Gackle, ND

As you plan your gardens for 2008, please plant extra so YOU can participate in Gackle’s Farmers Market as both a buyer and a vendor. We have big hopes for this year’s market, and we want the whole community to join in. Let’s start by joining the conversation that gets the ball rolling.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008
7:00 PM - Carolyn’s Café
(snacks provided)

• What did you like about last year’s markets?
• What can we do more of?
• What can we do less of?
• What new ideas can we try?
• What will draw regional shoppers to our market?
• What do we need for promotion and setup?

Come one, come all…See you there!!!

Want some ideas? Want to dream big? Go to this link and read about my alma mater’s Farmers Market in Davis, California, one of the premier markets in the country. And for even more depth, check out this Case Study.

March 6, 2008 - Miner County Story

Learn how they turned their struggling county into a success story…

Russ Pollock of Gackle with the help of Jodi Bruns, NDSU Extension, Ellendale have made arrangements for Miner County, South Dakota representatives to come an tell their story right here in Gackle! Hats off to all your hard work getting this organized. Don’t miss this presentation! Thursday evening, March 6, 2008, Gackle Legion Hall, 7-9 pm. Miner County pdf

…and one week later…

March 13, 2008 - Free Workshop Offered on Fundraising and Endowment Development

The North Dakota Community Foundation will offer a one day workshop for area residents on Thursday, March 13 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church at 117 Spruce Street West in Gackle. Grant workshop.pdf

These Limericks about Gackle’s Horizon milestones were composed by Mary Conrad and read by Tom Isern at the January 19th, 2008 Pep Rally. Thanks to Buck at Tri-County News for the kick-off, conversation circles, and computer chat photographs shown below.

CLICK HERE to see & hear some of the Limericks on VIDEO

HORIZONS PROJECT LAUNCH / KICKOFF EVENT (January 27, 2007)

There once was a town on the prairie

Whose future appeared downright scary

     Till they’d all had enough

     Of that hopelessness stuff

And regrouped in the high school library.

CONVERSATION CIRCLES (January-February 2007)

In small circles, folks shared hopes and fears

With friends, relatives, neighbors and peers

     “We can do this,” they said

     “If we just use our head

“Why, it works just like greasing the gears!”

LEADERSHIP PLENTY® TRAINING (April 2007)

Leadership Plenty®, Horizons insisted,

Would make teammates of those who persisted

     Chad and Deane made folks smile

     Training turned out worthwhile

For all those arms Mary Conrad had twisted.

“ROCK THE PARK” CELEBRATION (July 4, 2007)

July Fourth’s crowd went way past the mark

With its picnic and rocks for the park

     Fun and games, music too

     Merged old memories with new

As the fireworks flared long after dark.

FARMERS MARKET (August-October 2007)

Garden produce and good things to eat

Gave folks reasons to be back on Main Street

     Our Farmers Market can grow

     Into a regional show

That helps business get back on its feet.

“COMMUNITY COMPUTER CHAT” (November 13, 2007)

Our computer chat shaped with precision

Our town’s twenty-first century vision

     We’ve got a plan geared for action

     And we’re not losing traction

To move forward’s an easy decision!

MISSION AND STRATEGIC PLAN (November 30, 2007)

Our best features we’re eager to demonstrate

On the details we’ll gladly elaborate

     The ideas we generate

     Create causes to celebrate

So…collaborate! collaborate! collaborate!

Despite the below zero weather and sports tournaments, a group of hardy souls gathered in the Gackle School Library to be immersed in energy and enthusiasm for the next phase of Horizons. The ACTION Phase.

The unveiling of the Strategic Plan was interspersed throughout the evening’s program. We were entertained by Horizons-inspired “cheers” led by Gackle Mayor Ritchie Jacobson and some “adult” cheerleaders. Tom Isern, Professor of History, North Dakota State University and Plains Folk^TM self-syndicated newspaper columnist, sang with his guitar and recited Horizons-inspired limericks. We watched an inspirational DVD by National Geographic photographer Dewitt Jones about “taking action.” This is the third Dewitt Jones DVD we have viewed and I highly recommend it for anyone or any organization.

Jodi Bruns, Extension Agent for NDSU Community Economic Development & Leadership discussed upcoming conferences and opportunities Gackle might want to attend. These conferences are posted to the “main” North Dakota Community Blog page. Check back to this link often for updates on what’s happening.

Sally Jeppson updated the group on the Gackle Community Blog site and encouraged participation. Everyone received a business card with the Blog address shown at right.

Russ Pollock discussed Miner County, South Dakota’s revitalization as a “model” we could look to for our own revitalization. Logan County and Miner County have similar demographics so there is great potential! Sometime soon we hope to host a Miner County representative to discuss their process.

Finally, the Strategic Plan was outlined in a Power Point presentation and then distributed to every attendee. The evening was capped off with a delicious assortment of fingerfoods provided by Carolyn’s Cafe in Gackle.

More on the Plan will be discussed in future blog entries.

The Gackle Community Business Relations Action Circle, an outcome of the Horizons Project, hopes to enhance relationships between the businesses and customers and is looking at ways to highlight the businesses we have in our town.

Just making an inventory of what was there was revealing, there are many more businesses and services available than is apparent. The idea is to Buy Local, Grow Gackle and use the great businesses we have right here in town.

One outcome of our Action Circle was a mini-farmers market that ran once a week for 7 weeks during August through October. It filled a need, since our grocery store closed and the nearest store with any variety of fresh vegetables is 40 miles away. Everybody enjoyed it, and the social interaction among townsfolk was as important as filling the fridge.

A few “Gacklites” participated as sellers of produce and the baked goods were especially successful. I personally didn’t participate as a seller but I’m already considering what seeds to start so I can join in the fun–of course it will probably something too strange for Gackle’s tastes but I say, “Bring it on, Baby…” Knowing the farmers markets of my home state, California, we have a long way to go, but what I’ve always enjoyed besides the great variety, is the educational component of those markets, new kinds of offerings to try, complete with recipes and tasting opportunities.

“So what do you think, will I see you there next Spring?”

PS. More on the Gackle Farmers Market coming soon. Also, I’m interested in hearing other community’s successes with farmers markets so please comment here. Thanks!

Also, not to forget our neighbors, Streeter, ND just 10 miles from Gackle has a nicely stocked, clean and friendly grocery store for all your basic needs. They even deliver!