“We Love Northern Ball” Returns in Full Strength

More than 210 guests attended the 2023 “We Love Northern Ball” in the Armory Gymnasium on Saturday, February 11th, 2023. The evening began with a cocktail hour at 6:00 p.m. and scores of guests stayed until the dancing was over at 11:30 p.m.

“It was such an incredible evening, many didn’t want the night to end,” said Melanie Skoyen, Outreach Coordinator for the MSU-Northern Foundation. “Even after the music ended, some people stayed and talked until 12:30 a.m.!”

Everyone in attendance agreed that this year’s Ball met its goal of creating an “experience” that justified the cost of a $100 ticket. Guests entered on a red carpet and received a complimentary digital photo by Jim Potter. They made their way to the tables, which were exquisitely decorated in black and gold. They enjoyed a drink while perusing the live and silent auction items. Since the Ball’s theme was “In the Mood,” music from the Glenn Miller Orchestra filled the room.

At 7:00 p.m., the festivities began, by serving an appetizer (baked brie with prosciutto) and a marvelous wine (a Soave from the Guerreri Rizzardi Vineyards in Italy).

As the main course was being served (beef tenderloin with puff pastry and a red wine sauce, paired with a Martino Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina), six big-ticket items were auctioned off. The items included: a steel wood-fired pizza oven made by the MSUN welding faculty; A five-course dinner and bourbon-tasting for eight people; a guided fishing trip for two to a lake in Saskatchewan; a stunning Emilee Luke photo of the night sky over the Bear Paw Mountains; a Fort Peck Theater summer package; and a ski package to the Teton Pass Resort near Choteau. The live auction items garnered a total of $7,050.

After dessert (tiramisu with an Orange Blossom Rosé from Willamette Vineyards in Oregon), the event recognized Wabtec as the Executive Sponsor. Wabtec proclaimed its matching pledge of $10,000 for the evening. In order to encourage guests to give, it was announced that each donor would earn a chance to win an $800 Pit Boss pellet barbecue donated by North 40.

A video of a student testimonial was played, telling how much scholarships meant to them and thanking people for their generosity.

As pledges were being collected, two inspiring songs were played, when the music stopped, $9,550 in matching grants had been collected and announced to the audience. Two people then came forward to write checks for $450 and $50, making the final matching tally of $10,050. The winner of the BBQ was announced and that family was thrilled.

With most of the fundraising complete, the Ball shifted into entertainment and dancing mode with the introduction of the band. J.K. and the Northern Lights was an eight-piece swing jazz ensemble made up of musicians from Billings, Montana. The leader of the band, Jack Klein, served in Iraq with the MSU-Northern Executive Director Al Garver, who was serving as MC for the Ball. The band paid tribute to the Big Bands of the 40s and 50s, with seven of its songs from the Glen Miller Orchestra. The band started with Miller’s signature tune, “In the Mood,” and absolutely nailed it. The crowd was instantly in love with the music and guests filled the dance floor for the first 30-minute swing-jazz set.

The second song the band played was the Glenn Miller hit, “String of Pearls.” To accompany the song, the foundation announced the final fundraiser of the evening: The Rose Raffle. Glenn Miller wrote the song for his wife when they were young and struggling and he couldn’t afford an actual string of pearls for her. Before the song was performed live, the audience was shown a gorgeous string of pearls donated by J.M. Donoven Designs in Havre. When the music started, people could buy a long-stemmed rose for $20. The 75 roses sold quickly and when the song finished, the winning ticket was announced and the winner of the pearls was elated.

When the band took a break, the dancing continued with a mix of the best dance tunes from many eras. Five members of the Northern Rodeo team came forward to start a line dance to Brooks and Dunn’s, “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” and the crowd piled onto the dance floor to join them. When the revenues and expenses were tallied a week later, the “We Love Northern Ball” set a new fundraising record of $60,255.

The “We Love Northern Ball” was created by the local Soroptimist group in 1984. Fifty-seven local organizations and businesses worked together for two months to plan the event. On Valentine’s Day, 1985, the first “Ball” was held. Everyone in the community participated. The Girl Scouts handled the coat check, Boy Scouts helped with cleanup, the Bacchus Club set up a non-alcoholic bar, the Tavern Association set-up the regular bar, students helped Loendorf’s Florist make corsages, R & R Studio set-up for “Ball” pictures, Roger Barber was Maître D and coaches and students were the waiters and waitresses. COVID 19 hit just after the Ball in 2020, and the event was absent in 2021 and 2022. Thirty-nine years after its formation, it returned with renewed vigor on February 11th, 2023, and the assurance that it will continue to be the university’s signature annual event.

“My only regret about the entire evening,” said Al Garver, laughing, “was not getting a video of Chancellor Kegel dancing to Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk. That would have been priceless.”