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Early in the semester, I received a chance to travel to the black hills on a site visit for a studio project. On our travels were exposed to the rich country of the great plains with sites such as the burial grounds of sitting bull and the dwindling mountains such as Bear Butte. The destination, however was, Deadwood and Lead, SD. The black hills are sacred grounds for many Native Americans as well as a home. Natives used to live on a reservation located in the valley where Lead and Deadwood exist today, but that soon changed as many gold seekers started erecting 'temporary' tents and shacks in the area. The reservation was a place where the Natives were supposed to be able to live their live as they wished, but more and more settlers moved in due to the discovery more and more gold. In Deadwood's early history the Natives reacted and tried to stop the invading gunman and frontier men, but in the end it was hopeless. The town was established, but never lost it's rouged reputation as a rough town on the frontier. Soon people from Deadwood ventured out in search of more gold only to find a enormous lead of gold, in turn as more people moved in and settled, the town Lead, SD was born. These two settlement were some of the largest west of the Mississippi at its peak it had over 10,000 residents, a huge number for its day. The towns grew as mines sunk deeper into the rocky earth. The Homestake mine was established in Lead. The town naturally grew around the entrance into the mine, but with the mine being an open pit, the deeper the mine dug the wider its diameter needed to be. The mine actually started to consume the town. People did not stop coming as long as gold we being retreated from the deep, but soon the mine grew so deep that it became too inefficient to make a profit. On September of 2000 the Homestake mine announced it would be closing. Homestake's treasured mine is the largest open mine pit in the world. It is over a mile deep and over a half mile deep.

For my History in your community assignment I chose to visit In Their Own Words (ITOW), a veteran’s museum in my hometown of Perham, MN on November 28th, 2007. This museum was funded by local donations and not the government which to me is exceptional. I do have to mention Sherman Mandt, who was a veteran and was the one that really pushed to get this museum opened; it was definitely his dream. I found this to be one of the most interesting sites I have every visited because it has so many unique features. Two of the major features I will discuss are the exhibits with pictures and clothing, and the tape recordings of veterans telling their story.
The museum is composed of various exhibits that tell the story of veterans from World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The exhibits are composed of pictures that were taken by newspaper reporters and civilians during the war. There are also uniforms hanging up to show you what they had to wear while at war. What stood out most to me is the fact that there are tape recordings from veterans and their spouses from my home town. They tell you what they saw and/or did while away at war and their spouses discussed what it was like to have a husband in the war. One of the stories that stood out most to me was by one man who said he came back from the World War II on Friday, got married on Saturday, and left again on Sunday. The way of life during these wars just amazed me; I couldn’t even picture having to do it today. It was also very neat to hear these stories because fewer and fewer veterans of these wars are alive today and to hear them talk just makes the experience much more real. It taught me that you can’t just let history like this pass and forget about it, you have to embrace it and learn as much as you can about it.

I read Dr. Isern's book, The Dakota Circle, and found it was a great departure from most history books that spew facts and information at the reader. This book is done in a narrative style. The book talks about the bond of the people of North Dakota. He describes the "Dakota Circle" as a gathering that everyone feels welcome. North Dakotans are very friendly people, and this rings true through out the book. I thought his best chapter was the chapter called, "Montana Caviar". I found this chapter the most interesting, because I actually have caught paddlefish before. I am from around the Williston area, and paddlefish has become a unique niche industry in Northwestern North Dakota and Northeastern Montana. I also liked the chapter on the stereotypes of North Dakota. My favorite saying is the one that goes,that a definition of a small town is one that doesn't have a bar. In my experience as a native North Dakotan, this one rings true. The smallest town in North Dakota has a bar.

These stories and experiences come together to make a single story of North Dakota. These stories show that Walter Webb's theory of how environment shapes our culture is correct here. I think the biggest example is how basketball, especially "Class B" basketball , is a staple of North Dakota winter culture. People will drive 10 miles in a blizzard for a game, and as North Dakota native, I have experienced this.

Tom Isern is North Dakota’s answer to Garrison Keillor. However, unlike Keillor, whom Isern rejects as lacking sincerity, Isern is deadly serious about preserving and analyzing the cultural heritage of the Dakotas and the Great Plains as a whole. His aim is not to amuse his audience with self-deprecating nostalgia, but rather to utilize the unique traditions and social characteristics of the region in order to build for its future. To Isern, a professor of history, the key to economic growth in the plains states lies in an appreciation for its past, a renewed commitment to the ancient traditions and innovative adaptations of the diverse immigrants who settled this rugged land.

This is not to say that Dakota Circle is without humor. His play on Jeff Foxworthy’s redneck routine, “You Might be a North Dakotan if….,” is both hilarious and revealing. The entire book is a catalogue of oddities, eccentricities, recipes (the author has a particular affection for traditional foods), and philosophical wisdom--of both folk and academic varieties. He notes, for instance, that as women have liberated themselves from the drudgeries of domesticity, they have also forfeited their role as carriers of cultural tradition. Rather than bemoaning the downside of feminism, however, Isern instead takes it upon himself to fill the void by cooking, gardening, and storytelling. He is careful to note that partaking of such non-traditional activities have not emasculated him in the least, that he still savors hunting, driving a pickup, and smoking an occasional cigar. The underlying message seems to be that cultural conservatism and social change are not necessarily at odds, that we can best move forward as a region and a society by building on the past, rather than by rejecting or abandoning it.

This book written by our own Dr. Isern, speaks the truth of the plains. Isern goes into great detail about this adventures and journeys across the vast, arid plains. This book is not your usual "text" book one may be required to read, memorize, and be tested upon, but a book of real life stories. Many of these stories do not stick out as anything out of the ordinary at first glance, but Isern does a wonderful job of showing us how unique our subtleties really are. Isern finds a way of looking at the how we live down to the simplest tasks or activities that speak of our culture on the great plain. Whether it is scrapping the last egg out of a 85 pound paddlefish in Montanna, packing the survival kit at first snow fall in North Dakota, or stopping to take a picture in front of the world's largest whatever in any small prairie town, the author reveals our everyday understanding as something much more than we give them credit for. The stories are us; they are who we are and how we stand out amongst the cultures to our east and west. Isern's book reminds me more of a novel then a text. In his stories he paints the picture with his voice and personality to put you in the place, almost like you are in the action. As we all know Isern is one hell of a story teller. I did expect the book to be heavily just that, but Dr. Isern was able to compile much more that just stories, he sets the stage with vivid context, setting, detail, current history, character, and just plain, small town prairie life. The laid back life style that Isern possesses can draw out history from any local he encounters whether it’s sitting down for a cup of coffee or a traditional prairie meal, Isern has the ability to learn the ways, subtle cultures, and traditions from the people he comes in contract with. Isern’s message seems to be clear that we must understand who we are and where we live, because this defines us as the culture of the North American plains. With the demand that communication and travel be faster and more easily accessed, will cultures start to bleed into one another more and more until we become a national culture or even farther a global culture? Or will the defining lines of regions and national borders always keep us unique and culturally diverse?

Friday night lights focuses on high school football in Odessa, TX. Basically football is life in this town as businesses close down early on Fridays so people can fill the seats and get to the game on time. It seems that many of the town’s residents are down on their luck a little bit and are using the football games as a sort of release from the daily grind. You get the idea that many of the players themselves come from poorer families and football may be their way out of town, especially with the character Booby Miles. He is planning on heading to college then getting into the NFL right away. All of that is wrecked when he injures his knee beyond complete repair, especially for the 80’s.

I actually worked with a guy who used to play high school and college football in Texas. He basically verified that that was about how intense it was with towns shutting down on Friday nights and major pressure on the players for both sides. Even in my high school high school football is taken pretty seriously. It’s partly because Divide County has been built into a pretty successful 9 man team in the state with appearances in the playoffs for almost 10 straight years. However it’s hard for me to imagine being put in the positions these guys are.

More than anything the attention paid to the football team seems placed there in large part because of the apparent poverty in Odessa. It provides a release and something to rally around as a community. However it’s becomes obvious that some people have tied themselves into football to the point that it’s becoming unhealthy.

Dr. Isern's book: Dakota Circle, is a tale of life on the plains. He explains by what life is like living on the plains. In the beginning of the book he tells the reader what most people think when they are on the plains. Most of the students thought of words like, "flat" or "large" to describe the layout of the land. They don't use any words that describe the people of the land or what the land means to them. The students that he asked were mostly from North Dakota and Minnesota so they live in the heart of the plains. Dr. Isern also describes the culture of the plains region. He talks about Lawrence Welk being from rural Strasburg, North Dakota. He was in the town when they were dedicating the homestead where grew up. The parking was backed up for over two miles and people came from miles around to see this sight. Welk was a German-Russian and so is most of the town of Strasburg. This is a big ethnicity on the North American plains. The best part of living on the plains is that you know when you are switching between different towns with different ethnicity's.
I think that Dr. Isern did a great job of writing this book. He brings together the different aspects of the plains and that is a lot work. He did a lot of research to find the different aspects of the plains that I did not know. He has lived in the area for his entire life and knows the plains inside and out.

Dakota Circle, Excursions on the True Plains by Dr. Tom Isern is a collection of stories depicting the many aspects of what it is like to live and work on the plains, particularly North Dakota. Dr. Isern begins by explaining to the reader what the title “Dakota Circle,” really means. To him it is partially the bond we North Dakotans share with each other and partially the way we sit at gatherings…in a circle of course, so that all can be included. He then goes on to explain some of the unique aspects of the plains such as historic sites, unique things to see throughout the plains and of course the many ways people in the region pass the time and make a living. The point I found Dr. Isern making over and over again is that if something sounds odd then more than likely it originated on the plains. This would include a petrified wood garden, an enchanted highway made of huge iron figures and hunting skunks for a living…the list goes on and on. The truth is that there is just no other place quite as unique as North Dakota and its neighboring states called the plains.

I found this book to be a very humorous depiction of the plains. For someone like Dr. Isern who transplanting to North Dakota I must say he has done a pretty good job at capturing the real “Dakota.” Some of the fancy language made the book a bit hard to keep up with but the majority was really good. My favorite part was the final few pages filled with “You might be a North Dakotan,” comments. After answering yes to 95% of them I think I just might be a North Dakotan.

Dakota Circle Excursions on the True Plains is written by Dr. Tom Isern. It tells of his experiences with numerous places, peoples, and tales of the Great American Plains. The book illustrates local views, speaks of different innovations specific to the plains, and contains interesting stories which people of our area can closely relate to. He starts by describing the Dakota Circle as being the type of social gathering you might find at a family reunion where everyone simply sits around the living room and shoots the breeze. Then he describes some wild life and landscape of the plains. Next, he describes the Verendrey fiasco and how it is highly unlikely that a dog thought the tablet was a pork chop. He transitions into farm life on the plains and how the steam threshers have become monuments to plains heritage. Jerry built contraptions are found all over the plains, most of them look pretty tacky but they serve their purpose, for instance, an ugly windmill that we saw in our lectures. After talking about plum butter and cattle owners, Dr. Isern finished up with a comical chapter that will only be funny if you are from the area.

This book complimented the entire semester because it brought us all across the plains and covered topics like ethnic foods, adaptation, and it followed the development of the plains culture. The different stories helped to relate the main lecture ideas to their roots, for instance, the threshers becoming solemn monuments. I especially liked the last chapter because it sort of sealed the deal for me, I had been able to relate to the book the whole time, but those jokes brought it straight to heart. Is the plains culture something that has been carried on with those who have left the plains?

Episode seven focuses on Lacey’s ex-boyfriend coming to Dog River to see her and the attempts by the community to protect Lacey. Rumor gets around that her ex is a fugitive and that sparks everyone’s attention, especially the local law enforcement, who then try to arrest him on many occasions. In the end it turns out the reason he has come to see Lacey was to tell her that he was engaged to be married and wanted to make sure Lacey was alright with that. A side plot in the film was that Oscar would not go in to see the doctor despite everyone’s encouragement to do so. In the end, he had to be handcuffed and taken in a squad car.
Episode eight focuses on Brent’s cousin Carl returning to Dog River on his way out to Vancouver. Carl has become a very successful businessman in Europe and this leads to hostilities between Brent and Carl. The two make amends at the 17th annual Dog River Talent Show where they perform an act they had started as children. However, by the end of the show Hank wins with his magic tricks, leaving Carl frustrated and storms out of Dog River calling it a “hick town.”
These episodes portray the Plains very well I think. The talent show in episode eight shows an event that the whole community participates in, showing their closeness. Also, there is a line in the film where Brent is telling Carl how everything has changed since he left town, and Carl replies “This is Dog River, nothing ever changes here. Even the peanuts in the vending machines have been around for ages.” I think this line is very indicative of the resistance of change that occurs on the Plains.

The book Dakota Circle: Excursions on the True Plains, by Tom Isern, tells the stories and mythes associated with the Great Plains. These stories and myths are aimed at showing the reader the true, every-day side of Plains life. The title is derived from the author’s observation that plains folk, when at gatherings of any kind, seem to gravitate towards a single room that can fit everyone in it, and form what he calls a “Dakota Circle,” which is a circle where people socialize, mainly telling stories. The book continues to describe the plains in physical terms, alluding to Walter P. Webb’s criteria of flat, treeless, and semi arid. He then goes on to tell how the definitions of the plains he gets from his classes often tend to illuminate the plains culture in general. The remainder of the book focuses on the cultural heritage of the Plains. From the early Verendrey explorers, to bird hunting, the pride placed on threshing machines not only as tools, but as monuments and art forms, the book describes what true plains life is like.
The aspects of this book that I find the most interesting is the general perspective of the book. Rather than focusing on the dates, names, and political events that have shaped the Plains, the author focuses on finding the true essence of the plains through illuminating the cultural heritage, social distinctions, and unique habits that set the Plains apart from other regions.
The only questions that I have pertaining to the book is whether or not this unique plains culture ends with the geographic limits of the plains. Does this culture adhere to the borders set forth by Webb?

Dr. Isern's book Dakota Circle: Excursions on the True Plains was a very easy book to read and understand, unlike Webb's The Great Plains. This book was written the same way that Dr. Isern lectures; always getting to the point and never beating around the bush. It is written like he was talking to you instead of you actually reading the book for yourself. I like how in the beginning of the book he explains what he means by his title; the circle of people sitting around talking, I find this happening a lot in my family when we all get together, even though there is really not that much space we somehow always find a way to fit everyone in the room that wants to be included in the talk, occasionally this talk will spill out into two different rooms one person yelling to the other room so that they are still included and then another person yelling back to keep the talk going. The book just continues in a nice flow from then on, not spending too much time on one subject; each subject is given its correct allotment of time.

The chapter entitled Jerry-Built Contraptions really hits home for me because living on a farm you don't always have the money that you need to buy something that is essential. In certain cases you have to make things on your own, like my dad says: "If you can't make it then you don't need it." This saying refers to anything on the farm that can be fixed by something else on the farm, unless of course it is something that he really likes, say a tractor for instance. I like how I can relate a lot to this book even though I am not from the Dakotas; I still see a lot of the same thing going on in Minnesota and in the states that border the plains.

Dakota Circle: Excursion on the True Plains, was written by Dr. Tom Isern and contains a collection of stories from his experiences on the plains, and from passed down stories of the plains. Dakota Circle was a truly enjoyable read, and I enjoyed how it was an easy read that is written in a conversational style. In Dakota Circle each chapter tells a unique story from an excursion of Toms, and I especially enjoyed his stories of his paddlefishing excursions on the upper Missouri near Glendive, Montana, though I think he needs to come out to Williston someday to have some real fun paddlefishing. In other chapters he talks about how the cold winters have an affect on people and how so many stories arise after each blizzard, like that of Hazel Miner. I also enjoyed his stories on the mysteries of the plains like that of Absaraka, a common one around this area. I think every town in the Dakota’s has some sort of legendary story like that one. Another point that came out was that of the world’s largest on the plains; such as the world’s largest pheasant, in Huron SD, the largest walleye, in Wahpeton ND, the largest Holstein in New Salem ND, and many others. The plains are probably the best place in the world to find something huge and to hear stories from old timers about the way it was.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Dakota Circle, and am fascinated by all the unique stories that can be found here on the Northern Plains. There truly is a sense of history here among North and South Dakotans, and I would recommend this book to anyone.

Lecture 9, episode 10; was about Politics on the Plains. In this lecture we talked about the political breakdown and make-up of the Great Plains states. Dr. Isern showed us that even though our states are heavily Republican we send Democratic Senators to the Capital. Also in this lecture we learned about the works of Vernon Parrington and Richard Hofstadter and how they wrote about politics on the prairie. Mr. Hofstadter had some interesting comments in his work that Dr. Isern pointed out to the class that in fact Liberals are Reactionary and how the plains are really a beacon of liberalism. This is very contrary to what most in the country view and how I viewed the Great Plains before this lecture. Most in the country think our area of the country is very conservative and fiscal.

One last interesting note we learned in class was the definition of the "Staples Theory". This theory is by Vernon Fowke and it portrays the image that the plains play and economic role for the whole entire union, more than any other area in the country. This I suppose is true because of how heavy agricultural based this area of the country is. After sitting through this lecture I also wonder if why we send so many democrats to Washington D.C. is also because they are such senior leaders in there respective posts at the capital. They really know how to bring home the pork to North Dakota.

Lecture 8, episode 9; Immigration on the plains describes the cultural make-up and ethnicity of the Great Plain states. As Dr. Isern stated in lecture, immigrants first started coming to this area in the 1880's and 1900's. The first round of immigrants were mostly from N. Europe and the second wave of immigration was from E. Europe. Chain migration, group settlement, and dispersed settlement are terms I was previously not accustomed to but now understand fully what they mean and how they truly reflected the cultural movement to the Great Plains. Currently the Southern Great Plains and now even the Northern area of the Great Plains is seeing another, third, form of immigration. This being Latinos and Mexicans. Anyone moving to this area is great for our community. This is because different ethnicity's bring the goods from their cultures and share them with us in classrooms, restaurants, shops and etc. and help up become a more diverse and accepting community.

Overall I enjoyed this lecture because my heritage is Germans from Russia, which is one of the groups we learned about in this lecture. My dad's family, all 17, of them with me being the 56 grand child were from the Drake area in North Dakota and settled here to farm and create a new lifestyle. As you can tell my family is Catholic!

Dakota Circle: Excursion on the True Plains was one of the better books I’ve read for a class, not to kiss up but it was. I enjoyed the stories and having grown up on the plains was able to relate to many of them. I almost felt like at times I could have been telling some of the stories myself.

One chapter that was especially interesting or maybe home hitting would be a better word would be the one about Jerry Built Contraptions. My dad kept everything from old machinery, old fenceposts, and old barbed wire that was so brittle you never thought you could find anything to do with it. Well then one winter we took a cutting torch to the machinery and suddenly we had a collection of scrap metal useful for many purposes. At first I had the impression we were sending it to scrap for money. We also built a doghouse for my brother (his dog not him) out of old fence posts and some leftover siding. We used the “new” scrap metal to repair old steel corral panels and gates as well as other things. We did use some of the metal for legs on grain troughs but had to buy some sheet metal to complete the project.

Part of what made this book so enjoyable was being able to relate throughout the book. While I knew about some things in the book coming into it there was still much to learn. In some cases just that I’m not the only one doing things like making useful contraptions out of junk.

Dakota Circle: Excursion on the True Plains was one of the better books I’ve read for a class, not to kiss up but it was. I enjoyed the stories and having grown up on the plains was able to relate to many of them. I almost felt like at times I could have been telling some of the stories myself.

One chapter that was especially interesting or maybe home hitting would be a better word would be the one about Jerry Built Contraptions. My dad kept everything from old machinery, old fenceposts, and old barbed wire that was so brittle you never thought you could find anything to do with it. Well then one winter we took a cutting torch to the machinery and suddenly we had a collection of scrap metal useful for many purposes. At first I had the impression we were sending it to scrap for money. We also built a doghouse for my brother (his dog not him) out of old fence posts and some leftover siding. We used the “new” scrap metal to repair old steel corral panels and gates as well as other things. We did use some of the metal for legs on grain troughs but had to buy some sheet metal to complete the project.

Part of what made this book so enjoyable was being able to relate throughout the book. While I knew about some things in the book coming into it there was still much to learn. In some cases just that I’m not the only one doing things like making useful contraptions out of junk.

Justin Lervik

Dakota Circle-Excursions on the True Plains written by Dr. Tom Isern contained stories and tails/myths that deal with the Plains. One of the main points that hit home with me was when he discussed the rough winters that people in North Dakota go through. He discussed the need for having winter survival kits, blankets, and candles in your car in case of an emergency. Most people off the plains would laugh if they heard this, however it's so true. When he talked about having to have extremely heavy winter jackets I just had to laugh. Whenever I go outside in the winter I feel just like a huge blimp becuase I have to get so bundled up. But, I guess that's one of the characteristics that makes us distinct from other parts of the country, although it's not my favorite. Dr. Isern talked about the Plains folk as having to be the best at certain things, however the things they want credit for are somewhat stupid to me. I don't get why people want to have the world's largest ball of twine or need the biggest statues but that's another thing that seperates us. He then talked about some tails that deal with the Plains. When people hear of somewhat odd things, the first thing they want to do is jump in their car to see them, myself included. We drive over rough terrain, through bad whether, and more importantly, some of the flattest land to see some of these things.
Overall, I enjoyed this book because I could actually relate to it. I enjoy reading these kinds of stories becuase I relate them to my own experiences on the Plains and that's why you should be able to do. I thought that Dr. Isern did a great job of capturing my attention and keeping it all the way until the very end. I would definetly reccomend this book to others.

Dakota Circle, by Professor Isern, is a much different book than we have previously read in this class. It was a book that made me smile while I read it. It was a much more interesting read than Webb or Sharp's books. I thought it was funny to read about the origin of the name Dakota Circle. Even in Minnesota, anytime there is a get together everyone always ends up in a circle with chairs from all the surrounding rooms. I really liked all the stories throughout. The book was written in a conversational tone that made me feel like I was hearing them directly from Professor Isern. Some of the stories were ones that we have heard in class but with more detail. I liked hearing Isern talk about the stupidity of labs and the logo nylon jackets. Both those stories made me think of my family and my dog.
While the majority of the book was stories, if you looked closely they were all connected somehow. These stories take you through the Dakotas and give you a sense of being a part of the Northern Plains. This was a book I felt I could relate to and truly enjoyed even if I'm not from the Dakotas.

Finally a book that I didn't mind reading, Dakota Circle, unlike the first two books, was actually entertaining! It wasn't just filled with a bunch of historical facts, but instead included stories to show why things are they way they are on the plains, and more specifically, North Dakota. Although I did not grow up in North Dakota, and therefore am not as familiar with the battle to have the worlds largest, I did grow up in a farming plains community where I could easily relate to many of social interactions that Dr. Isern discussed. Not only was this book more interesting, but much easier to read simply because you could relate to it. When reading the stories in the book, I could imagine what it was like for Dr. Isern to interview many of the different people across North Dakota; my grandpa is likely much like many of the people that he interviewed. Every holiday and family get together my grandpa likes to tell stories about growing up and what things used to be like when he was a child, and especially how things have changed in farming. Its fun to listen to my grandpa though because its not all facts about how things used to be, he also has many stories about mischief, like hiding people's horses in town, people doing dumb things, and tragedy, like the multiple farming accidents my grandpa has dealt with in his life.

"Dakota Circle- Excursions on the True Plains" is written by our Professor Dr. Isern and contains short stories and truths about my homeland North Dakota. It is by far the most interesting and funny book I have ever read for a class assignment in my three years at North Dakota State. Basically put, reading this book was almost exactly like sitting in on one of Tom Isern's lectures. With growing up in North Dakota, and most of my family still living in North Dakota, I cannot even count how many times I made parallels to what Tom was writing about with actions and lifestyles with how my family live. I cracked up so many times because it was all so true. Tom really has a true gift with the ability to write material twenty-something aged students want to read.

With growing up in West Fargo, one of my favorite short stories in "Dakota Circle" was when Tom talked about the legends and myths of Absaraka, North Dakota. I laughed so hard when I read this short story because I have lived through this one verbatim. The story is about the glowing cross in the window at the church in Absaraka. Out of my group of friends I was the first to get my license so that meant come October me and a group of friends piled in my car and drove out west on I-94 to the small little town of Absaraka to check out this myth, legend, phenomenon, or whatever you wanted to call it. We tried to see exactly what was so jaw-dropping about this church because we all heard so much about it, like it being a featured story on the hit TV show at the time "Unsolved Mysteries". This is just one of the stories that made reading "Dakota Circle" such a great treat in this History of the Plains class. Overall, I would recommend this short story novel to anyone living outside or inside the Great Plains specifically North Dakota that want a perspective on the true flavor, culture, and folklore that make this the best place in the country.

While I was home for Thanksgiving weekend, I was able to head south of my hometown to Albert Lea, MN. While in Albert Lea, I visited Pioneer Village which is connected to their historical society. The village consists of an array of buildings from the late 1800's including: a church, bank, general store, train depot, post office, black smith shop and many, many more. Outside the buildings they have constructed a street that looked much like they might have in the pioneer days. Inside each building they have done a cool job at rebuilding the interior to look as they should, but they have also included a few extra items within each building that might pertain to a historical aspect of that building. What I really like the Pioneer Village is rather then having all kinds of random historical items scattered throughout the buildings, they have a museum building at the end of the row of classic buildings. Inside the museum is a wide selection of items from the late 1800's and early 1900's ranging from clothing, tools, transportation, and a bunch of photos from Albert Lea and the surrounding Freeborn county as the area was developed.

Dakota Circle is a great book about the Great Plains and its people. The book really focuses more on North Dakota. I really enjoyed reading all the stories this book had in it. Many of these stories made me think of times in my life growing up in North Dakota. One good example would be the chapter on the harsh winters. This chapter reminded me of when I used to work at a car rental company. I always enjoyed people from the south that would rent a car and notice the plug in coming out the front of the car. It seemed like everyone of them would come and ask me if the car was an electric car because of the plug in. I just laughed to myself and politely told them it was for the winter to keep the engine warm so it would start. I also liked how well the book related to the class. It seemed like almost every chapter had part of a lecture in it. I really felt like this book did a great job of describing life in North Dakota and I think it would be a good book for people to read if they wanted to learn about North Dakota and its people.

Dakota Circle, by Tom Isern, is a venture into Plains folklore. The book includes various stories and tales from the Plains. It also includes common stereotypes that are distinct to the Plains; like the need for a winter survival kit. I noticed in the book the Verendrye tablet story, Isern had used this story in his lectures before; it felt like I was reading a transcript from class. Also, the Salem Sue story was interesting, because having grown up in western North Dakota I frequently wondered "what would make a town erect a large Holstein Cow on a hill and it being visible from ten miles away?" From the book, I came to understand that large animal, fish, and human statues are common in small town North Dakota. The book appears to be focused on traits that are distinctly found in the Northern Plains, more exactly in North Dakota. From the people and their traditions to wildlife, Dakota Circle is a literary guide to North Dakota culture.
Overall, this book was really fun to read, I cannot remember the last time reading a book and actually laying it down from laughing too much. I found that many things that Isern wrote about in this book was too familiar in the sense that it made me think of good old times in North Dakota. The book would effect people in small town North Dakota, because some stories bring about old memories. Even some sad stories in the book reminded me of funny things. The best example being the first time I ever saw a live paddlefish and being scared from just the sight of these creatures; it was actually pretty comedic from point of view of others.

Dakota Circle was, by and large, the first book I've read this semester which brought a knowing smile to my face on more than one occasion. No, I'm not from North Dakota, and my time on the Plaines has been largely brief. But, I am a Midwesterner (And, Dr. Isern aside, I would still argue that the Dakotas still constitute a part of the Midwest; even if they be on its periphery), and I grew up surrounded by Norwegians and Germans. There was a much in those pages to recognize from my own life.
The discussion of the 'Dakota Circle' itself proves that point. While reading of these stoic Plaines folks, forming themselves up into democratic circles during parties, I allowed my mind to wander back to the last family gathering I was a part of. Although the family (my Mother's side; and, so, Polish-Germans) did break up into two groups (My Aunts and Mother in one room, everyone else in the second) they formed themselves into just the sort of circles that Dr. Isern describes!
The other articles within he book are all written with a deft, but light, hand. It was said in the beginning that they were largely culled from a weekly newspaper editorial, and its pretty obvious. They present a picture of the Dakotas in all of their excentrisities, allowing the individuals at the center of each story to shine through. Where as another author might have been moved to lampoon the people of these two states, Isern does not; treating them, instead, as part of one big, grumpy, crazy, but loving, family.

Historically, agriculture has been the primary business on the Great Planes. This reliance upon farming and its output has caused significant problems over the years; especially as, in the beginning, the "Great American Desert" was not viewed as good farming land! The effort to populate the region with homestead farms was largely the work of the Railroad companies which attempted to attract both foreign and domestic settlers to the land; in an effort to do this, they strove to remake the image of the Plaines from the Desert to the Bread Basket.
One of the things which I found most interesting during the course of the lecture was the many theories that 'scientists' came up with in order to help make the land more hospitable to farmers; the one which stands out the most is the entire "Rain Follows the Plow" plan of cuitting the soil to unleash the water stored within it. At the same time these, lets be honest here, kooks were publishing those railroad-sponsered works, real botanists were striving to find crops which would grow well in a Plaines environment.
Although agriculture has never been the main focus of my interests, my Jeffersonian streak aside, I found this lecture rather interesting; if, for no other reason, it was fascinating to see the parrelles between farming on the Plaines and farming in my own home state.

This lecture called the Farmer is the Man is about the agrarian culture found here on the Great Plains. Dr Isern talked about how most people acquired land was the Homestead act of 1862, from the military, or lotteries and land rushes. Many different groups actually bought their land from directly from the railroad. Wheat is king on the plains. Most areas of the plains grow this crop. Wheat has been found to be adapted to the rough conditions of a continental climate. There are many different varieties of this crop. One variety we talked about in depth was the Kubanka durum that was discovered by Mark Carleton. Carleton was a researcher for the USDA and found that this Kubanka durum was very hardy and stood up to the conditions of the Black Sea region of what is now Ukraine, which has a similar climate to the plains. Carleton brought this back to the US and became popular with farmers. Certain groups brought seeds with them, like the Mennonites and their Turkey Red wheat. These groups flourished until the Dust Bowl hit the plains. The Dust Bowl has been immortalized in our culture as a terrible time for farming, but the aftermath helped to shape modern farming. After the Dust Bowl, irrigation became a viable option for farming. This is a sharp contrast from the concept of dry farming, which was found to be worse for farming. This irrigation also lead to the advent of the meat packing industry on the plains. This allowed for more feed to be raised to marble the cows in a feedlot, and meat packers to process this meat faster.

Will the production of the ethanol become the new feedlots? I think that agriculture will help to feed our need for energy, i.e. fuels like biodieasel and fuel additives like E-85.

Dakota Circle paints an accurate and beautiful picture of the plains. It is very much unlike the other books we have read this semester. The other books seemed dry; Dr. Isern is a talented storyteller. He wrote this book in such a way that it felt like you were having a conversation with him rather than reading off statistics. He wrote about the harsh winters on of the plains. He retold stories of the brave school teachers who lead their children out into the perilous weather. They are all hailed as hero’s when their stories are told, unfortunately not all of them got to retell them themselves. Then he went on to talk about the Dakota Heat emergency candles called the “Mytee Glo”. They seemed so rudimentary when he explained how they were made but I guess it doesn’t matter just as long as it keeps you from freezing to death. When he moved on to talk about the nylon jackets I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. I remember going to the small town where my dad grew up to visit my grandparents; back then I thought it just a big retirement home because the only people that live there anymore were all elderly it seemed. But, I can remember seeing every old man in a nylon jacket and a mesh baseball cap perched on top of their head; it was never pulled down all the way, just barely hanging on to the top of each bald noggin. Another favorite part of mine was when he explored the topics of folklore and American Legends. I can remember my first experience with folklore. It’s a touchy subject for my cousins who got so scared they had to change their pants, but nothing more than a story to tell the younger generations to the rest of us. I for one will always be up for a good scary story. Moving on toward the end of the book he starts talking more about the food of the plains. This defiantly gave my salivary a workout. The talk about all the syrups, jams, and fish was sensory overload! I’m not much of a cook but I’m very interested in sending those recipes to my mom!

I think the reason why I enjoyed this book so much was because I could relate to the places and habits that Dr. Isern explores in the book. I found my self finding places and names and thinking “I wonder if they know my grandpa?” and “I wonder if that’s so-and-so’s grandpa.” I very much enjoyed reading this book. He is a storyteller and I think that’s why he was so successful in writing this book.

Dakota Circle is a book about the Plains community, written by a Plains member. The book is based off of a newspaper column, Plains Folks, that were compiled together. I think the book starts off rather interesting talking about what the title ‘really’ means. When Dr. Isern discusses the circle that forms at any social get together I cracked up laughing out loud while riding in a plane, I knew what he was talking about, and throughout the book, I could relate or at least imagine the stories that are told. As many have noted, the chapter about the horrible ability for Plains folk to build absurdly large monuments for things that are just ridiculous. Like the fight for the worlds largest ball of twine, or the biggest buffalo around. I thought of this chapter as I was driving home from Park Rapids and was told the story about the statue that is there of Saint Urho, the Saint that drove the grasshoppers (locust) out of Finland. This obscene love that people from the Plains have for large statues is ridiculous, but it’s who we are. Dakota Circle is a book that describes who we are, and as much as someone from the Great Plains wants to deny their actions as anything of what this book describes, you can’t.

I really enjoyed reading Dakota Circle. This book was way more interesting than the other two, not to be judgmental or anything. I think being able to relate to the stories, even though I am from MN some of these still ring true, allowed me to enjoy the book way more. So in the end, I say good job for keeping my attention.

Hey folks, as we close in on the end of the semester, make sure you get your reviews in. Also, make sure I have everything in the gradebook for you. See me with questions. Thanks,

for the class we read Dakota Circle, which happens to be written by Professor Isern. It entails the stories and insights of various people and communties that are littered across the great plains, and how each is significant in its own little way. I also found it interesting to read some of the insights he gained from interveiwing various people from all over the plains, and I think that this gives great detail into the intricate details that make up the lifestyle of great plains, as I think it proves to very diverse as well as tightly knit together with in each community. Also in the book he talked about how things have changed over the years all across the plains in ways of farm machinery and other things mainly agriculturally related. Overall I found this book very insightful and enjoyable as it was well written yet didnt feel like i was reading an actual school textbook.

Matt Liese

Dr. Isern’s Dakota Circle discusses the many different sites and various people he has come across while being on the plains. He has turned these acquaintances into stories which his book is mostly based on rather than statistical facts. I thoroughly enjoyed the interviews in the book and how certain landscapes and large sculptures came about. He described what it’s like and what it means to be a Dakotan and someone who lives on the plains. Isern went over what makes the small town communities on the plains and how you probably wouldn’t have to travel far to see the world’s largest something or another on the plains because almost every small town has some structure that they’re known for. Other things he touched on that I found interesting were the survival kits that sit in our cars year round, which every part of it was true because I am guilty of having one of these myself! Later on the book we learned of some things that are non-existent on the plains, such as certain trees and different foods, and the industrialized machinery that are taking its place.
This book was not like other books I've had to read for class just because it was easily understandable and didn't have too much complex reading like most class books do. I liked the narrative style of this book. It seemed as though Isern was telling us stories just as he does in class and that part really made the book an easy read.

Dr. Isern's book focused on how the people and the environment make the Great Plains a unique and special place. Throughout the book Isern talks about his travels across the plains and all of the interesting people he met. All of these stories seem to build on a sense of just what makes the plains unique. One thing that makes the Great Plains unique are all the man made monuments.

I don't know if there is any other place in the world that has so many huge man-made monuments. Not many of them are works of art but they all seem to have their own unique purpose. Some are their to honor wildlife that is a popular part of plains history like the buffalo or now a popular part of its economy in pheasants and walleye. Some really have no connection to the land but are erected just to make the town standout like Harvey's gorilla. Besides huge monuments Isern also talks about things like paddlefishing, winter survival kits, plum butter, and the lost forests of the plains. All of these topics touch on how the people of the plains adapted to their environment. In both the chapters about paddlefishing and plum butter Isern touches on how people use fish and fruits that are found on the plains to make dishes that are truly unique to the plains. To go along with the dishes Isern talked about a few books that were made to instruct people on how to prepare and turn paddlefish and even carp into something you would enjoy having on your dinner table. Finally, Isern gets into the topic of out migration that faces the Dakota's in the chapter title "Parking for North Dakotans". In the chapter he talks about how so many North Dakotans left the state for Washington state and other places. The first part of the chapter definitely paints a bleak picture of the future of the state but in the end Isern ends on a interesting note saying that all the country may have needed was to sift through a number of people before finding the right ones.

Dakota Circle was the best book I have read this semester, no offense to Webb or Sharp but Dr. Isern wrote a book that was easy to relate to and hard to put down. Each chapter seemed to present a window into a certain aspect of life on plains and when put together it showed just how people are able to make life worthwhile and enjoyable on the Great Plains.

Lecture 7, The Farmer isthe Man, was a lecture about the agriculture industry on the Great Plains. In the lecture it was discussed about the different plant types that were found throughout and the different type of planting. As one can notice while driving through the Great Plains, there are certain plants that are accepted more by the land than others. Many farms have large fields of wheat (many varieties), corn, and beans, because that is what was proven to be accepted by the land. The techniques of farming went through just as many trials and errors that the crop choices have. Through attempting dry farming, and then later moving on to using different windmills, well systems, and irrigation techniques; the best were found. Understanding the different ways, through ground irrigation to those scary contraptions that you see in the fields shooting water, was a bit hard for me, but I know what the end goal was, and that is all that matters. Also discussed were the weed invasion, and the hard times that the Dust bowl created to the farmers.


This lecture interested me because coming from a farm family, I thought what we did was just what we did. I never asked questions for why we irrigated the way we did. I never thought that there would be a reason for why we rotate the crops, or even have the crops that we do. I guess there is a lot more that goes into farming than I thought there was.

I have watched yet another three episodes of Gunsmoke. In the first episode “The Queue” a “Chinamen” moves into town. He is not exactly welcomed there; in fact they throw him back into the wagon. Matt Dillon sees this and is not at all pleased. He tells the two guys to leave him alone. But, they find out he has a treasure box, and realize that though chain migration he would bring more “Chinamen”. The only way to get him to leave is to cut off his braid, or “Queue” as they call it, and take his treasure. Sure this sounds great in theory but when you send in a drunk guy to do your bidding for you, things don’t always go as planned. The bad guys get caught in the act and the “Chinaman” gets his braid back. We find out that the only thing in the treasure box is about nine dollars and a marriage license because that was his treasure. We are morbidly brought into the next episode called “General Parcley Smith” with Matt talking about how the bad people in Dodge end up in a shallow grave. In this episode a new bank opens while Matt is away. When he returns he is introduced to the new bank owner and his hired gunman. Next, Matt meets General Smith who tells him that the new bank owner is just going to rob everyone in Dodge of their money. He checks out the new bank owner with the other bank owner and he says his credentials seemed just fine. Matt tells Smith to stop slandering the new bank owner; but he still persists. Matt Dillon tells the gunman to leave by five because there just isn’t a place for him in Dodge, then he tells Smith to leave by sundown since he refuses to leave the new banker alone. Doc says that he worked with Smith in the Army and that he was a pathological liar. They both say they will be gone by their respective times. Later that night Chester and Matt hear gunshots. They run over and find Smith in a gunfight with the new bank owner and the gunman is already dead. It turns out Smith was right, but he lied about how he knew that they were going to run off with the money. In the end there are still no new characters in Gunsmoke because they keep killing them off. The final episode is called “Magnus” and IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME IN DODGE! And we are introduced to Chester’s brother, Magnus. Chester says he’s too dangerous to be among people because he doesn’t talk to girls, drink or gamble. But Matt encourages Chester to show him around town anyway. Chester gets jealous when Magnus wins all the money while they gamble, out drinks him at every bar in town, and impresses the heck out of Miss Kitty. Magnus saves Miss Kitty from a crazy guy who wants to kill her because she's pretty. Chester then accepts his brother for who he is when he finds out there are many things he didn’t know about his little brother.

This documentary talked about the ornate iron crosses that the Germans from Russia would have marking their grave sites. The tradition of using iron crosses stemmed back from Europe where there was a legend behind them based on a story of an old warrior who met a group of opposing knights and fought bravely in battle. He fought even though the force he went up against in battle was overwhelming. As a result of being so outnumbered he was killed but his opponents were so impressed with how he fought that they stuck his very ornate iron sword in the place where he had fallen. The sword then looked like it was a cross and groups in Europe particularly the Germans from Russia picked this up and brought it with them to the plains of North America. The grave sites on the Great Plains are particularly important because many of the grave sites in Russia were either destroyed just to get rid of them or torn down for the materials that made them up. The film also went into detail about what went into making the crosses and also the fact that each cross had its own story to tell.

I thought the crosses were for most part very beautiful and each one seemed to have its own unique identity. Before watching this movie I had never even heard of this kind of grave marker, I have probably seen them but must have never really paid attention to them. Which is shame because they are not only great pieces of Great Plains art but they also can tell us more about those who came before us in the unique story each one of theses markers tells.

To begin this lecture Dr. Isern started by explaining to us the 4 Point Model that he felt applied to this lecture. The four points of the model were Cultural Heritage, I, the Metropolis and Technology; he used these to explain to us how each impacted agriculture on the plains. We talked about crop monocultures and prairie polycultures. What the first explorers thought was virgin landscape was actually manipulated by the natives there. Agriculture tends to induce monocultures, which are really hard to create. Monocultures come with high risk and are not that stable because growing monocultures of crops or grasses is like putting all your eggs in one basket. If it fails or the soil develops some sort of disease, you are in trouble. Whereas polycultures are much more stable. If one thing fails, there are others there to pick up the slack. Crops are a type of monoculture and are unstable, prairies on the other hand are polycultures and much more diverse and stable. Prairie is also very resilent, if you leave it alone it will eventually get back to the way it originally was. Next, we talked about pioneer farming as Jeffersonian Agrarianism. People eventually started to think of the plains not as the Great American Desert, but as the Great Interior Valley and the Garden of the World. They saw what the plains potentially could be, that it's not as bad as everyone said and that it has the potential to be The Garden of the World. Why the sudden change in attitude? Some people say "The rain follows the plow". Some people think that the prairies lacked moisture because they lacked trees. The roots of trees turn the soil and release the moisture from the ground into the air, which brings more rain. Not everyone believes this is true, but it’s a possibility.

Lecture seven, The Farmer and the Man, was about agriculture on the plains and how it changed over time. At the beginning of the lecture we learned that the Plains had changed from being a desert to the garden of the world. We then went on to discuss how the methods of farming and the way of life for farmers has changed. One method that we discussed was dry farming which was Hardy Webster Campbell's idea. This is where the farmers tried to use as little water as possible over the years and still make their crops grow. Hardy suggested that for this type of farming the farmers would plow deeper than usual and use one layer of dust as mulch. Unfortunatly this method didn't work because it didn't even hold water so all it was was dust. One of the most successful methods that we talked about is irrigation, which we still use today. This was where they would water their crops from above the ground through a system. The only problem with this was that becuase it took a lot of water, it dried up certain streams and thereflow affected the water flow. We have definetly have advanced over time becuase of technology changes, but we still use the same concepts that were used some time ago and to me this was the most interesting. I would have thought that becuase we are so much more advanced the way we farm today would be so completely different but it's not. This showed me that the farmers back then were using everything they could to their advantage and this helped us today get on the fast track.

This interview started of with the introduction of Leo Beauchamp by the interviewer Suzanne Kelly who immediately compared Mr. Beauchamp to Wallace Stegner and his creation of “Wolf Willow”. Going into the interview I knew we were going to be listening to a painter and his creations but I amazed to find that Leo’s painting have a lot more to them. He had done research on his family that dates back to the 1500s where he learned that his original last name was “Deauchamp”. We find out that his ancestors (Jack and John Beauchamp) come from France to Canada and settled by Montreal for 5 or 6 generations. From Canada they decided to make the trek to North Dakota. One of his Great Grandpa’s at the time was a Blacksmith and all 9 of his kids came to Olga, ND to pursue farming. As shown in her diaries, the mother did mostly woman work such as washing clothes, going to church, and having strict disciplinary rules. Leo further went into the development of his book, “9th Generation Grandfather, from birth to death”. It literally did discuss the beginning of his life until he left this world; from meeting his first girlfriend to building his first house out of logs on the frontier. Other memories that Leo touched on were of Olga, and his Grandpa. He then touched on his parents and how it was as a child growing up in Olga, with the different chores, accidents (his brother), family rituals and dating on the plains. He ended with changes in that community and the construction of his paintings with different painting techniques and the stories behind each piece.

During the lecture the Farmer and the Man, we went over various topics such as facts and fictional events that took place on the plains all dealing with agriculture. First we discussed the different plants on the plains and how it once was known as a desert land. We then learned of the farmer and how things have changed from the first homesteads until now. This part of the lecture is most interesting to me. Some things we went into detail with were the most common crop, which was wheat, from winter wheat to spring wheat, and other things like the basics of farming then compared to now. One of those things included how to keep the crops alive and the different techniques farmers used. One such practice was dry farming, where they conserved as much moisture over the year as possible. Other things that came about were windmills, and well that are still used today in order to preserve resources. They also came up with surface irrigation in order to keep their crops hydrated. Some of these methods seem quite clever compared to things we do now, and most are things we still used after all the technology we have to day. Farmers were obligated to think this way because of the minimal resources that were available for farming back then.
I think it was interesting that during the lecture Isern talked about what the settlers had left in order to pursue a life on the frontier. They didn’t know what they were getting into but they dedication and love for the land paid off in the end and have made the plains cultures what they are today.

Lecture seven entitled, "The Farmer is the Man," was about agriculture and the changes it has undergone on the plains. We discussed alot of things such as the hardships farmers went through in the early part of the century. Through the Homestead Act and other movements like the Railways expanding westward, unoccupied land was up for grabs and so many families crossed the ocean to claim land for themselves. Before long the Great depression set in and people were faced with a hardship like no other causing many farmers to shut down their operations. Through perseverence and determination, agriculture came through and is now quite prosperous. Adaptation to the land and developing technology has been imperative for agriculturalists to thrive. Many new crops have been implemented in areas suitable for production while technological advances like irrigation pivots and highly detailed farm equipment have made farming much more efficient.

In looking back on this lecture I have to give kudos to Dr. Isern for the outstanding title!! The Farmer IS the Man!! Like many of my classmates I was born and raised in agriculture. Growing up on a third generation farm I was able to witness many advances to our operation. My great grandfather used to tell me stories of his farming experiences. The thing I have found most fascinating is the difference in the amount of production we are now able to create in comparison to what my great grandfather's generation could. He would speak of picking rock on his twenty acres of land all by hand that would take a month and now I can go over 2,000 acres of land with a rock picker in a week. The advancements really have come a long way and still...The Farmer IS the Man!!

A point of inquiry I have is why didn't we go into more detail during this lecture? Agriculture has shaped each and every one of us and our ancestors in some way, shape or form. Its evolution plays such an important role in the history of plains that I feel it is a topic that deserves more attention.

In Lecture 7, The Farmer is the Man, we talked about the agriculture and ecology of the plains and the evolution of farming. Towards the beginning of the lecture we talked about how the stereotype of the Great American Desert was no more and was now the Garden of the World. I thought it was interesting that it went from a desert to a garden. We also talked about how new technology and ideas helped the farmers. One method we talked about was dry farming. Hardy Webster Campbell thought dry farming would help to conserve moisture in the soil. His idea was to plow deep and have a layer of dust as mulch. It turns out that this didn’t really help hold moisture in at all and most likely even contributed to the Dust Bowl. One technology that did help the farmers was irrigation. This helped them get water to their crops however, it depleted the ground water supply and dried up stream flows. Irrigation also led to the development of feedlots, packinghouses and eventually immigration.
My favorite part of this lecture was talking about the legends of the dust bowl. A few that Professor Isern told us were that you could not see your hand in front of your face, people taped up the windows to keep dust out, and that some people thought it was a sign that Judgment Day was coming. My family has a farming history so it was interesting to listen to what they may have gone through to get their farm going.

Tom Isern's "Dakota Circle" is not a history book by traditional means nor is it a book of facts pushed by numbers and statistics. Rather, what Isern has created is a compilation of loosely interconnected stories that creates a picture that displays what life on the Prairie is. Isern is rather insistant throughout the book that life on the prairies is fundamentally different than life out east or in the Rockies. Between its rich cultural histories and indeed treeless environment a distinctly unique culture full of pride, hardiness, and wonder has developed on the vast tracks of open prairie.
Through a series of Isern's experiences and interviews the book takes you through a light hearted trail of what it means to be a North Dakotan, or a Northern Plainer more generally. Being from Bismarck with frequently visited grandparents in both New Rockford and McVille I felt that I could relate to most everything described in the book. Even the line about needing a Nylon jacket with a logo on the back struck me as familiar as I have made the same observations while at festivities with a generally older crowd. I also enjoyed the Chapters describing the origins of the great sculptures that dot the landscape across the Plains. I remember hearing stories from my father about the huge gorilla in Harvey from when he would pass through town often on his business trips. What I found most interesting was the segment of North Dakotan's moving to the west coast. My mothers Maiden name is Settlemeyer, a fairly uncommon name anywhere you go. While doing family genealogy my aunt found groups of Settlemeyers living out east in Pennsylvania, ofcourse our cluster in the Dakotas, and very closely linked cousins in Northern Oregon. I am unsure if this is the result of string migration or a couple just having huge families (which they did) but it fallows the patterns very closely described by Isern in class and in the book.
Another unique story in the book was the wire line running over the Little Missouri River in western North Dakota. Suspended high above stream in the beautiful Little Missouri Valley a motorized cable car is the only mode of transportation across the river for miles. Every morning the kids would take the car across the river to get to school. I loved this story and is something I would like to see. I really shows North Dakota ingenuity and refusal to conform to more traditional means of infrastructure.
In the end I think Isern truly portrait that life on the Plains is not bleak, boring, or lacking in beauty. Actually on quite the contrary Isern presents the Plains as a place full of colorful cultures, unmatched natural beauty, and a group of people that are making place out of the infinities of Prairie. While the number one exporter of North Dakota is indeed its bright people the area has a bright future because wherever you go you will find displaced North Dakotans in foreign metropolises that call the Dakotas home and are spreading the spirit of the Plains.
What I feel would be an interesting direction area of study is to research the displaced Prarie peoples and see how they have adapted to cultures elsewhere and how they have helped shape with their prairie vision in Non-Prairie Places.

In lecture 7, we discussed the ecology and agriculture on the Plains. The main premise throughout the lecture was the evolution of plains farming. The best point was how the plains were too hard to farm and how technology has made it easier to farm them. Through irrigation and introduction of foreign crops, the plains gradually became more inhabitable and profitable for settlers. The more technology got involved with farming, the more successful that farming on the plains became. Farming the northern Plains and southern plains was different, so there were separate ways to farm and what could be planted in these regions; such as spring wheat and winter wheat. New theories on farming brought more settlers onto the Plains, because the common perception of "The Great American Desert" was no longer being portrayed. Overall, the lecture was interesting and as a person who leases land to farmers, I found this lecture very informative.

This lecture focused on agriculture on the Great Plains. The lecture started out with talk about prairie polycultures and monocultures. As a result of agriculture what was once a polyculture or diverse variety of plants became a monoculuture of just one plant.

There was also discussion about some of the early farming concepts used on the plains. One such method was called dry farming and involved plowing deep(8-12 inches), keeping soil stirred up to create a dust mulch, and finally water would be stored under the dust mulch. The goal of this method was conservation of moisture but in reality it didn't really do that, in fact practices like this probably helped contribute to the dust bowl. The dust bowl was another topic the lecture touched on and most of the discussion centered on the legends and myths resulting from it. There were stories about how you couldn't see your hand in front of your face, how people taped their windows shut to keep dust out, and also how it was a sign of the coming of judgement day. Some stories did have some truth but ultimately most were fictional. The lecture ended with how things like modern agriculture, practices of conservation and irrigation arose after the dust bowl.

I thought this was an interesting lecture, the Red River Valley is deeply rooted in a history of agriculture and it was a history most of my ancestors took part in. Few of the people in my family farm now so it was interesting to hear about some of the practices my ancestors may have used. It was also interesting to see how farming evolved over time, especially in terms of how farmers tried to adapt to the plains environment.

This Lecture was largely about the Russian Germans. We started the lecture with a quote of one of their songs. It tells the story of how they are set to leave their adopted home land and make the long, one way journey to a new land. They believe they will be leaving the next day never to see each other again, families and lovers alike, torn apart. The decision was usually that of the father of the family although he would pass the blame on to the establishment or any other circumstances. The new land held many promises, that of opportunities, prosperity and freedom. Not just civil freedom, but ethic and religious freedom as well. The first wave of immigration peak around the 1880's, they were mainly Northern and Western Europeans. The second wave peaked around the 1900's with most of the immigrants coming from the southern and eastern portions of Europe. There was renewed settlement on the plains with new land opportunities available. For awhile the railroad was shipping immigrants over and the immigrants would work their passage off on the railroad once they arrived here, until congress put a stop to that. Then the railroad created section houses. They would then fill empty rail cars from Mexico with immigrants and ship them up to the different section houses. Once again the railroad had cheap labor and the immigrants’ transportation into the “Land of Opportunity”. We talked about group colonization of the Russian Germans. It is interesting to note that the Russian German population has now out grown that of the Norwegians in our home state.
Jo Lene Kjonaas

Capote is a movie about a New York journalist named Truman Capote. Capote one day reads an article about a shooting in Kansas that catches his eye and he decides to write about it himself. He heads to Kansas with his friend Nelle to do research on the shooting of a family of four. Throughout the investigation Truman sticks close to the sheriff leading it, until the day those two men were arrested for the murder. Capote pays off the guards so he can talk with Perry one of the two men. Perry begin to form a bond as their many conversations continue on, until one day Perry tells Capote what happened on the night of the murder, after this even Capote is affected deeply by the fate of the two men. Eventually Capote even goes into a state where he will not do anything, not even speak for he is so upset. Capote returns to the jail to visit Perry and his convicted friend just before they are to be hung. It was an extremely painful moment for Capote and after watching the hanging he said that it was the most excruciating experience he had ever had. Capote having gotten too much information for just a simple article goes on to write a book about his experiences.

By Justin Nygaard

Ann Erling

Hutmacher Experience

On the morning of October 13, 2007 I struck out on an historical adventure. I had opted out of the rustic cabin experience, and stayed with my grandparents 30 miles away from the Hutmacher Farmstead. With only a general idea of where to drive, I asked for directions in a small town not far from the preservation site. This was my first experience with rural directions. I took mental notes as four different people, on four separate occasions steered me north of brown hills, south of broken fences, and directed me to take rights and lefts at various barns, houses, and trees. I drove for two and a half hours when I finally arrived at the Hutmacher Homestead.

I was immediately put to work creating bunches of flax for thatching (I think that is what it was called), and was then instructed on how to assemble the roof. With the help of several others I wove branches together, covered them with flax, covered that with mud, and finally covered that with another (and different) layer of