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MEN'S MAGAZINE HAVING A BEER WITH RADIO PRODUCER
RONNIE LEE
WONDERFUL WEEDS
Spring Wil ��� 7� Foraging
LOCAL HERO
JIM KRINGLIE
Veteran and Fargo Police Lieutenant NORTH DAKOTA
HORSE PARK
DAD LIFE
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COMPLIMENTARY
DAD LIFE
BEYOND THE DAD MUG: Finding a Practical and Meaningful Gift for Dad
New Balance sneakers, tool sets, and grill utensils are great. Everyone needs a solid set of Allen wrenches and there's nothing like sliding into a fresh pair of kicks. Whether it's Father's Day or his birthday, here's a list of potential "outside the box," gift ideas that the father figure in your life will love.
EXPERIENCES
Your father is more than just the guy you call when that weird circular light on your car's dashboard comes on. He's an actual human being, capable of feelings and emotions. Why not tap into those emotions by providing your dad with a memorable experience that you or your family can share with him? Want to keep it local? Consider a brewery tour, a trip to an axthrowing venue (yes, these exist now),
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or tickets to a local car show or other events. Or, consider booking a shortterm cabin rental for the weekend through one of the various shortterm rental sites.
COMEDY TICKETS
They say laughter is the best medicine. I'm not exactly sure if there are any big-time comedians who tell only dad jokes. If there were, I would know of them, because I LOVE dad jokes. What I do know is that Fargo has a burgeoning comedy market and the acts keep getting bigger and better every year. Ron White, Jim Gaffigan, and that one guy with the puppets are just a few of the big-name comedians that make their way to our region every year. Consider taking your dad out for an evening of
laughs. Just prepare yourself – he's gonna complain about the lack of parking. That's just what dads do.
DETAIL HIS CAR
A few years ago, I was given a certificate to get my car washed and cleaned out. To this day, it is one of the best gifts I've ever gotten. They even dug under my son's booster chair and got all the little bits of chicken nugget and goldfish crackers! 10/10 would recommend. A quick Google search will yield any number of local businesses that will do a great job not only washing but also detailing your dad's sweet ride.
A CUSTOM SUIT FITTING
Wedding season is here and with it comes the opportunity for you to ensure your dad doesn't show up wearing socks with sandals or an off-the-rack ill-fitting suit from JC
WRITTEN BY: PAUL HANKEL
Penny. This fashion faux pas can be avoided by ensuring that your dad has the customfit suit for every classy occasion. Halberstadt's is a great regional company that can provide your dad with a great custom suit in almost any price range. I highly suggest that you go with for the fitting though – to help avoid any weird mismatched shirt and tie combos.
RECORD PLAYER Vinyl is back!
For whatever reason, record players and listening to music on vinyl have experienced a huge resurgence in the last decade. Dads and true fans of music claim that music just sounds better on vinyl and, after researching this article and listening to several old school records on a record player, I am compelled to agree. I wasn't aware of how easy it is to buy a new or refurbished record player locally or online. This would make a great nostalgic gift purchase for dad! It may result in you sitting through a few listening sessions featuring 1970's hair bands you've never heard of, but the memories you'll share with your dad will be worth it. At the end of the day, your dad will love whatever you give him. That's just how us dads are. However, taking a bit of time to go beyond the cliché, "World's Best Dad," mug will not only let your dad know you put some serious thought into your gift, but it will also provide him with something that lets him know you took the time to really consider his interests. Now, go check your oil levels and call him. • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 3
CONTENTS VOLUME 9 | ISSUE 6 SUMMER 2022
02 06 10 14 18 26 30
DAD LIFE - Beyond the Dad Mug Finding a Practical and Meaningful Gift for Dad
North Dakota Horse Park Horse Racing in Fargo
HAVING A BEER WITH Ronnie Lee
Wonderful Weeds Spring Wild Foraging
ON THE COVER Red River Ruffians Local Rugby Squad Welcomes All Into Their Championship Caliber Club
Riding Custom Snowmobiles A Family Affair
LOCAL HERO - Jim Kringlie Veteran and Fargo Police Lieutenant Lives the Good Life — On the Front Lines and at Home
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The
GOOD LIFE MEN’S MAGAZINE
PUBLISHED BY Urban Toad Media LLP www.urbantoadmedia.com OWNER / GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dawn Siewert dawn@urbantoadmedia.com OWNER / PHOTOGRAPHER Darren Losee darren@urbantoadmedia.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Meghan Feir Paul Hankel Ben Hanson Jeffrey Miller Krissy Ness Emma Vatnsdal ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Dawn Siewert dawn@urbantoadmedia.com
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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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NORTH DAKOTA HORSE PARK HORSE RACING IN FARGO
There is a buzz in the crowd. A tepid breeze blows across the infield under the bright summer sun. Kids joke and jostle by their parents, not quite knowing what to expect. Race tickets and programs are clutched in eager hands, hoping their selection will cross the finish line first. A buzzer erupts, gates spring open and eager horses rocket onto the track. The race has begun! Nearly everyone has at minimum a passing knowledge of horse racing. 6 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
If nothing else, the mention of the sport brings to mind big hats, fancy drinks, and the pageantry of the Kentucky Derby. Luckily, it doesn't require a trip to Louisville in the spring to see horse races in person. For exciting live racing action, look no further than north Fargo. The North Dakota Horse Park, located at 518 19th Ave N, houses a 6-furlong oval track where both Thoroughbreds and Quarter horses will race for six days this summer: July 15th-16th, 23rd-24th,
29th and 30th-31st. The future will likely provide more race dates and the ability to wager on the North Dakota Horse Park anywhere in the country. The North Dakota Horse Park has been around since 2003 and had a rocky start. After the inaugural season, races were cancelled in 2004 and again in 2015. There were funding issues that caused the closure. When the races were cancelled, the only other horse races that occurred in North
WRITTEN BY: JEFFREY MILLER PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Dakota was Chippewa Downs in Belcourt. Better days are on the horizon for the non-profit Horse Park. Newly hired General Manager, Hugh Alan Drexler, brings a lifetime of experience of horse racing to Fargo. The son of a jockey, Drexler moved around the country learning the business in a variety of facets, culminating in a degree in management from the University of Arizona's Racetrack Industry Program.
"What the North Dakota Horse Park needs, first and foremost, is exposure," says Drexler. "People need to know who we are, where we are and how much fun a day at the races can be." Forget the black-and-white film reels of men in top hats betting on the horses. The North Dakota Horse Park is a family-friendly affair, with activities that will keep the kids occupied and interested along with the adults. Bouncy houses, a petting zoo, and stick
horse races, where the kids have a chance to run on the track, are only a few ways to keep everyone entertained. Spectators can sit in the grandstand or rent a VIP Gazebo, which includes race programs and appetizers for 20 people. For those that can't make the races, but want to bet on the horses, Off Track Betting is available at the Sidestreet Pub in Fargo. Heroes Day is a planned event urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 7
where first responders, police officers, active and retired military, firefighters, and other everyday heroes receive free admission as well as on-field introductions. The combination of both Thoroughbreds and Quarter horses makes the Horse Park unique. Thoroughbred racing is often a tactile event, while Quarter Horses are often in an all-out spring to the finish line. It's an exciting showcase of the athletic ability of the equines. Almost 75% of the Racehorses that run in the Horse Park are born and bred in North Dakota. With a predicted increase in race days and events, there is an incentive to showcase even more local horses. Owning racehorses is an expensive passion and having races in the state can encourage the breeding and care of the animals. While Drexler is the only full-time staff member, the number swells to over 100 seasonal staff during the season. Staff includes grounds crew, racing officials, mutuel tellers, concession workers and a slew of local vendors that all help make the North Dakota Horse Park have a successful racing season every year. Another exciting planned event is the North Dakota Derby. Most Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses that
It's an experience unlike any other!
run at the park are born and bred in North Dakota, which provides a huge boost to the agricultural economy of the state. Taking a cue from the famous Kentucky Derby, spectators will be encouraged to wear fancy hats and enjoy Meadowlark Mules, a house-made drink containing a mixture of Jack Daniels, ginger beer, and lime. With over 91 acres of land, there are plenty of opportunities to expand beyond horse racing. Thrivefest North, one of the largest Christian music festivals in the Upper Midwest, comes to town August 27th, 2022. Drexler hopes to attract concerts, rodeos, social events and maybe even a haunted house attraction for Halloween. Maximizing the use of the property and grounds is a priority for Drexler. If you are looking for an exciting activity to spend with the family this summer, look no further than the North
Dakota Horse Park. It's an experience unlike any other! When: July 15th -16th, 23rd-24th, 30th-31st Where: North Dakota Horse Park, 518 19th Ave N, Fargo Cost: $8 children, under 12 free. VIP Gazebos from $45
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HAVING A BEER WITH | RONNIE LEE
HAVING A BEER WITH
RONNIE LEE When Ronnie Lee was a kid growing up on a dairy farm near Forbes, N.D., he was already mimicking the work of a radio producer. With a boombox by his side, he would copy radio personalities and read off weather forecasts before the next song started. His dream had always been to be in the radio industry.
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As we chatted over a brew at Drekker, Lee discussed his German-Russian heritage, how he's never met a kuchen he didn't like, and how he would have loved to be alive in the suit-and-felt-hat-wearing days of yore. Read on to learn some lesser-known facts about the Fargo radio producer.
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Since those bygone days on the farm, Lee graduated from the Meyer School of Broadcasting in Minot, N.D., and has worked for radio stations in South Dakota, Iowa and North Dakota.
In 2020, Lee started working as the producer for "The Jay Thomas Show" on 970 WDAY AM / 93.1 FM in Fargo.
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"I would describe myself as an old soul. I've always gotten along better with older people and appreciated things that were older than the time I was growing up in." – Ronnie Lee
Good Life: What is something you love that's rather unpopular or not very well known? Ronnie Lee: It wasn't super popular in the U.S. until Team Shuster won the gold medal at the Olympics, but I'm a curler. I wish I could do it more often. I got to know some great friends in Valley City who were from Canada and curled. For the last 15 years prior to COVID, I was curling in Canada every year with them. GL: What celebrity would you like to have as a college professor? RL: The obvious one would be Sam Kinison because I love the movie "Back to School." He's a college professor in that movie and gives Rodney Dangerfield a hard time. Also, Morgan Freeman would be a great professor. He would be great to listen to because of his voice, but he's also extremely educated.
GL: Which fictional character do you relate the most to and why? RL: Don Draper. I don't know if I'm as eccentric as Don is, but I would say I emulate a little bit of that, based on the business I'm in. I would describe myself as an old soul. I've always gotten along better with older people and appreciated things that were older than the time I was growing up in. GL: Where would you love to travel to next? RL: One of the things on my bucket list is to be in Germany for Oktoberfest. I would love to take that in. I am GermanRussian, so it would be cool to see some of the areas of my roots. GL: If you were a member of an '80s rock band, what would be your trademark, whether it's your outfit or something eccentric you do? RL: It would probably be my drum kit, and I'd catch a drum stick in my mouth. I was a huge Def Leppard urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 11
HAVING A BEER WITH | RONNIE LEE
fan. I wrote my high school senior paper on Rick Allen. After he lost his arm, he sat in his hospital bed redesigning his kit so he could still play drums with one arm. I always admired that. GL: Have you ever bought anything from an infomercial? 12 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
RL: Sadly, yes. It was a rock that you're supposed to wave across the couch to collect pet hair and it didn't work. It's terrible. It scratches the couch, but it doesn't collect any of the pet hair. GL: I was tempted to buy "The Carol Burnett Show" DVD collection from Time Life as a 16-year-old.
RL: Hey, that would be great. My parents have the entire "Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts" DVD set. I watched reruns of "The Carol Burnett Show" growing up too. We also watched "M.A.S.H." every night. I still remember watching the final episode. One of my other favorites was a black and white TV series about WWII called "Combat." We were supposed to already be in bed, but I turned the volume way down on the TV and watched. GL: What's one of the best movies of all time? RL: I would say my No. 1 would be "Vision Quest." It has Matthew Modine in it and it's about a high school wrestler. Journey is all over the soundtrack, which makes it even more awesome. I was a high school wrestler, so that movie was huge and one of my faves. "Breakfast Club" is up there too. GL: What does living "the good life" mean to you? RL: Being able to enjoy life, being around the people you love, and being able to do the things you love. You're richer having those things than you could ever be monetarily. I feel like I have everything now. Ever since I came back to Fargo it's been nothing but good. I met my fiancée and we're going to get married this fall in Las Vegas. I got hired to produce "The Jay Thomas Show," and I feel like my life is pretty awesome right now. •
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WRITTEN BY: JEFFREY MILLER
Living on a rural homestead, with a river and riparian forest right at our doorstep, we utilize the wild for a large portion of our diet. Multiple freezers and the pantry is filled with fruits and vegetables from the garden, catfish fillets and beaver quarters from the river and venison, small game and raccoon from the forest. There aren't many options, however, for fresh greens in the spring. In order to provide healthy, delicious fresh greens, we need to go foraging for "weeds." Universally hated by hikers, hunters and anyone that has come into contact with it, the Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) is a perennial cool-season herb that grows across the globe. Plants begin growing soon after the snow melts and the first warm rays of the sun caress the soil. Stinging nettle does grow well in dry soils and is mostly found in damp soils along streams and rivers. Plants are bright green and grow from 3 to nearly 7 feet tall. The "stinging" part of Stinging Nettle comes from the leaves and stems of the plant. The leaves and stems are covered by hypodermic needle-like hairs called trichomes. When a human brushes up against the plant, the trichomes inject a shot of chemicals, the most significant being formic acid. Reacting to the chemical, the skin itches and burns. 14 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
from the plants. While I'm rinsing the nettle, a pan is heating on the stove. Even tender stems can be tough, so I like to remove the leaves and the very end of the plant and discard the stems.
Locating enough nettle to enjoy on the table is quite easy. A short hike, in May and June, along nearly any river or creek in our region will yield a bounty of the plant. Of course, before doing any wild foraging on land make sure to get permission from the landowner or make sure that the public lands allow wild foraging. It's always the responsibility of the individual to ensure that they are legally enjoying the land.
After tossing a pad of butter into the hot pan, the nettle is ready to cook. At first, the large pile of leaves nearly overflow the pan, but as they cook they will wilt and take on a vibrant green color. After cooking for three to four minutes they can be removed. After a sprinkle of sea salt, serve hot. While the trichomes are still visible on the leaves they are now harmless. The nettles taste fresh and green and delicious! Nettles can also be dried and crushed into powder to make tea, but we eat them too quickly to ever have enough to dry.
My family prefers fresh nettle, and it's usually my job to gather enough for the meal as Melanie prepares supper. I have many spots within easy walking distance of the house to check, as it's best to not remove the entire patch. Tools needed are simple, requiring nothing more than a cloth tote bag, a pair of leather gloves and a sharp scissors. The top four to six inches are the youngest and most tender portion of the plant. The plant will grow fresh new growths from the cut, ensuring weeks of harvest. Once the plant becomes older and begins to develop seeds it is no longer palatable. The filled tote bag is brought back to the house and prepared for the meal. Continuing to protect my hands from the trichomes, I will toss handfuls into the sink. A thorough cleaning of cold, clean water helps remove any bugs or dirt urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 15
The familiar yellow common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is the bane of the suburban yard. While many homeowners spend time and money spraying to remove the plant, we like to let them grow and turn the flower petals into delicious jelly. The dandelion is a perennial plant that flowers in early summer. Extremely hardy and tenacious, it is attractive to bees, providing some value for pollinators. While the raw greens of young plants are extremely nutritious, they became bitter very quickly as the plant ages. We prefer to make a honey-like jelly out of the dandelion instead. On a warm, early summer morning, the kids will scatter across the lawn with small pails in their hands. As the cool air begins to heat the day, a breeze ruffles the trees. They are
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instructed to pop the flowers off the stem, leaving the rest of the plant behind. Before collecting any dandelions, make sure that the area has not been sprayed with herbicide, is not near a road and is not a place where pets are kept. Once the kids bring the piles of heads into the kitchen, Melanie and I take over. The green portion of the flower needs to be removed, lest they impart a bitter flavor to the jelly. A simple snip with some scissors, just above the green, is enough to remove the yellow petals. The petals are packed into a measuring cup, and after we've processed 4 cups it's time to make the juice. Next, pour 8 cups of boiling water over the petals into a pot. After the water has cooled, place the pot into the fridge overnight.
The next day, strain the petals out of the water, squeezing the petals to extract as much water as possible. Add 4 tablespoons of lemon juice and 2 boxes of powdered pectin to the juice and bring to a boil. Once it's boiling, add 8 cups of sugar and stir. After returning to boil, count down 2 minutes. Remove from heat and pour the mixture into sterilized glass jelly jars. Process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes and cool. It may take a few days to fully set and become ready to eat. Dandelion jelly is a beautiful yellowish color, capturing early summer in a jar. When the winter winds howl, some toast smeared with dandelion jelly can take us back, if only for a few moments, to those languid summer mornings. •
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: JEFFREY MILLER "A taste of summer in winter."
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ON THE COVER | RED RIVER RUFFIANS
A Brotherhood of
WRITTEN BY: BEN HANSON PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
What do you get when you throw a hooker on top of a couple props with two flankers in the rear? A rugby match! (Hold for applause) Apologies to the large men with unusual amounts of strength… humor is a writer's natural defense mechanism. But based on the quick hour shared with two of Fargo's standout rugby ambassadors, these above-average bruts can take a joke Local as well as they can take a hit.
"Technically, the team started back in 2004 as a way for local college alumni to keep playing in the area," explained Neaton, referred to as "Whitey" by his teammates on account of his year-round not-tan. Unfortunately, the original leadership group from back then eventually moved away, and the numbers dipped to the point the team had to unofficially dissolve. After graduating from NDSU in 2018, playing for the rugby club team and earning multiple M V P awards, Neaton wasn't ready to give up the game. He heard similar grumblings from his old teammates and fellow competitors — both NDSU and MSUM field club rugby teams supported by their respective student government organizations.
Rugby Squad Welcomes All Into Their Championship Caliber Club
In fact, Taylor Neaton and Tom Burgum are as gracious and down-to-earth as they come. When asked to share their love of rugby with a complete rookie, they leapt at the chance to spread the word about the game's growing popularity here in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Burgum, the team's de facto marketing manager (aka "social chair"), and Neaton, the team's player-coach, were enjoying the bruise-free offseason when we met for a deliciously midwestern soup and salad lunch to discuss how their senior men's rugby team — The Red River Ruffians — got their start.
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ON THE COVER | RED RIVER RUFFIANS
PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: RED RIVER RUFFIANS
Covid. And a bit more. With the 2020 season inevitably canceled, the Ruffians had plenty of time to form their team and get back into game-ready shape as they looked forward to 2021. With a team of roughly 30 regulars, ten of whom were complete rookies to the sport, the gameless 2020 provided ample time for the team to practice and gel as a new squad. Finding success early in the season, they competed in a hybrid of DIII and DIV matches and earned their way into the postseason, bringing home the 2021 "Best in the Midwest" Men's DIV Midwest Regional Championship crown. "I played in high school back in Watertown, Minn., and college and even got an invite to try out for the USA Eagles national team," Neaton said, before quickly adding, "I didn't make the cut, but it was a good experience. And that was the kicker for me… that maybe I just wanted to keep playing after college." The reboot was on, and in 2019 the Red River Ruffians were back under the 501c(3) umbrella of the FM Rugby Club, recruiting an eventual team of 30 grown men — of all shapes and sizes — all ready to lace up their boots and take the field… then came Covid. And more 20 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
"We're probably going to get moved up to full-time DIII status after last year's showing," joked Burgum (who has yet to earn a nickname), and the upgrade would be a welcome one for this passionate group. Though they are unpaid, their natural competitive spirit fuels a strong desire to be the best rugby team in the Midwest and the glory earned on the field is the reward that drives them all. But there's more to the game than wins and losses. It's a brotherhood born of shared commitment, shared goals and shared exhaustion.
Brotherhood and Beers Within minutes of sitting down for lunch with Burgum and "Whitey" it was apparent that any preconceived notion one might have about crass, hardnosed rugby players was at best misinformed. Sure, they're big, tough, and clearly know what it takes to win a very difficult game played against other big, burly men, but the two who had become fast friends just a year prior made it easy to settle in and listen to them speak about a pastime that is more passion than pain. The hasty deep dive into the Ruffians' history mirrored Burgum's initiation into the sport itself. Again, just one year ago. "Last spring I got the itch to look for some extracurriculars and a way to make some new friends," Burgum explained. "The summer Olympics were on, and I happened to catch some rugby. So out of curiosity, I searched "Fargo rugby" and red river Rugby came up… Long story short, a buddy and I went to watch a game of touch rugby and one of the guys came up to us and asked if we ever played. We jumped in, played for 20 minutes and loved it. I had only two practices under my belt when the first real game came around and got absolutely lit up! I've started every game since then and loved every second of it."
I was given two rules: If you get the ball run straight forward, and if you see someone with the ball, tackle 'em." – Taylor Neaton
That's the beauty of a growing sport in a small-ish town and a club working hard to grow its numbers. Everybody is welcome. As Burgum got farther into this whole rugby thing, he learned just how far that welcome extends.
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ON THE COVER | RED RIVER RUFFIANS
"I've never started something so new like this and had such a welcoming community on the team," he said with a genuine smile on his face. "Everyone is nice and has various levels of experience, and they're all willing to teach. The on field intensity is so much more than other sports, but afterwards the brotherhood is there and we have beers after the game."
Rules of the Game Good luck to any American who ventures off clueless to their first rugby match. The sport that gave birth to "football" as we know it in the states bears some resemblance, but with no timeouts, no quarters and no instant replay the similarities quickly fade the moment hookers, rucks and scrums come into play.
Neaton's first taste of rugby followed a similar quick-start path. He was a standout wrestler in high school when a start-up rugby team caught his attention.
There's a touchdown… sort of, but the ball has to physically be touched down to the ground to score points (hence, "touch down"). And it's only five. And it's called a try… so a successful try results in five points. The "field goal" scores you two additional points and is taken from the exact spot where the ball is touched down, so it's actually quite important to score your try in a good spot.
"A guy who worked at my high school started coaching a rugby team and asked me if I wanted to try out," Neaton recalled. "I also had my first game after just two practices and was given two easy rules to follow: If you get the ball run straight forward, and if you see someone with the ball, tackle 'em!" Neaton also summed up the camaraderie felt within teams and even amongst opponents. "The brotherhood on every team is for real," he said. "You go to battle for 80 minutes and are buddies after the game… we don't fight at the bars, we fight on the field."
Fifteen players take the field, and a full roster is considered 23. Unlike American football, once you sub out of the game, you're done. You do not get to take a break and re-enter on the next play. You kick forward, throw backward. Similar to soccer, there are yellow cards and red cards. Yellow means you get sent to the "sin bin" for 10 minutes; red means you're out for the rest of the match and the following two weeks, which typically means you're ineligible for the next two matches. For a full contact game with little to no pads involved, there are actually several rules in play designed to keep you safe. As Neaton and Burgum like to say, "you get hurt, but never injured… bruises but no broken bones." For example, when you tackle your opponent, you must tackle low and wrap them up. The unwritten rule is as follows: make sure your hard parts hit their soft parts. The matches last 80 minutes, with two 40-minute halves and a 10-minute halftime, although both Burgum and Neaton were quick to point out how regular it is for teams to forego much of the break to get right back to the action. The only timeout in rugby is "blood time" if someone is actually bleeding on field. And that's rugby, as best as a novice can relay. Fargo's Rugby Future With Neaton and Burgum leading the charge, rugby has a bright future in the Fargo-Moorhead — and greater Midwest — region. From their senior league team to the FM Flood, a youth rugby team also launched in 2019, men and women of all ages and experiences already have opportunities to play and participate. But the ultimate goal is to reach beyond just recruitment for more players. "Last year at our home games we had probably 20-30 people showing up to watch," Neaton said. "We're really working on building our fan base, because our goal is to become more of a staple in the community as rugby continues to grow nationwide."
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The Ruffians see themselves becoming a mainstay in Fargo, another family-friendly activity for the community to enjoy alongside the FM Redhawks, the Fusion (local soccer club) and the Invaders (local football club). A big emphasis is also on growing the sport starting with area youth. "We had more than 100 kids grades K-8 show up last fall for a camp, so we're also planning more camps. With all the different teams in town, it gives folks something to go watch where you can actually see rugby and experience it. People will see how inclusive it is and how it really is open to all. Everyone carries, everyone tackles, everyone scores." For the curious, the Ruffians hold practices twice a week at Bennett Elementary School in south Fargo, and their summer games will be held at their new home field at Oak Grove High School in north Fargo. You can also catch the guys volunteering at several summer favorites, including Ribfest and the downtown Red River Farmers Market held every Saturday. If you fancy yourself a Ruffian, reach out to Burgum via the team's Facebook page or online at fmrugbyclub.org. The team will be hosting a training camp and social for people interested in joining the team on Saturday, June 25, at Bennett. "We almost always host a 'Stink and Drink' social after the games," Burgum noted. "We go right from the field straight to the BBQ for beer and hotdogs, and again all are welcome. It's a great time to meet the players from both teams and celebrate the game." •
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RIDING CUSTOM SNOWMOBILES A FAMILY AFFAIR
WRITTEN BY: KRISSY NESS PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: WYATT KRAM
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Living in the Midwest, most of us are familiar with snowmobiles; whether you have seen them riding trails through the countryside, at professional races, or simply in a shop.
Kram. "It's kind of a disease – I've got a buddy with like 125 Arctic Cats sleds, and I think I have 11-12 with two of them being newer."
It is no surprise that people collect them, much like any other hobby. Wyatt Kram wouldn't exactly call himself a collector in the vintage community, but he has about a dozen running sleds.
Most notably, Kram owns a '73 John Deere snowmobile that he rebuilt to match his father's same sled. Last January, the pair rode their sleds on the ride they planned to commemorate – the International 500 Winnipeg, Canada to St. Paul, MN, a 500-mile race in the '70s.
"Maybe to the average person, my collection may be substantial, but I am not even close when it comes to the vintage community," laughed
"My dad was on his way to have a surgery done, and he was thinking about the race, and he got the crazy idea to ride it," exclaimed Kram.
"He told my mom, and she was on board, and then he told me, and I was obviously on board, so we went after it; it was pretty fun to plan the trip." "We started on the south edge in a suburb called Steinbach, Manitoba, and then we rode to Elk River, MN," exclaimed Kram. "We had to cut out a few miles because it got too late in the day, and safety was an issue, but my dad's sled rode the whole way, and I was his chase vehicle driver for the first leg. He got 490 miles, and I had rode 450 miles when we finished."
"He rode one 40-mile section where his grandfather crashed and needed 13 stitches at the hospital, but the ride had to go on. Jack was honored to make sure his grandpa's sled finished that leg." – WYATT KRAM
Not only did Kram and his father ride this race together, Kram's son, Jack, also rode 155 miles of the journey in total. "He rode one 40-mile section where his grandfather crashed and needed 13 stitches at the hospital, but the ride had to go on. Jack was honored to make sure his grandpa's sled finished that leg," said Kram. "However, Roger, my dad, was back on his machine the next two days to finish the ride." This fascination began when Kram first rode his father's John Deere snowmobile as a kid. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 27
"The year I was born, in 1986, my dad bought the '73 John Deere snowmobile from our neighbor, so I grew up riding it along with my sister, then I started collecting," laughed Kram. "Somehow, my dad was able to refrain from collecting snowmobiles." The appeal of riding has stayed with him throughout his life and bled into his children's lives. "It's kind of a family affair," laughed Kram. "Jack has been
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riding them since his first winter, at around seven months old. My 11-year-old daughter also rides with us." Kram and his son spend a lot of time working on their sleds together, from tuning and tinkering to full-on rebuilds and customs. "My son is probably too into it now – to be honest with you," laughed Kram. "But he made his own money and spent his own money building his sled – he did
everything except me stepping in and pointing things out and giving him advice. I was always building and tinkering when I was his age, so it's fun to see him do the same." I never knew John Deere made snowmobiles - it was surprising to me. In the community I grew up in, most sleds were either Polaris or Arctic Cats. "They made John Deere snowmobiles from 1972-1984," explained Kram. "That's when
they sold all their designs and patents to Polaris." During the early '70s, there were anywhere from 120 to 150 snowmobile manufacturers. Today there is pretty much only the "Big 4" – Polaris, Arctic Cat, Skidoo, and Yamaha. "To the best of my knowledge, people talk about the 'Big 4' the top manufacturers who make snowmobiles – and I believe John Deere was the fifth," mentioned Kram. "They were the last one to bow out." A lot of what people know about snowmobiles has a lot to do with what was made near you. "If you ride in Twin Valley, MN, you will see a lot of Viking sleds," explained Kram. "Because those sleds had been made out there at one point." Some people spend a lot of time and money collecting sleds made by corporations that have gone out of business years ago. "I don't own anything that is not one of the 'Big 4' because I'm not interested," said Kram. "But some guys, that's all they collect." Whether customizing, riding, or collecting - snowmobiles have been in the Kram family for many years, and the passion seems to be growing with each generation. When asked what the good life means to Kram, he replied, "The good life to me is having something you enjoy, and being able to share that passion not only with those who see you in your happy place, like following along with your crazy 500-mile journey, but also those who share the same passion; neighbors, friends, and especially family." •
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LOCAL HERO | JIM KRINGLIE
JIM kringlie WRITTEN BY: EMMA VATNSDAL PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
For Fargo Police Lieutenant, Jim Kringlie, order and structure are a way of life. But it wasn't always that way. "I went to school on the northside of Fargo," said Kringlie. "But then I didn't know what I wanted to do after high school." Without a plan, Kringlie enrolled in Moorhead State. Soon after, he transferred over to Moorhead Tech. "And I still didn't know what I wanted to do," he said, "so I joined the army."
Veteran and Fargo Police Lieutenant Lives the Good Life — On the Front Lines and at Home
Kringlie served in the U.S. Army as a helicopter crew chief until 1984, when he returned to Fargo and enrolled in North Dakota State University.
"I came back, went to NDSU and joined the National 30 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Guard," he said. "While I was there I thought law enforcement might be a career field I'd like. I'd never thought about it before, so I went around the various agencies and said 'Hey, what are you looking for?'" The Lieutenant for the Fargo Police Department encouraged Kringlie to test. "I told him I was still in college," Kringlie said with a laugh, "and he just says, 'well, take it for practice.' So I did and I kept going through the system and was offered a job."
Kringlie began his career with Fargo PD in 1985 — working nights and evenings so he could continue attending NDSU, as well as serve in the North Dakota Army National Guard. Turns out, there's quite a bit of overlap between the army and law enforcement.
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LOCAL HERO | JIM KRINGLIE
FINDING ORDER Kringlie transferred from the "regular army" to the North Dakota Army National Guard, followed by a transfer to the air guard and back to the Minnesota guard where he spent the majority of his career. Although he moved around a fair bit, his jobs stayed very similar. "I found that both jobs kind of overlapped," Kringlie said. "My dad was a competitive shooter, and I liked shooting — both (the national guard and law enforcement) had that. I raced motocross in high school, and so the police department had motorcycles, so I got to do that." But in the Midwestern-humble-way, the guilt always creeps in. "I was kind of thinking, 'man, I'm getting paid to go shoot and ride motorcycles and things like that.'" he said with a chuckle. Kringlie continued through the Fargo Police Department, doing stints in various areas of the department over the years. And as the years kept coming, didn't stop being handed different responsibilities. He was selected for the Fargo PD SWAT team in 1994, became a firearms instructor with the department in 1999, was promoted to sergeant in 2012 and retired from the SWAT team, and was promoted again to his current position of Lieutenant in 2020. Not bad for a guy in his early 60s.
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PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: JIM KRINGLIE
NOT JUST GUNS AND MOTORCYCLES Being that the communities in this area are so closely connected, aide is never in short supply. Kringlie is part of the hundreds of men and women first responders that are ready to step in to help their brothers and sisters when they need it most, at the drop of a hat — from heading to Morton County to assist with the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, to staying put right here in his back yard during the downtown Fargo riots in 2020. "It works well," said Kringlie. "Because you kind of see how other folks do things, so you want to make their job easier. The firefighters will go to a fire, while most of the time we don't do anything but keep people away from the fire trucks and help keep the roads clear. We kind of know what their job is, and we do what we can so they can do their jobs." He says if it isn't your own department (needing assistance), one of the other departments are coming, and they know we will respond. "When an officer gets killed, other departments are swinging in saying 'we've got your city, you guys go grieve and take care of that.'" he said. "We did the same thing for Grand Forks. Cody Holte's twin brother works for us, so we sent a whole bunch of people up (to Grand Forks) for the funeral. Even though it was the same time the protests were going on, we still sent folks up there. We sent our motorcycles up there for the motorcade, and they would do the same, you know they're going to come and support you. It's comforting, you know?" He says even when he was deployed to Iraq, his SWAT team brothers stepped in to help where they could. "The first time I was deployed, (my wife) was ready for it," Kringlie said. "I had a lot of help because the military was here, so they had resources. But the police department and SWAT team would swing by and check on her and ask what they could do to help." She would take them up on that offer too, he says. "And so I knew I had support, so the deployment, for me, was easy," he said. "She had three kids, and all the bills and things. So she had a much rougher go at it."
A FAMILY AFFAIR While law enforcement doesn't run in the Kringlie family quite yet, the itch to serve their country does. "Everybody in my family has been in the military," Kringlie said. "My nuclear family, that is." As a Sanford emergency room nurse, Kringlie's wife Sheila took a direct commission into the army reserve. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 33
LOCAL HERO | JIM KRINGLIE
PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: JIM KRINGLIE
"And it was after I'd been deployed," he said. "Because the first time I was gone it was 22 months, and she ran the household. But she said she wanted to do her part." All three of their children are also affiliated with the military. "Even though I was gone a lot for them, they saw something in (the military) and they all joined on their own." Kringlie's oldest served in the air guard, and now concentrates on her civilian job as a counselor. His oldest son, 28, is a Green Beret, and his youngest son is a senior Fargo South High School, but has already enlisted in the North Dakota National Guard and will go to basic training after he graduates this spring "Then uncles, brothers-in-law, cousins and nephews too," Kringlie said. "A lot of relatives have been in the military, not so many in law enforcement, but a lot in the military." Kringlie served in two tours of Iraq — a 16-month tour in 2006, where he served as a sniper section leader, and the second in 2009 with an operations sergeant title. "You see stuff you never would have," he said. "I mean no one takes a vacation to Honduras, well, maybe the beach. So I went there and to Iraq. I mean you think, well Jesus 34 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
walked around here and that's kind of cool, but you wouldn't go there otherwise. You see different things, it's always different."
IT'S A GOOD LIFE Even though both Kringlie and his wife work in very high-stress environments, he says it doesn't affect their marriage. "It actually compliments it," Kringlie said. "We both work shift work, we've both had to work holidays and our kids have gotten used to it. And even though they saw what we went through, all three of them joined the military — knowing that by doing that they're going to give up weekends and might be gone on a holiday." But even with all the support, Kringlie says it's still stressful. "You just realize that it is what it is," he said. "Then you just kind of have a new attitude. It can always be worse — and all your coworkers are in the same boat too." Ultimately, though, Kringlie says he is living the Good Life. "I've got a supporting wife that allows me to do what I've been doing," he said. "And I've got three great kids, and I've had basically two careers that I love doing. I've even had a couple of part-time jobs that I liked doing. I've been fortunate to have almost every job in the last 30-plus years, and I've had a family that's supported me through it all." •
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