Jessica Ackerman, Minot

We are just days away from the 44th Norsk Hostfest! I encourage you to come to the ND State Fairgrounds Sept. 27-30 to enjoy the festival, strike up conversations with your fellow festival goers, learn something new, and be inspired.

As board president this past year, I have strived to listen to ideas and recognize what needs to be done to propel Hostfest into the future. At times, this has been challenging. It is not easy knowing how to hold on to traditions with long, revered histories while modernizing to grow the festival’s audience and volunteers to ensure Hostfest continues long into the future.

Throughout the year, especially after visiting Skien, Norway, in May, I’ve been thinking about how we can learn from Scandinavians today in the same way we learned to celebrate traditions from our ancestors. How can Hostfest become a celebration of both traditional and modern Scandinavia while holding on to our heritage, and maybe even building a stronger connection to that heritage? The answers could never come in a single year; finding this balance for the future of Hostfest will be continuous, and it must involve our whole community.

While you are at Hostfest, please take time to share your ideas on the Visioning Wall to help us plan a festival you’ll be proud of and want to support because Hostfest, after all, belongs to all of us: What type of entertainment would you like to see? What foods do you want to try? What demonstrations are you hoping to attend? How can Hostfest bring you closer to Scandinavia and the Nordic countries? What do you want to learn from Nordic cultures at Hostfest and year-round through community events? When you consider modern and traditional representations of Scandinavian culture, what decor, food, attire comes to mind, and where do you see the differences?

As I look ahead, I dream of a festival where the entire community is involved — contributing ideas, volunteering, welcoming visitors at the event and throughout Minot, and celebrating the fact that Minot has the honor of hosting North America’s largest Scandinavian festival!