Jen Brodal/MDN 2022 Miss Norsk Hostfest Nevaeh Christianson takes a bite out of lefse from Granrud’s Lefse booth at Norsk Hostfest Wednesday.

Of Icelandic and Norwegian descent, Nevaeh Christianson is 2022 Miss Norsk Hostfest.

Wandering through the Scandinavian surroundings of the Hostfest on opening day, Christianson was stopped by many Hostfest-goers wanting to converse and bid her congratulations on her crowning achievement. Among her fans, Christianson counts her family. She is a Bottineau native and regular to the Hostfest in years prior.

A longtime volunteer at Norsk Hostfest, Christianson said she missed attending and making her annual trip to see the performer Mollie B. with her grandparents during the festival’s pandemic absence. Christianson said she loves meeting people and enjoys the activities she takes in with her family every year at the Hostfest, so she thought since she had turned 18, she would revisit the idea of competing for Miss Norsk Hostfest.

Christianson said she will see how this next week and year goes before deciding whether to jump on the pageant bandwagon, but she will spend the next year showcasing Hostfest in events such as Minot State University Homecoming and the North Dakota State Fair. There were seven contestants up for the title of Miss Norsk Hostfest 2022.

The traditional layout of Norsk Hostfest is a little different this year, Christianson said on her search for Granrud’s Lefse booth, but she said she is excited for some shopping over the next few days. She had already tried the rice pudding.

When Christianson is not busy meeting and talking to new people at this year’s Hostfest, she enjoys playing the piano, trap shooting and hanging out with her Golden Retrievers. Christianson said she thinks lefse is different, but she likes it with just sugar and butter, no cinnamon. She said she has not tried lutefisk since she was a young child but is willing to try it again.

Christianson will be at Norsk Hostfest every day and looks forward to meeting new people at the festival.