Living in McKenzie County

In this episode of the Living in McKenzie County podcast, host Vawnita Best is joined by McKenzie Health CEO Pete Edis, COO Leland Tong, and recruiter Jacob Davison to discuss how healthcare in Watford City has grown from limited critical-access services into a robust rural system. They highlight expanding local specialty care, bringing back labor and delivery after 30 years, improving access to preventive and diagnostic services, and how they are incorporating new technologies. The group also covers recruiting and retention challenges, housing support, school partnerships, and helping new employees get connected. They also invite the public to the annual meeting on November 10 at the Watford City Civic Center.

To view all of the services that McKenzie Health offers, www.mckenziehealth.com.

See Upcoming Events at www.mckenziehealth.com/events.

Contact Lynn Welker ([email protected]) for more information about Giving Hearts Day.

00:00 Welcome

07:41 Growth of McKenzie Health

17:24 Recruiting in Rural North Dakota

21:04 Building a Talent Pipeline

26:17 Employee Retention

42:16 Annual Meeting

45:57 Challenges & Successes

55:00 Air Ambulance

57:15 Funding Pressures

59:46 Regionalization

01:03:33 New Technologies

01:10:48 Cancer Center

01:20:53 Upcoming Events

01:29:45 Services

Host Vawnita Best talks with Bakken Area Skills Center (BASC) leaders Diana Wilson, Julie Dragseth, and Scott Wisness about workforce development through work-based learning and career exploration. They explain how the BASC partners with 70+ local employers to give students job shadows and work placements while also teaching key soft skills like communication, emotional intelligence, conflict management, and responsibility. They also preview upcoming ways for students, families, and businesses to engage, including Career Exploration Industry Day, the BASC Showcase, T4, and Healthcare Industry Day.

BASC Website: https://www.basccte.com

BASC Upcoming Events: https://www.basccte.com/students

BASC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Bakken-Area-Skills-Center-61556441432921

Golden Path: https://www.basccte.com/partners/golden-path-basc-partnership

T4 Summit: https://www.t4ndsummit.org/watford-city-1

00:00 Welcome

03:17 Introductions

13:12 Work-Based Learning

17:55 Parents and Real Experience

22:36 Businesses in CWE

24:57 Soft Skills for Students

33:53 Getting Involved in CWE

38:03 Career Exploration

45:09 Career Exploration Industry Day

49:28 Upcoming Events

01:00:35 Healthcare Industry Day

01:05:25 Industry Partners

Host Vawnita Best marks the 50th episode of the Living in McKenzie County podcast by welcoming student council co-advisor Amy Polivka and student leaders Abby Ryberg, Clara Wisness, and Kenji Son. The group previews Watford City High School's Homecoming Week and takes a look at the homecoming activities and themes.

Monday, October 5

• Wrong Occasion Day

Tuesday, October 6

• Board Game Day
• 10:30 am - Candidate Feud

Wednesday, October 7

• Neon Day
• Morning - Community Cleanup
• 1:00 pm - Boys' Volleyball
• 2:30 pm - Girls' Powder Puff

Thursday, October 8

• Minions Day
• 10:30 am - Pep Rally
• 7 pm - Homecoming Volleyball

Friday, October 10

• Maroon and White Day
• 2:30 pm - Homecoming Coronation
• 4 pm - Homecoming Parade
• 7 pm - Homecoming Football vs. Jamestown
• After the Game - Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Saturday, October 11

• 12 pm - Home JV2 Soccer vs. Bismarck
• 2 pm - Home JV1 Soccer vs. Bismarck

Email [email protected] if you are interested in having a float in the Homecoming Parade

Homecoming week webpage: https://www.watford-city.k12.nd.us/homecoming

2026 Watford City High School Hall of Fame Announcement: https://youtu.be/y2ngAEXdxFE

00:00 Welcome

03:19 Student Council

06:56 Monday

11:00 Tuesday

14:29 Wednesday

26:20 Thursday

29:26 Homecoming Volleyball Game

35:32 Friday

37:12 Hall of Fame and Food Trucks

41:44 Homecoming Themes

46:35 Parade and Coronation

53:04 Homecoming Favorites

In this episode of the Living in McKenzie County podcast, Vawnita Best visits with McKenzie County NDSU Extension staff Ryan Odenbach, Shantell Dukart, and Kim Neprash. They outline services residents can access through the Extension office, including 4-H enrollment and clubs, youth programming beyond livestock, and the Livestock Enhancement program with the Ag Expo. They also share upcoming Extension events in McKenzie County.

McKenzie County NDSU Extension Website: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/extension-county-offices/mckenzie-county

00:00 Welcome

01:28 Introductions

08:33 Extension Services Overview

10:25 How to Join 4-H

14:44 4-H Beyond Livestock

17:23 Livestock Enhancement Program

22:02 Enrollment Timeline and Volunteers

28:37 Ag and Natural Resources

32:50 Research Centers

34:36 Extension History in McKenzie County

41:57 Awards Banquet

49:16 Fall Extension Conference

55:23 Caregiver Tools and Real Colors

01:01:09 Range Judging and Pesticide Certification

01:06:24 Closing

Host Vawnita Best welcomes Watford City Park District Superintendent Robin Arndt, Rough Rider Center Director Sarah Fitzpatrick, and Park Board President Justin Johnsrud to kick off Season 3! They highlight the Park District's 100-year legacy and the September 3rd centennial celebration at Kent Pelton Park during the farmers market. They also look back on how land donations, volunteers, and collaboration built and expanded local parks, trails, and facilities over decades including the Wild West Water Park, Veterans Park, and the Tourist Park. Finally, they take a look at the future of Watford City Parks and Recreation.

Honor Pole Nomination: https://www.watfordcityparks.com/Parks/Kent-Pelton-Nature-Park

00:00 Welcome

01:19 Introductions

04:49 100 Year Celebration

16:00 Looking Back

26:35 McKenzie Bay

30:38 Community Built Facilities

38:05 Mckenzie County Athletic Park

41:13 Programs and Activities

46:48 Rough Rider Center

58:44 Trail System

01:02:56 Veteran's Park

01:06:57 Watford Market Schedule

01:08:57 Looking Ahead

01:18:46 Honor Pole

01:22:18 Community Projects

01:29:12 Future Plans

01:32:36 Closing

Host Vawnita Best welcomes guests Irene Sealy, director of the McKenzie County Public Library, and Bakken MomCo leaders Emily Brown and Kat Hartel. They discuss McKenzie County as a place intentionally built for families and highlight ways that mothers and families can connect through Bakken MomCo and the public library.

Bakken MomCo meets has two meetups a month from September to May at the Watford City Assembly of God church. The morning group meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 9 - 11 a.m., and the evening group meets the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month from 6:30 - 8 p.m.

Bakken Mom Co: https://www.facebook.com/bakkenmomco

McKenzie County Public Library:

https://mckenziecountynd.gov/departments/mckenzie-county-public-library/

https://www.facebook.com/p/McKenzie-County-Public-Library-100090772545642/

My Town Episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbeiKFXf9OI

00:00 Welcome

02:52 Introductions

05:03 About Bakken MomCo

06:31 Meetups & Park Days

13:24 Importance of Connection

16:39 Multi Generational Support

20:48 Community Health

23:01 MomCo Activities

28:40 Library Walk & Wonder

30:52 Library Resources

33:51 MomCo Fall Kickoff

36:18 Wrap-Up

Host Vawnita Best visits with guests Tim Fjeldahl, president of the Wolf Pack Booster Club, and Mitch Lunde, the new McKenzie County School District Athletic Director. They explain the booster club's purpose as a centralized, one-stop support system for all school activities and athletics. They also highlight upcoming events: the Friday Night Lights Golf Scramble on August 21 and Meet the Wolves at Watford Market on August 27. Families and community members are encouraged to show up, get involved, and support students.

2026-2027 Individual Membership: https://givebutter.com/wolf-pack-booster-club-membership-tv7cy7

Wolf Pack Booster Club Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watfordcityboosterclub

00:00 Welcome

01:52 Introductions

08:40 About the Booster Club

12:57 Board And Fundraising

15:45 Support Beyond Sports

18:42 Volunteer Opportunities

20:59 Friday Night Lights Golf Scramble

26:53 Booster Club Membership

29:52 The Importance of Student Involvement

31:53 Meet the Wolves

36:34 Looking Ahead

42:22 Supporting the Wolves

47:31 Closing

In Season 2, Episode 24 of the Living in McKenzie County podcast, Vawnita Best sits down with Watford City Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mary Fish-Gumke, Lund Oil Marketing Director Jessica Hollenbeck, and Chamber Board Member Stefanie Russell of Dakota West Credit Union to highlight Chamber resources and the upcoming 2026 Best of the West Ribfest on August 14. They also take a look at other Chamber events including Trail of Treats, Turkey Bingo, and the Parade of Lights, along with networking luncheons and Business After Hours.

Best of the West Ribfest: https://www.watfordcityribfest.com https://www.facebook.com/BestOfTheWestRibfest

Watford City Area Chamber of Commerce: https://www.watfordcitychamber.com

Chamber Membership Form: https://live-watford-city-chamber.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2022ChamberMembershipApplication.pdf

Upcoming Events: https://www.watfordcityevents.com

00:00 Welcome

02:25 Introductions

05:14 Volunteers in the Community

07:31 Homefest Recap

12:57 2026 RibFest

18:54 Ribfest Team

26:34 Watford City Area Chamber of Commerce

32:02 Chamber Membership and Reach

34:42 Chamber Network Luncheon

37:17 Joining the Chamber

39:01 Board Members

40:41 Fall and Winter Events

45:57 Business After Hours

47:53 Ribfest Origins

51:55 Sponsorship

55:42 Closing

How did McKenzie County keep the lights on in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s after the oil bust? Season 2, Episode 23 of the Living in McKenzie County podcast features community leaders Tim Taylor, Steve Stenehjem, and Neal Shipman discussing how McKenzie County has endured historic hardships, and what we can learn about resilience and community as we look to the future.

Watch Cowboys and Crude: The McKenzie County Story - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka_T8eMoOjg

00:00 Welcome

01:40 Introductions

12:45 Getting Involved on Boards

24:16 Community Growth

31:22 Communication and Transparency

36:08 Paying Down Debt

44:08 Black Friday

54:04 Keeping the Lights On

01:01:41 Local Programs

01:04:11 Renaissance Zone Project

01:07:32 2010s Oil Boom

01:10:50 Watford City Municipal Airport

01:13:44 The Boom As a Journalist

01:18:47 Expanding Opportunities

01:20:55 Bank Diversification

01:24:49 Leadership and Industry

01:30:11 Value Added Natural Gas

01:35:28 Looking Ahead

Jessie Veeder-Scofield hosts this special episode of the Living in McKenzie County podcast with guests Oksana Zvyagelskiy, Krystal Picklesimer, and Josh Nollmeyer to preview a busy summer of community events. The group takes a look a Homefest in Watford City, Art in the Park, the Minot Hot Tots baseball game, and Parks and Recreation programming.

Homefest

https://www.watfordcityevents.com/all/Calendar/Details/Watford-City-Homefest-Food-Music-on-Main-/4502

Art in the Park

https://longxarts.com/events/artinthepark/

Minot Hot Tots vs. St. Cloud Rox

https://roughridercenter.com/event/minot-hot-tots-vs-st-cloud-rox-watford-city-weekend-baseball/

00:00 Welcome

02:02 HomeFest

04:37 Parks and Rec Homefest Activities

07:43 Art in the Park

09:25 Family Fun Schedule

12:57 Why HomeFest Matters

14:40 Jonesy Sculpture

18:47 HomeFest Memories

21:45 Hot Tots Baseball Weekend

28:29 Rough Rider Center Camps

30:41 Summer Art Camps

34:28 July Art Classes

35:15 Little Market on Main

37:35 Community Partners Spotlight

39:31 County Fair Recap

42:22 Missoula Children's Theater

44:48 Wrap-Up