Norsk Hostfest Board President John Mackner said at a news conference in May it was a mutual decision of the board and EPIC Events to end the management role EPIC provided the previous two years.

EPIC Companies, which has offices in West Fargo and Minot, faced undisclosed financial issues in 2024 that impacted many of its ventures, from construction to management.

Norsk Hostfest owed $180,000 to the North Dakota State Fair for use of its facilities in 2023 when under EPIC Events’ management, but the fair and Hostfest were working to settle that bill. Norsk Hostfest hired Searle Swedlund, a Velva native, to serve as its executive director.

In addition to Norsk Hostfest, the North Dakota State Fair Foundation folded in November, citing repercussions of a land deal made by a former foundation president, Todd Berning, founder and former CEO for EPIC Companies.

Norsk Hostfest Board President John Mackner speaks at a news conference May 29 related to the board taking over management of the festival from EPIC Events.

According to the fair foundation, Berning in 2014 led the foundation to create a tax credit endowment fund to support the fair, which collected more than $2 million. At Berning’s recommendation, a portion of the funds were used to buy property on which a clubhouse was built to lease to Minot Country Club/Golf Minot. Unbeknownst to the other foundation board members and contrary to the organization’s bylaws, Berning signed a mortgage in January 2015 that put the foundation’s property up as collateral to secure a $2.5 million loan to Golf Minot, Inc. from First International Bank and Trust, the foundation reported. In 2024, the bank initiated legal action to foreclose on the mortgage as well as on property owned by Golf Minot.

EPIC’s bankruptcy proceedings have impacted but not stopped two ongoing projects in Minot. EPIC was renovating Minot’s Big “M” building downtown and developing a mixed use space in southwest Minot known as The Tracks.

At year’s end, work on The Tracks resumed following a hiatus, according to City of Minot information. The Maverick mixed use building, which is part of the project’s first phase, is nearly complete. The Minot City Council had approved a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreement with EPIC, designed to allow use of tax dollars gained from the increased property value toward a public plaza.

The city also reported the board of governors for the Big “M” building is developing a plan to move forward with that construction. TIF agreements with the city and county exist that are directing 90% of the tax gain on property improvements to a city bond to pay off asbestos abatement. That work is believed to have been completed.

The Minot Country Club clubhouse and a parking lot, belonging to the North Dakota State Fair Association and leased to Golf Minot, are tied up in troubles connected with EPIC Companies founder Todd Berning. The property is in foreclosure.