profession because of a desire to help people,” Evert said. “It’s rewarding to witness the joy someone has in accomplishing their goals.” Savageau agrees. “If I go into a situation where there is a disagreement and I’m able to help both parties leave satisfied, that’s a good day,” Savageau said. “Helping people and trying to make a difference is what drives me.” ■

Evert expects the volume of work to continue as many oil companies have taken a number of oil and gas leases up in Divide County (north

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Looking Skyward

Beau Scheving ’15 (physics and astronomy) participated in research last summer at the University of North Dakota’s Energy and Environmental Research Center. He worked with UND Professor Xiaodong Zhang researching oil flares and measuring the effect they have on the Earth’s atmosphere. Read about his research online at mnstate.edu/magazine.

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THE MSUM CONNECTION BY KARL W. LEONARD Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology and Earth Science

ost people living in the area have heard a great deal about the Bakken oil play in western North Dakota. Many former MSUM students from a variety of majors have benefited from the numerous job opportunities created by this deposit, including students from the Department of Anthropology and Earth Science. Students in the Geosciences at MSUM are exposed to the methods of subsurface geology in a variety of classes and have the opportunity for further training in subsurface methods and petroleum geology through independent research. The Bakken Formation occurs deep below the surface (nearly 2 miles) in a region known as the Williston Basin, a broad, regional low spot where sediments accumulated for hundreds of millions of years. Nearly 390 million years old, the Bakken consists of 200 feet of rock that includes organic-rich shales, siltstone and limestone. These rocks formed from sediments that accumulated when a shallow, tropical ocean covered an area that included the Williston Basin. As younger sediments buried the Bakken, it was compressed and heated over time, which turned the sediments into rock and began to generate petroleum from the organic-rich sediments. The petroleum was trapped in Bakken because is contains a large amount of silt and clay. Petroleum was first discovered in the Bakken in the 1960s, but because of the silt and clay, the crude oil could not be produced from wells using conventional technology. In the last decade, new innovations and technology in petroleum production have allowed oil companies to coax the crude out of the Bakken. The combination of directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) allows oil companies to drill down to the target formation, and then drill horizontally in the pay zone for distances equal to or greater than the depth of the well. Water, sand and a variety of chemicals are pumped into the well under high pressure, and this fractures the target horizon and liberates the hydrocarbons from the rock. Although the Bakken has been a boom for oil companies, landowners, and the State of North Dakota, it has been associated with a variety of socioeconomic and environmental problems as well. North Dakota has had oil booms before, but because of the magnitude of the resource, it wasn’t prepared for the Bakken Boom, especially in terms of the influx of people and truck traffic. The potential for environmental problems is different from other

regions where “fracking” is not a term of endearment, but still a real threat. Hydraulic fracturing for natural gas is done at shallower depths in the Appalachian Basin, which poses a potential problem for groundwater aquifers. The Bakken occurs well below fresh water aquifers in the basin, so the threat is not from the process but from what can happen at the surface. Each well requires millions of gallons of water for the completion process (fresh water in a semi arid region that needs water for agriculture), and once the fracturing is done, the fluids are hazardous waste. Most oil wells produce a fair amount of very salty water (basin brines) as they are being pumped. Oil deposits are layered in the rocks in which they occur, with natural gas at the top of the deposit, crude oil in the middle, and salt water on the bottom. As the well is pumped, the gas is extracted first (flared if the field is remote) followed by the other fluids. The crude oil and brine are separated before the oil can be stored in tanks. The very salty water is also considered hazardous waste. Fluids from hydraulic fracturing and the basin brines are commonly disposed of in oil wells that are no longer producing (disposal wells). To move the hazardous fluids from the producing well to the disposal well, these materials are either moved via truck or pipeline. Spills during the transport of these fluids can be just as detrimental to the environment as oil spills. Most people in the region are also aware that activity in the Bakken has slowed considerably at the beginning of this year as a result of rapidly falling oil prices. Most of us are happy to see this because of much lower gas prices (which will not likely last for long), but for oil companies that produce from the Bakken it is a problem. Unconventional wells, like those in the Bakken, are much more expensive than traditional oil wells. If oil prices are high, the time to recover these drilling costs is short, and profit margins are high. The reverse happens when prices are low, and since many suggest that these prices will remain low for a prolonged period of time, production of oil from the Bakken will continue to slow. The likelihood of a complete “bust” in the North Dakota oilfields seems unlikely. Global economies are recovering, and the demand for hydrocarbons will be high for the foreseeable future. The Bakken is a large and important accumulation of hydrocarbons. The number of wells being drilled is likely to drop, but oil companies will focus and consolidate their operations in parts of the basin where the deposits are larger and costs are lower. It is unlikely that activity will stop, and recovery will occur rapidly when oil prices start to rise. ■

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> Pictured (L to R) are: Danielle Wente ’13 (mass communications), content manager; Cas Johnson ’01 (art), senior front end developer; Zach Koppang ’12 (English), content manager; Mary Schimke, managing editor; Shellby Zelmer ’14 (advertising and public relations), project manager; Ashley Myhra ’13 (mass communications), social media marketing manager; Eric Dallmann ’13 (mass communications), creative lead; Zachary Toliver ’13 (sociology and African American studies), content manager; Ross Torgerson ’12 (mass communications), content manager; and Lydia Gilbertson ’11 (English writing), former content manager. Not pictured: Mitch Parker ’87 (accounting), chief executive officer; and Maureen McMullen ’14 (mass communications), content manager.

DRAGONS BY DANIELLE REBEL

or a company doing business in six locations across the country, it’s astonishing to discover almost half of its employees are MSUM grads. Shale Plays Media is a news and media company that focuses on the shale oil industry. Although it has only been up and running for a year, Shale Plays Media has a large following in the industry—especially in the Bakken. The team works collaboratively to put forth cutting-edge research and industry reports on each of the six websites the company maintains, which, aside from bakken.com, include: marcellus. com, eaglefordtexas.com, permianshale.com, niobrarachalk.com, and haynesville.com. Content manager Zachary Toliver ’13 (sociology and African American studies) was highly involved in the campus sustainability initiative during his time at MSUM, which has been a great help while working in the shale oil industry.

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“I don’t think any of us really had a background in oil and gas prior to coming here, but you learn so much so fast,” Toliver said. “At least knowing a little bit about environmentalism and sustainability gets you to a starting point so you can compare what’s going on and understand the pros and cons of the environmental impact that’s occurring.” One of the main challenges Shale Plays Media is facing is location. The company is situated in Fargo, but the closest shale industry is located nearly 400 miles away. “Being located in Fargo is tricky to stay up to date with breaking or even regional news, to fully understand how the industry works and the evolving terminology,” social media marketing manager Ashley Myhra ’13 (mass communications) said. “Being closer to the Bakken would allow us to capture our own photos, which I think would bring a strong presence and enhancement to our sites.”

Managing Editor Mary Schimke says the Bakken has an unwarranted, negative reputation. “We recently posted two personal profiles of young women who relocated there and say nothing but great things,” she said. “There are lots of opportunities, lots of economic growth, and yes, there are issues that come along with that. These are the stories we address all the time.” It may be a coincidence that so many of Shale Plays Media’s employees graduated from MSUM, but Schimke said it’s a happy one. The strong mass communications and English programs have set the graduates apart from the rest. “I interview a lot of people,” Schimke said. “I didn’t realize when I hired that everyone was coming from the same place, but I definitely find that MSUM graduates have been a huge part of our success.” ▪

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Class Notes Share your news here—new job, volunteer experience, interesting hobby, recent travel, move or addition to your family. If we don’t get it in this issue, we’ll save it for next time!

God's Word for the Oil Patch Rodney Johnson ’81 (history) has spent his entire ministry in Stanley, N.D., a 25year career shepherding his flock in both a country and town church. He’s seen oil booms come and go, and says this oil influx brings far more good than bad. “A lot of people in our congregation have had oil discovered on their land, and that has been a great blessing from God. Many of those people continue to tithe and we have more money available to give to the Lord’s work and our ministry,” Johnson said. “We purchased Bibles called God's Word for the Oil Patch. It has testimonies of different oil workers who have come to Christ. We leave these Bibles and other devotional material to the oil workers and it’s been well received,” Johnson said. “I pray God will continue to open doors for ministry here in the oilfield so we can share the Gospel and point people to Jesus Christ for this life and the life to come.”