BAKKEN LIVING MAGAZINE VOL. 1 ISSUE 2

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Basketballthe way of winter

Bakken Living Spring 2014 3

4About UsMeet the editors, writers and photographers who made this issue possible.

44Goat CheeseTasty treats with uncommon ingredients.

50Montana Calendar

52North Dakota Calendar

58Fair HeadlinersTurner, Nail to entertain area residents.

62Spring rodeoRCRC youth rodeo dates set for May.

66Lets Talk Coffee!Mornings require a cup of joe.

FeaturesHometown Sports Sidney Herald editor Sarah Bloom shares her experience working with small

town sports teams.

Creative Meal Planning Think outside the box when it comes to your food choices. Discover which

foods are best to buy organic and which ones you

can skip.

Organ Donation A young girl with a heart condition is at the top of the list for heart donation, should one

come through.

An Argument for Minimum Wage Learn about the pros and cons in raising the

minimum wage in relation to the Bakken

compared with other parts of the U.S.

Photography 101 Learn useful photography techniques from professionals.

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Contents

Glendive Glendive has been affected by past oil booms, but this time around, things are a little

more relaxed compared to other Bakken towns in

eastern Montana and western North Dakota.

24

4 Spring 2014 Bakken Living

ContributorsContributorsContributorsContributorsContributorsContributorsContributorsContributorsContributorsContributorsRobin AriasRobin AriasRobin Arias

EditorEditorEditorRobins life has taken her to many places including other counRobins life has taken her to many places including other counRobins life has taken her to many places including other coun---tries. She created a blog, My Life in Williston, to help deal with tries. She created a blog, My Life in Williston, to help deal with tries. She created a blog, My Life in Williston, to help deal with many of the issues that come with moving again to a new place. many of the issues that come with moving again to a new place. many of the issues that come with moving again to a new place. What she discovered was that she is not alone in this journey. So What she discovered was that she is not alone in this journey. So What she discovered was that she is not alone in this journey. So through her blog and now Bakken Living magazine, she is creatthrough her blog and now Bakken Living magazine, she is creatthrough her blog and now Bakken Living magazine, she is creat---through her blog and now Bakken Living magazine, she is creat-through her blog and now Bakken Living magazine, she is creatthrough her blog and now Bakken Living magazine, she is creatthrough her blog and now Bakken Living magazine, she is creat-through her blog and now Bakken Living magazine, she is creat-through her blog and now Bakken Living magazine, she is creat-through her blog and now Bakken Living magazine, she is creatthrough her blog and now Bakken Living magazine, she is creatthrough her blog and now Bakken Living magazine, she is creat-through her blog and now Bakken Living magazine, she is creating a larger voice that she hopes you will join. She hopes you ing a larger voice that she hopes you will join. She hopes you ing a larger voice that she hopes you will join. She hopes you will share your voice. You can find Robin at her website, www.will share your voice. You can find Robin at her website, www.will share your voice. You can find Robin at her website, www.LifeinWilliston.com, on Facebook under My Life in Williston, LifeinWilliston.com, on Facebook under My Life in Williston, LifeinWilliston.com, on Facebook under My Life in Williston,

North Dakota or you can email her at [email protected] Dakota or you can email her at [email protected] Dakota or you can email her at [email protected]


I stumbled onto your blog to-night and got stuck reading for well over an hour! I have been researching the Bakken for weeks now and havent been able to find what I am looking for. To be hon-est Im not sure what Im looking for, Im guess Im on the fence, looking for a push to go or a pull to stay. Something that will prove that this move is worth it, or not. I just dont know.

Ive read how bad it is, how bad it is for women, and I was glad to finally find something from a womans point of view that wasnt all doom and gloom! I was wonder-ing if you had any info on hospital jobs. Im a licensed x-ray tech, and

I would like to know if they are making as mush more as everyone else is.

Unfortunately there will always be people who spread the doom and gloom. You simply have to decide that you will make the best of it and approach it that way, even when you dont want to. Even when you want to give up. Dont hold back from moving be-cause you dont want to upset the kids. They will adjust and make new friends. Encourage them to keep in touch with the old ones too, they dont have to let them go completely. M.L.I.W.

My husband was up here for a

year and travelled back home on his days off. We finally decided to make the move and so glad we did! The kids have adjusted well. We are involved in MOMs Club which offers activities several times a week and during the sum-mer theres no shortage of parks and fun activities to keep them busy. They still talk with friends and family back home almost daily so they still feel close to everyone.

As a woman you just have to be aware of your surroundings but thats anywhere. I havent felt uncomfortable here at any point. Obviously I dont walk down unlighted or unpopulated places

We want to hear from you! Send us your feedback and questions.

[email protected]

Robin Arias | Bakken Living

My Life in Williston, N.D. ExcerptThe following entries are edited, interactive posts to the My life in Williston, North Dakota Facebook page, which is maintained by Bakken Living editor Robin Arias.

Bakken Living Spring 2014 7after dark either or really any-time! M.A.

I moved here in September; my husband has been here for five years. We moved all of us from everything we have ever known and (my husband was LUCKY if he visited us four times in a year) to this and I can say its tough but you have to WANT to be here. I definitely suggest doing it as a family because oil field life is not easy when you are in separate states. Its worth it in the end to know stability. N.D.

Consider Bismarck also, the rent is cheaper and oil activity is moving in. There is a lot more to do in Bismarck. Since there are a few hospitals there, it would be easier to find a good paying job! C.H.

What are the proper rules of etiquette for shoes/boots when vis-iting someones house? I attended a Christmas party last night and was embarrassed when I saw that almost everyone else removed their shoes/boots at the door. But I decided later that the holes in my socks would have been more em-barrassing had I taken my shoes off! Thanks for your advice.

Go buy new socks. A. J.

Take your shoes off. Your host doesnt want to spend the whole next day vacuuming up the snow and dirt you tracked in. No one cares about holey socks. R.M.

Proper etiquette is that your host should expect you to leave your shoes on. If it is wet and muddy wear appropriate foot wear for that and change into nice shoes at the house. S.M.

If the hostess doesnt want you to remove your shoes they will usually tell you. Otherwise, as-sume that you should take them off because of all the stuff that tracks in. J.A.

Hi there, my parents live up there in Williston. My mom is an out-going 59 year old who has found herself lonely since my dad is

always working. Can you possibly point me in the right direction on your page to show her some things she could do or a way to meet some new friends? I feel bad for her and dont know what I can do to help her. She is used to being really busy and having friends around and now she is getting depressed. I found your great page, and thought it couldnt hurt to ask you! Hope you have an idea (fingers crossed). Thank you!

Does she quilt? Dakota Prairie Quilt Guild meets the second Sat-urday of the month at 1 p.m. at the James Memorial Art Center! All are welcome to come check it out and join. Great way to meet peo-ple! Its also a great way to learn the art of quilting and take up a new hobby for something to do!

A nursing home would be a place to look also. Maybe go in and read to the elderly or do some sort of crafts with them. Thats one of the things I used to do before moving to the area I live in now J.S.

New Hope Wesleyan Church saved me! I have met many wom-en that have become my friends. There is a womens bible study Monday nights. All ages. There is also a community womens bible study that meets Wednesday mornings. B.B.

The new rec center will be open-ing up in March that should be a great place to find some new friends with common interests. Does your mom work? There are lots of job openings here if shes interested in getting out of the house. S.A.

Hello, my husband and I are transferring to the Bakken from Washington state. We already have a place to stay there in a trailer. It was my step-moms but she is get-ting married and moving out. So we will be moving in. It gets down into the teens here occasionally but not often. Could you give me some pointers on things we should buy that will be needed not just for me and the hubby, but for our three

little fur babies as well (Three small breed dogs.)

Dog sweaters and booties if they tolerate them, hats gloves coats and snow boots. J.K.

If you are in a mobile home and not a camper, do not use heaters to prevent pipes from freezing. That is a fire hazard. Use heat tape but if it is set up already for winter you should be good to go. J.V.

Down filled coats keep the wind out and are much warmer than wool. Not stylish but effec-tive. Also I found I stayed much warmer with a coat that covered my behind and didnt just stop at the waist. Warm insulated gloves. Again not stylish but effective. If the car is going to be sitting out, you might consider an engine block heater, keeps the cold from draining the battery and it will warm up much quicker when you get in to go. If the trailer is heated with an electric furnace, consider a secondary heat source for when (or if) the electric goes out. Carry an emergency kit in the car (cans of sterno, flashlight and batter-ies, lighter, chocolate or nutri-tion bars, extra blankets, jumper cables etcetera) in case you go off the road or get stranded. R.K.

For the animals, consider a indoor potty. Some of the indoor potty products can be a little pricey, but if you order a replace-ment fake grass mat and get a flat tub (you can find them at most tractor supply/agricultural supply stores), it can save some money. Good insulating coats for the dogs would be good too. Dont use a sweater or fleece, since the snow will stick to it and theyll get wet. I purchased a nice water-resistant insulated coat for our pup from Drs. Foster and Smith and it was pretty reasonable in price. Another product you should have on hand is a ointment called Mushers Secret. Its great for their paw pads and it helps keep them protected from de-icing salt, ice and snow buildup and can keep them moisturized. C.N.


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Small-town basketball is area winter distraction

By Sarah Bloom | Bakken Living

With wintery winds the temperature outside can be some of the coldest on the planet. But that doesnt stop faithful fans from crowding gyms to watch their local boys and girls basketball teams.

Around here its the only game in town. Small-town basketball games are these communities diversion from wintery weather that this side of the Big Sky state has and they wouldnt change it for the world. For these communities its what you do this time of year. Its your time to see friends and family while supporting the boys and girls of winter.

With fierce wind chills and a tempera-ture hovering around 40 below, a lengthy caravan of MonDak parents follow closely behind the Thunder squads team bus. The Thunder are a dominant group of athletes, comprised of a co-op between Westby, Mont. and Grenora, N.D. towns. They com-bined programs because of how small the two schools really are. They travel several times a week to support the cause. And they arent the only ones. Across the Bak-ken, many other communities are following their team busses as well, criss-crossing the region, following close behind in order to support their team at its next contest.

The R&L Fusion is a co-op between the Lambert, Mont. and Richey, Mont. schools. Just a short 20-minute trip down the road brings you from one gym to another. And the once rivals on the field and on the court, are now teammates comrades that have joined forces to continue playing the games they love when the numbers were against

Sarah Bloom | Bakken Living


them. If these communi-ties were not willing to co-op in this way, many kids simply would not have the chance to play.

Its on the hardwood where these small-town stars make a name for themselves as a player, no matter where they come from.

In an article written by Bill Vander Weele, editor at the Sidney Her-ald, coaches from Class C school acknowledge how important a basket-ball team really is to the community.

The follow is an excerpt from the Dec. 26, 2010 article Loving the game.

Staci Lange-Rice, Savages girls basketball coach, explains students in Class C schools need to be involved. If they dont get involved, the

activities dont exist. You become part of some-

thing and that brings a lot of pride to the com-munity. You have pride of where youre from.

Wade Hagler, Sav-ages boys assistant

coach, added, Its the thing to do in eastern

Montana during the win-ter. Its kinda special.

Hagler, who gradu-ated from Savage High

School in 1985, says com-munity members make

Class C basketball in the area unique.


Its what the community thrives on, Hagler said. He adds its nice to see the same

familiar faces when you travel to certain towns.

Its also where you socialize as a student and become a role model for younger boys and girls, many of whom will eventually be wearing the same school colors themselves.

Watching the game is when you remi-nisce as an alumni or when you cheer on your son or daughter, or your nephew or niece. It is a time to get with your neighbor and catch up, smack talk of the days past when you played, talk politics or socialize, and most of all, its a time to support your local team. For many that live in these com-munities their entire lives its a right-of-passage.

The atmosphere is welcoming to the

hometown crowd and just as equally hospi-table to the visiting opponents. The crowd stands up and supports both teams during the games. The teams fight for a win from the opening tip to the final buzzer, and yet afterwards, the opponents put aside the dif-ferent names on the back of their jerseys and become allies again. These players are friends, neighbors and even family.

The evidence became clear to me as a bystander last season when the Fairview boys took on the MonDak Thunder on the basketball court for the District 2-C title. The following is part of the game story from Feb. 16, 2013.

Brock Schrivers point at the charity stripe with five seconds left in regulation

was the game winning point for Fairview as the Warriors earned a 44-43 victory over the

MonDak Thunder for the

Bill Vander Weele | Bakken Living


District 2-C championship Saturday night.The Thunder squad had a strong three quarters over the Warrior squad, but after much

improvement in its shooting percentage, Fairview out-scored MonDak 16-6 in the fourth quarter to take the title.

MonDaks Adam Carlson took a trip to the free-throw line with 3:24 remaining in the game. Carlson was two-for-two at the line and extended MonDaks lead to 41-37.

On Fairviews next possession, Monte Cayko made a shot from downtown and the three-point basket cut the Thunders lead 41-40.

After Fairviews full-court press caused a Thunder turnover, Schriver went to the free-throw line with 2:42 left to play. With two baskets good from the Warrior senior, Fairview

jumped ahead to take a 42-41 lead. It was the teams first lead of the night.Brady Olson took a walk to the charity stripe where the Thunders main scorer was just


Bakken Living Spring 2014 15as accurate with the ball as he had been all night. Olson added two points to the Thunder

score and tied the game at 43-43. A literally thundering MonDak crowd probably wished for an overtime game and anything but a chance on the free-throw line from Schriver. Unfortu-

nately for MonDak, thats just what happened. With the game deadlocked at less than half a minute left, the Warriors called time to set up a final shot. We just wanted to work it down to

seven seconds, Schriver said with the game tied at 43-43. I shot a little too soon. Schriver said he was fouled across the arm on his shot attempt that led to free-throw shots

for the senior. Schriver hit one of the two free throws with five seconds left, and the Thunder couldnt score on their final trip down.

The Warriors head to divisional action with a perfect record of 21-0.

We never stopped working, Schriver said about the fourth-quarter comeback after Fairview trailed 37-28 at the end of the third quarter. Thats our MO. We knew we could

battle back.

After the win, the two teams went on to compete in the Eastern C divisional basket-ball tournament, and sure enough, these two dominant squads saw each other again in the final contest to determine who the divisional champion would be. Fairview won again, this time by a score of 53-45.

For teams like Fairview, MonDak, R&L Fusion and Savage, it is possible to face each other as many as three to five times in a season between the regular season and the playoffs, and while the game may have been fought hard on the court for 32 min-utes, the bond between the relatively close neighboring programs lasts well beyond the hardwood. For now it will be about bragging rights for that group of players and family members during dinner and holiday festivi-ties. It will be moments to reminisce about at the local restaurant, parade or social gathering with their neighbors for years to come. It will even be a starting point for busi-ness, political and civic relationships in the future.

The booming towns around here are ever-changing, but the names on the back of the jerseys mostly remain the same. The athletes that play today follow in the footsteps of their big brothers and sisters, their parents, uncles and aunts and the family members that came before them.

But dont let the small-town alliance distract you from the small-town welcoming. The influx of people has also brought an influx of future players, and the hardwood is open for anyone to make a name for themselves.



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By Logan Arias | Bakken Living

During the past year, there has been an increasingly proactive dialogue at the state and federal level regarding the increase of the minimum wage. This debate arguably began as a result of President Obama announcing his support for an increase in the minimum wage to nine dollars an hour in his 2013 State of the Union address (he later argued for a raise to ten dollars an hour). Indeed, we are already begin-ning to see action taken on the sub-national level. Washington D.C and Massachusetts have both voted to raise their mini-mum wage to eleven dollars an hour. California has approved an increase to ten dollars an

hour, and most notably the city of SeaTac, Washington recently approved a minimum wage increase to fifteen dollars an hour. Other states have recently approved smaller increases to their minimum wage. While I personally think a minimum wage of fifteen dollars an hour is excessive, a nine or ten dollar an hour minimum wage seems like a far more reason-able amount.

There are plenty of argu-ments on both sides as to whether this positively or nega-tively impacts economic and job growth. Essentially, these arguments boil down to a few points that it does or does not harm economic growth, that it does or does not harm job

growth (the two are somewhat but not entirely correlated) that it does or does not increase personal consumption expen-ditures (PCE) essentially the goods and services we buy on a daily basis, and as a whole the foundation of our economy. Regardless of your stance, it is understood that higher wages have an uplifting effect on ones standard of living. Indeed, an excellent example of this can be seen in a region where there has been nearly no talk of increasing the minimum wage because it doesnt need to be.

I have observed that the Bakken region has provided an excellent example of this argument in a July 2013 study from the Equality of Opportu-

Stock Photo

Minimum Wage


nity Project that measured the level of intergen-erational economic mobility across the United States, those living in the Bakken Region (Wil-liston, specifically) had the second highest up-ward mobility out of the 741 regions surveyed. While this studys timespan includes a period before the oil boom, the recent economic surge has little doubt contributed to the substantial upward mobility seen in this region. Indeed, this has come on the heels of a surge in the per-capita income of the state of North Dakota as a whole in 2001, North Dakota ranked 38th in the nation. As of 2012, it stands at 6th. Such a massive increase in such a short time frame is unprecedented. It should not come as a surprise that North Dakota has among the lowest poverty levels in the United States.

Now I will fully acknowledge that the cost of living is outrageous here having lived in many parts of the United States I fully admit that it does not cost nearly as much to live anywhere else. Higher wages are a mitigating factor to this real-ity. But as expensive as it is, it needs to be taken into a bigger context: despite the high cost of living, you are still better off than people in the rest of the country. The counties in the Bakken region (Richland, McKenzie, Williams) average about 2% unemployment. Poverty rates in 2012

for those three counties were all more than 30% below the national average. Compare that with over 7% unemployment and a poverty rate of 15.9%. There are over 43 million people living on food stamps nationwide. The Bakken region has one of the lowest percentages of people on food stamps in the country. Essentially, even after factoring in higher costs you still come out ahead. This is the crux of my argument present-ed here, and therefore the argument for raising the minimum wage. The Bakken region is a mi-cro-region that demonstrates the overall uplifting effects of high wages. But how does that impact the rest of the country, where the labor markets are weaker and wages are much lower?

Some cite the poor job growth following the 2008 financial crash as proof that the minimum wage has depressed growth. Specifically, this refers to the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 which raised the minimum wage in three incre-ments, reaching its current rate of $7.25 an hour in July 2009. There are several issues with this comparison, namely that exogenous and largely structural problems with the economy (to name just a few: massive personal debt equal-ing 100% of GDP per capita, a housing crash that saw people lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in home value and a gradual switch to a


service-based economy as auto-mation and outsourcing greatly depressed the job growth in the manufacturing sector) led to steadily decreasing job growth as a percent of the workforce. To suggest that the minimum wage is solely responsible for the poor job growth is a tenu-ous and largely unprovable no-tion, especially since isolating its effects from every other fac-tor is nearly impossible to do.

A further argument cited is that the minimum wage increas-es the cost of goods around it, as an increase in the cost of labor necessitates an increase in the price of goods to main-tain a reasonable profit margin. This idea is not without some merit, especially in industries (think fast food as an example) where large profit margins are the exception and not the norm. A 2012 study by the conserva-tive-leaning Cato Institute, The Negative Effects of Minimum Wage Laws, stated that the effects of a minimum wage increase (page 9) from a 2004 study shows an overall increase in prices of...wait for it - 0.4%! I dont know about you, but if giving a 20-30% pay increase for those on the bottom means paying 0.4% more for goods, I think I can live with that, es-pecially since their increase in purchasing power far outstrips the rise in prices. I refer back to the Bakken region prices are higher, but wages are much higher.

Furthermore, as the afore-mentioned study points out the states with highest minimum wages as of 2012 (still in ef-fect today) are Washington,

Oregon and Vermont. As of October 2013, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the unemployment rates of these states are 4.5% for Vermont, 6.5% for Washing-ton and 7.7% for Oregon, compared with a national average of 7.3% that same month. Of note, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) noted that Washington and Oregon experienced among the fastest growth rates of any state in the country, ranking 3rd and 4th place for growth last year at 3.6% and 3.9% respectively, significantly faster than the national rate of 2.2% that year. Vermont at 1.2% was quite poor by comparison, but then again one could argue that they dont need nearly as much growth given that their unemployment rate is already one of the lowest in the country. Oregon has been exceptional - since 2010 it has averaged about 4% growth a year, nearly double the national average in that time.

The problem is, the argu-ments they cite seem to confuse correlation with causation - post hoc ergo proctor hoc. I went back into the BLS archives to look for unemployment rates for teenagers versus that of the general population. While opponents of the minimum wage argue that it effectively prices teenagers out of the labor market (since they will possess the fewest skills of any subset of the population), this reality constantly falls victim to the ever-present specter of the post-hoc fallacy. Teenagers have always borne the brunt of

recession-induced job losses. A few examples: from November 1969 to December 1970, the unemployment rate rose 2.6%. For teenagers, it rose 5.5% Two others: from December 1979 to July 1980, the unem-ployment rate rose 1.8%. For teenagers, it rose 2.9%. From June 1981 to November 1982, the unemployment rate rose 3.3%. For teenagers, it rose 4.3%. Regardless of whether the minimum wage is raised or not, teenagers always lose their jobs in greater numbers. In fact, all of the past seven reces-sions have seen a minimum wage increase during or within one year before or after of the recessions occurring. Teenage unemployment seems not to fol-low the minimum wage, but the trends of the general economy. The real value of the minimum wage more than doubled in 1950, but teenage unemploy-ment did not increase until a recession in 1953.

Much as the Bakken demon-strates that high wages mitigate high prices, this same reality can be seen in countries with very high per-capita incomes. Take Norway as an example. According to figures by the World Bank, the average per-capita income of a Norwegian is measured at approximately 55,000 dollars a year at Pur-chasing Power Parity (PPP). PPP is a system designed to recon-cile the different cost of living in various countries as measured against your income. Indeed Norway is very expensive to live in, not just in cost but in tax burden. But note - while income at PPP levels only slightly ex-


ceeds that of the United States, Norway has two very signifi-cant factors that ameliorate this. One, the average Norwegian makes over $100,000 a year - they pay more in goods and taxes, but they make enough to afford the burden. And perhaps just as importantly, Norway has an ex-tremely low level of in-come inequality. With its Gini coefficient (measure of inequality) standing at 22.3 in 2011, Norway is one of the most equal soci-eties on Earth. Though it has its share of rich and poor people, Nor-way does not struggle with the issue of hav-ing a very large underclass of poor people dependent on the government for survival the group that benefits the most from an increase in the mini-mum wage.

Some people callously dismiss the concerns of these

people, telling them to get a real job or find someplace else to work. These people do have a real job, and for many there isnt another option in em-ployment. This is especially true

in this post-recession economy, where millions have dropped out of the workforce due to a lack of jobs and those who have not still have to contend with a very high unemployment rate. Walmart exemplifies this lack of real choice for many

Americans - there are numerous small towns and areas where Walmart is the only game in town. Indeed, there is a reason that Walmart has gained a reputation for driving mom-and-

pop businesses into bankruptcy. Further-more, when you are already very poor and pay a disproportionate share of your income in essentials such as food and gasoline, you need a job close to where you live. Walmart fills that niche for many across the country. The prices at Walmart may be competitive, but when you pay your workers so little they cannot

afford to buy those products it essentially becomes a zero-sum game - lower prices for lower wages.

Walmart is certainly not the only company guilty of this, but its notorious hiring practices have single-handedly

The Bakken region is a micro-region that demon-

strates the overall uplifting effects of high wages. But how does that impact the rest of the country, where

the labor markets are weaker and wages are

much lower?

Stock Photo


served as an argument in favor of raising the minimum wage. Indeed, it is infamous for telling its tremendous number of poorly paid, impov-erished workers to go on welfare to survive, thus passing on the costs of low wages onto the taxpayers. Furthermore, when you consider that Wal-Mart measures its profits in tens of billions of dollars (with revenue reaching nearly half a TRILLION dollars in 2012), it is not a convinc-ing argument that their workers need to be paid $7.25 an hour for the business to survive. Con-sider what Henry Ford did as a counterexample. He paid his employees more than double the prevailing market rate - he had enough foresight to understand that sacrificing a small amount of short-term profitability is worth receiving long-term employee loyalty as well as people who could actually afford to buy his products as well as the products of others. Supply relies on de-mand without disposable income people can-not afford to buy goods and services that busi-nesses need to survive. A 2013 study from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago confirms this notion the economy benefits when those who spend money have more of it. They measured a benefit of nearly 40 billion dollars of additional economic growth, all stemming from a rise in incomes and purchases.

I have written this argument not just because of its immediate political saliency, but because the Bakken region provides a convincing argu-ment in favor of raising the minimum wage. While the de jure minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, the de facto minimum wage is far higher Ive heard that Wal-Mart and McDonalds are paying at least sixteen dollars an hour, and they still had a lot of trouble filling positions. Sales and tax revenues in the Bakken region are surging, and despite a high cost of living people are still coming to this region in droves. With the stagnation of the economy as a whole amidst low (and in many cases falling) personal income, a minimum wage increase would help provide a boost to the economy, and indeed it may even encourage people to drop off of public assistance programs after all, why would you collect welfare when you could make so much more working? At $7.25 an hour, this may not be true now but it would certainly be a

more convincing argument if the minimum wage stood at a few dollars more.

One cannot live on the current minimum wage. Even eight or nine dollars an hour (as-suming a 40-hour work week) is not feasible. Our current economic policies have done little to reduce poverty and reliance on public as-sistance, especially in the wake of sub-par job growth relative to the needs of the country. A much easier way to reduce poverty is to put into effect a minimum wage increase. An increase would provide a virtuous cycle of increasing spending and increasing job growth with mini-mal negative effects. Supply does not create its own demand without a strong labor base existing to buy goods and services businesses have no reason to grow and create jobs for unemployed Americans. We have witnessed this vicious cycle take hold for the past five years and a minimum wage increase may help to finally break the downward spiral of falling incomes and decreasing demand seen across the country. The Bakken region demonstrates the virtuous effects of high wages and high demand even amidst a gloomy economic backdrop on the national level.

I end my article with one more fact: the val-ue of the minimum wage peaked in 1968 it was approximately $10.90 an hour in todays terms. (Source: Department of Labor) That year, teen-age unemployment averaged 12.5%, with the national unemployment rate standing at 3.5%. By 2006 when the value of the minimum wage had fallen by nearly 50% from its 1968 high the teenage unemployment rate averaged 15.3%, and the national average stood at about 4.6%. The teenage unemployment rate in 1968 is the second-lowest achieved since the early 1950s, when the minimum wage was still worth more than what it was in 2006. Teenagers in 1968 were paid nearly twice what they were in 2006 yet their unemployment rates with those high wages were significantly lower than what they were with the very low wages seen in 2006.

I encourage you to reach your own conclu-sions with what you have read here today.


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Robin Arias| Photo

By Robin Arias | Bakken Living

n the Bakken one could argue that all towns are small towns. All towns, even those considered larger like Williston or Sidney have a tight knit core that

binds their communities just as closely as the smaller ones like Alexander, Watford City and Glendive.

If you think the oil boom is only affecting western North Dakota you may want to visit parts of eastern Montana. Towns like Sidney and Glendive are also being affected in ways that can be

both challenging and exciting. They are struggling with many of the same issues because the boom has hit them as well. Hotel rooms are just as scarce, prices just as high, and city resources are being pushed to capacity trying to keep up with the influx of people. While it is true that most wells are being drilled in western North Dakota, that doesnt meant that eastern Montana has not see its share of drilling and the business that comes with it. In addition you have families and workers looking to Montana to provide what they may not be able to find in North

Glendive, Montana

Good People Surrounded by Badlands

i


Dakota; a reasonable place to live with some of the comforts in life that we look for.

On the outside it may appear that Glendive is just another town; a dot on the vast landscape of Montana. Do not let that fool you - appearances can be deceiving and Glendive is a town with a story, and at the center of that story is a heart. They have had to learn some difficult lessons along the way and come to grips with some harsh realities over the years. If you look closely you will see a town that is trying to learn from its past mistakes, yet has managed to retain a good amount of character and charm. They are moving forward with optimism and hope for what the future will bring. Led by a mayor that has a desire to be proactive Glendive just may become the next family destination for the Bakken area.

If you have never been to Glendive, lets start with the basics. Located in Southeastern Montana in Dawson County, Glendive supports a population of about 4,500 within the city proper but another 4,000 just outside the city that have not been annexed. Located between the Yellowstone River and the Badlands, their motto is Good people surrounded by badlands. Going through Glendive there are two things you may notice right away. First is the dinosaur factor. By that I mean you are greeted first by a giant Triceratops lovingly referred to as Glendisaurus. There are other dinosaurs throughout town, as well. Second, and perhaps most important to the history of this town is the

ever constant railroad presence. It seems like there is always a train moving on the tracks. In fact 20 trains move through town daily with approximately 150 cars on each. It moves slow so the noise is kept to a minimum and does not appear to be a disrupting factor.

It is the railroad that gave Glendive their place on the map. It was originally a spot to change crews, perform track maintenance and make other necessary repairs. Started by Northern Pacific Railroad, half of Glendives population

in the early 1900s worked for the railroad. The other half worked service related jobs. Although the railroad continued to be a center point of the community, eventually agriculture took center stage and became the primary source of revenue. By the late 1970s things were picking up and

Glendive found itself right in the epicenter of the oil boom that was beginning to take shape. Investors began building and rental properties were soon at a premium. The city itself tried to be proactive and invest in infrastructure for roughly 150 acres sitting just north of the interstate on what was the old city airport with the hopes of marketing it to developers. As with any boom situation, things were moving fast. Buildings went up in record speed and the waiting lists to fill those units grew quickly. By the spring of 1984 though, the first vacancies started to appear with no one left on the waiting list. The signs were there that things were quickly ending, but for the investors it was five years too early and the effect rippled through the city. Occupancies for apartment buildings

Theres more construction going on in Glendive right now between oil companies, pipe companies and housing than theres been in the last 30 years, but ours is man-ageable because we already had the infrastructure in place from the last two oil booms.

Jerry Jimison, Mayor, Glendive, MT


fell to 50 percent or less and homes sat unsold. Properties went from prosperous to bankrupt in a matter of months. Those 150 acres that the city invested in putting in infrastructure ultimately only sold three lots. The rest would sit unsold for the next 20 years.

Fast forward to 2008 and you find a community that has made its way through the bust and life had gone on. Only now things are beginning to show signs of the cycle repeating itself. For Glendive though, this time might be different. They are no longer in the center of activity, but rather, nestled in between the number one oil producing county (Richland) and the number two oil producing county (Fallon) and that is the way the mayor likes it. This will allow them to focus on growth and development at a more practical pace, and to build it into a town that is family friendly and welcoming to those wanting to invest in a community. While home prices have risen here, it is still largely affordable. When reflecting on what this increase means Glendive mayor Jerry

Jimison said, Theres more construction going on in Glendive right now between oil companies, pipe companies and housing than theres been in the last 30 years. But ours is manageable because we already had the infrastructure in place from the last two oil booms. This is an important distinction to make because its that lack of infrastructure that is wreaking havoc on other small towns.

There are plenty of jobs available here as well. The city needs to fill many positions from firemen and police officers to teachers and city workers. They do struggle with filling these jobs because like everywhere else in the Bakken its hard to fill a job that traditionally pays less than the private sector. Housing is more affordable though and life is quiet here. The rush of big equipment and semis are noticeably absent. Going down Main Street is a pleasant experience as you can see history in the buildings. You can almost hear the stories they have to tell. Many buildings still sit empty though - a glaring reminder of the last boom that moved through.

Robin Arias| Photos


Robin Arias | Photos

ABOVE: Glendisaurus. Designed and spearheaded by Craig Hostetler and Dan Bushnell. Made a reality by the people, businesses and organizations of the community through dona-tions and hundreds of volunteer hours. A dream of Joe Crisafulli and Len Watson.

RIGHT: Leading into the en-trance of Makoshika State Park is one of the many walking and biking trails that the city has been putting into place. It is their goal to eventually connect the trails across the entire city.

28 Spring 2014 Bakken LivingFor those of you who may not know, Montana offers a fantastic and hands-on

experience in the form of a dinosaur trail that includes fourteen stops across the state. One of the stops is Makoshika State Park in Glendive. Ten different species have been discovered in the park. Including a complete Triceratops skull proudly on display at the visitors center. The city also has two additional museums that will satisfy the kid in everyone. After seeing the dinosaurs you can spend time in the park itself. It has plenty of outdoor activities to keep you busy in the warmer months. Also available to residents and visitors is the Yellowstone River, which is available for recreational uses like fishing and boating. In fact, the paddlefish capital of the world is just 18 miles up the road and from May 30 to June 15 fishermen from across the globe come to the Yellowstone River to catch fish that can reach up to 100 pounds.

Glendive also maintains 43 acres of city parks, and is currently creating and expanding walking and biking trails that will connect throughout the city. In 1961, Glendive became the only city in Montana to host the Babe Ruth World Series at Whipkey Park. There is a movement in Glendive that specifically works to improve the community. They are called the Revive Glendive Group, and in their own words their mission is to establish a self sustaining Parks and Recreation District that would enhance the quality of life of our community and its residents.

This time around Glendive is in a good position. On the one hand you can drive around the city and see growth and new businesses moving in. A family moving here can still enjoy the small town feel. Family values are important here and the community is one that is welcoming and comes together when someone is in need. People genuinely care about their neighbors and fellow human beings. For those of us living in and around the Bakken finding a place to call home is more than just where you rest our heads at night. Its about striking that all important balance between work, family and fun. Glendive may just be that place.

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Creative Menu PlanningOne Protein- Five Meals

By Robin Arias | Bakken Living

Ugh, so the kids want to eat again. Didnt they just eat a few hours ago? This is what I often told myself when they were little. Its a never ending cycle and I would often drive myself crazy trying to find some-thing new and exciting. Lets be honest here, I know I could have just given them some macaroni and cheese for every meal and to them I would have been mother of the year. Instead I chose to torture them with fruits and vegetables and often made them try new things. Oh the horror.

I remember once my sis-ter came to visit and when she found out that my kids (then ages 5 and 6) had never had a frosty from Wendys,

she lightheartedly accused me of being neglectful. Fast forward six or seven more years and the same sister was equally horrified to find out that neither of my kids had ever had a Slurpee or peanut butter cup. Its not that I set out to deny them, it just never crossed my mind to introduce these things. Now that they are adults, my efforts appear to have paid off.

One of the things I have learned to do over the years is to make one pro-tien stretch over multiple meals. Cooking long drawn out dinners every day is not something I like or want to do so finding shortcuts was crucial. Keep in mind that cooking one protein and making it last through several meals does not mean

you need to eat just pork or beef the entire week. Its easy to portion up and freeze for use later. This time however I am using a large beef brisket. We slow cook it overnight until it literally falls apart. All the fat renders and you are left with a rich stock that will work in future dishes. Its magic really.

At first it will seem like buying a large roast or cut of meat is very expensive. When you consider that you can make it work for five meals, it suddenly becomes a more ideal way of doing things. When you incor-porate my plug and play style of cooking, things be-come less stressful. You can literally open the pantry, see whats available and work around it. Think outside the

Robin Arias| Photo

Bakken Living Spring 2014 31 Spring 2014 Spring 2014 3131

A Few Things to Remember....

Buy the whole, large brisket. Sometimes you can buy smaller pieces, but in order to really get the full flavor and of course leftovers, buy the whole thing. The one I cooked this weekend was almost 9

pounds and in the end, will render enough for 3 meals (for a four person family).

RESIST cutting off and trimming fat from the brisket. The fat may seem like a lot but your flavor depends on this. You can

easily scrape it off once it is done cooking.

Use a sweet onion if you can, it adds a nice dimension to the juice and when all is said and done, this will make a great au

jus type broth.

A brisket this size will give you three good meals for a family of four. What I did was

I put one portion into a food saver bag (add some broth), labeled it and froze it

for another day. We made another portion into barbecue sandwiches and the last

portion I packed up and sent to Daddys house.

If you like Barbecue brisket, do not, I repeat DO NOT cook with barbecue sauce.

This should be added after it is cooked.

Last, if you want to use the juice that results from slow cooking, and there will be alot, make sure to skim off the fat.

Robin Arias| Photo

box and dont be afraid to get creative. Want to make a lasagna or pasta with meat sauce? This brisket, chopped fine would work wonders in both dishes.

Regarding a brisket for this type of use, low and slow wins the game. I know you often see these smoked, but I want the wonderful juices that you get from low temperature cooking.

I would usually suggest cooking a roast in the crock pot but this cut of meat is large so a roasting pan works best. Let me suggest however that you stay away from glass. Use a pan made for roasting or even better, stoneware. It holds in mois-ture and keeps the heat even. You will not be disap-pointed with the results.

32 Spring 2014 Bakken LivingSo lets get started by

heating that oven to 200 de-grees. This cut of meat has a thick layer of fat on it. Dont even think about removing it. Just make a few diagonal cuts in it and call it a day.

What you will need:

Plain yellow mustardDry seasoning rub of your

choice. (if you live in Or-lando, go get 4 River Rub)

3 Tablespoons Worcester-shire Sauce

1 Tablespoon pepper1 Tablespoon salt (I prefer

crushed rock salt) can beer (any kind)1 large onion cut into large

chunks or ringsLarge whole brisket with

at least inch of the fat layer left on

Rub the meat down with a nice coating of simple yel-low mustard, at least 2 table-spoons per side. It doesnt matter if you like mustard, you wont taste it specifically, it will meld with everything else. Trust me. Add the dry seasonings and coat liberally, dont be cheap with what-ever dry rub or mix of spices you use. Last, sprinkle the Worcestershire sauce over the top.

Add the brisket and on-ions to the cooking dish, poor in the beer making sure some gets under the brisket. Cover tightly with foil.

Robin Arias| Photo




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Beef Brisket StewBy Robin Arias | Bakken Living

This particular dish has been a part of our home since my children were ba-bies. My daughter was very picky growing up. Before I would even tell her what was for dinner she would declare that she didnt like it. She was a challenge. Beef stew was a great way to get her to eat vegetables and protein. It was one dish that she loved. I started using sweet potatoes in it for her, as I found this was one vege-table that she loved. If it had sweet potato in it, she was more likely to try it. Now that she is an adult, she has

a great outlook on food and this is one dish that we con-tinue to make and enjoy.

Remember, its not so much about the specifics of a recipe but rather the ingre-dients you have. Its about making what you have work for you. Unless you are bak-ing desserts or pastries, most recipes are forgiving and its really very easy to change things up. I like to call it plug and play cooking.Dont get hung up on specif-ics; you can even use a pre packaged spice pack if you want. Just chop up some of that brisket or roast that you have left over and add it toward the end since its al-

ready cooked to perfection. Something else to keep in

mind is that soups and stews are a great place to use pro-duce that is not so perfect. Do you have carrots and cel-ery that is starting to soften? Maybe some potatoes with eyes or over ripe tomatoes? Hide them in this dish.

Start with chopping up the following and simmer-ing them in 1 cup of chicken stock. 4 small to medium carrots2 stalks celery1/2 onion1/2 bell pepper

Courtesy | Photo


Bakken Living Spring 2014 35 Spring 2014 Spring 2014 3535

A Few Things to Remember...

I use a spice packet because its easy. You can get all so many different varieties, even organic and all natural op-tions. I make this dish because its quick and easy.

Taste for salt. I did not add salt in the recipe because depend-ing on the spice packet you use, you may not need it so salt according to your taste.

Feel free to get creative with the ingredients. I cannot stress this enough.

If you are wondering why I use chicken stock its because too much beef stock is not a pleasant taste to me. Chicken is mild and once you add the spice packet in, you wont know anyway.

Feel free to add more water if it begins to cook down before your vegetables are done cooking all the way.

If you like your broth thicker you can add a number of thickeners. If you use wondra, that works great. Sometimes I will take a heaping tablespoon of flour, whisk with a little half and half until it makes a thick paste and then slowly add it to the stew. Make sure to let it simmer another few minutes.

Let that simmer for eight minutes or until they start to soften. At this point I add chopped potato and more liquid4 cups water1/2 cup wine (red or cook-

ing wine, whatever is available).

2 Tablespoons vinegar 1 whole sweet potato4 smaller purple or red po-

tatoes1 whole tomato, chopped.

Make sure to throw in all those juicy bits!

1 large mushroom, chopped or several smaller ones

Let simmer for ten minutes and then add the following: approx 1 cup of chopped beef plus any re-serve juices you have for it 1/2 tsp fresh cracked pep-per 1 spice packed of your choosing

Continue to let simmer until the vegetables are ten-der.


Empanadas ~ Brisket and Potatoes

Robin Arias | PhotosBy Robin Arias | Bakken Living

I dont know about anyone else, but I had some fantastic in-laws. They were devoted, lov-ing, frustrating, a little bit crazy and traditional, all wrapped up together. They are a Colombian family with a solid hold on their culture, includ-ing food. A family event was always a feast.

I spent alot of time at their house when my children were babies and my mother in law in par-ticular was always cook-ing something. She was patient with me while I asked her questions and watched everything she was doing. She left me with several dishes that

I still make regularly. Empanadas, Colombian potatoes, the best chicken soup ever, rice & chicken, hot chocolate with cheese not to mention the secret to making the perfect rice every time. She taught me so much, I only wish I had learned more. She has been gone these twenty years and this is the only thing I have to pass down to my children from her.

Empanadas mean dif-ferent things to different people. If you go down to Mexico you will often find them filled with fruit but the kind I make are savory, with meat, pota-toes, onions and tomato. The way that I was taught was to use masa and fry them. Those are great but

are not something easily ac-complished and they require

a fair amount of skill. The best way is with flour shells which you can find in the freezer section of many gro-cery stores, with the excep-tion of here. So lets make our own.

You can bake these or fry them, although I would suggest frying them. We filled ours with some of that left over brisket, potatoes, chopped tomato and on-ion. Everything should be cooked and ready to eat be-fore you fill the empanada. Serve with sour cream, salsa (we use the recipe included in our Winter issue) or gua-camole and your whole fam-ily will love them, I promise!

For the dough:3 cups flour (plus a little

more for kneading)1 teaspoon salt1/2 cup cold water1 egg1 egg white1 teaspoon cider vinegar3 tablespoons butter

Add the wet ingredients together, whisk lightly and set aside.

Add the butter to the

flour and salt and cut the butter into it until you see pea sized lumps.

Add the wet to the dry, mixing until the flour is just incorporated and then

turn out onto a floured surface. Knead until the dough becomes smooth.

Wrap in plastic wrap and put in the re-fridgerator for an hour. When you are ready to use, twist off and roll dough into about the size of a golf ball, maybe slightly smaller. Use a rolling pin to roll out. If you have a torti-

lla press, this works perfect. Fill and crimp closed well. I usually go over the edges with a fork twice to be sure it stays closed.

These really work best when fried. They take only about two minutes to get brown and crispy. but if you want to bake them just place them on a cookie sheet so they are not touching. Bake at 350 until golden brown.


I dont know about anyone else, but I had some fantastic in-laws. They were de-voted, loving, frustrating, a little bit crazy and traditional, all wrapped up together. They are a Colombian family with a solid

hold on their culture, including food. A family event was always a feast.


Taco Time AnytimeBy Robin Arias | Bakken Living

By now you are probably left with a small pile of brisket left and are asking yourself, what do I do next? For us the answer is always simple, tacos! Literally any meat can be used and the toppings are vast.

There are really only a few things to consider. Most importantly, do you want to use corn shells or flour? We prefer corn and as a side note I should point out what you may have already noticed. We double the corn shells for each taco. This is actually the traditional way of doing things. Try using only one and you will soon realize why its important to double up.

From there choose your toppings, avocado, lettuce, tomato, olives, sour cream, cheese, onions, peppers, ja-lapenos, beans, rice, the list goes on and on.

For the meat you can do a few things. You can use a spice packet but I would suggest trying it this way just one time. Chop up the left over beef and add the following (we used ap-prox 1 pound of leftover brisket) to a

hot skillet:1 pound beef 3/4 tsp chili powder1/4 tsp fresh black pepper1/2 tsp of your favorite all purpose

seasoning (we use Lawrys for this)

3/4 cup of your favorite taco sauce (we like Macayos)

2 tbsp tequila1/4 cup water

Let it all simmer for five minutes and add more water if it begins to boil down.

A few notes and you are good to go. First we listed beef but of course you can substitute whatever you have on hand: chicken, pork or turkey works just as well. Second, if you dont want to use the tequila, just use water or chicken stock. We suggest taking a shot of tequila too, but thats us. Third, if you are using corn torti-llas you need to heat them up in some way. We throw ours in a skillet with a little oil and heat through on each side, about ten seconds per side. You can throw them on a grill or in the microwave too.



Tacos

Courtesy Robin Arias Photos


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Honey Roasted Plantains: Plantains may not be typical American fare, but they are sweet and delicious and worth a try.

Simple SidesBecause not every meal should be complicated

Kale Chips: Kale chips are something

of an

acquired taste. You may find however

that

like me, once you try them, they begi

n to

grow on you.

Keeping food simple.clean eating - simple ingredients

Robin Arias | Photo

Quick Roasted Asparagus: Sometimes you just want something fast but healthy which is hard to accomplish. Try these for a quick 8 minute side that is so much better than the traditional steam method most of us grew up with.

Robin Arias | Photo

Cauliflower Puree: Potatoes these are not.

However they are a good starch exchange.

Whether you are cutting out simple carbs or

just wanting to try something new, this just

might be the side you were looking for.

Big Stock | Photos


Keeping food simple.clean eating - simple ingredients

KaleChips

Expect crispy, not crunchy.

After rinsing and drying the leaves

you want to remove the ribs. You can

pull them apart or use kitchen scis-sors. From there

tear or cut the leaves into sections

that are about 2 tall and wide. Layer

on a baking sheet and drizzle with

olive oil. Sprinkle with coarse salt and

a little pepper.

Place in a pre-heated 300 degree oven and check in 8 minutes. As soon

as they start getting crisp remove them. You dont want to over cook them.

Honey Roasted Plantains

While you can use them in their green

state, this recipe requires that they

ripen which means they will be mostly

black on the outside and soft. Peel and slice them length-wise and then in

half and place evenly on a baking sheet. (spray with

non stick oil). Driz-zle liberally with

honey and bake for 40 minutes at 350.

They will be sticky and sweet. They

pair well with rice and beans, roasted chicken and pork.

Quick Roasted

AsparagusI never peel my

asparagus although you are welcome to.

Its just too much work and I feel like

Im losing out on nutrients. To pre-pare them simple

cut off the ends and place them evenly on a baking sheet.

Coat evenly salt (course is best here)

and pepper.

Place under the broiler for about 8

minutes. Asparagus can be really thin or really thick so

just watch them un-til they reach your desired doneness.

CauliflowerPuree

1 head of cauliflow-er cut into chunks.

1 clove of garlic

Boil the cauliflower and garlic until fork tender, about 15 min. While this is going on add the fol-lowing to a blender:

2 tbsp butter1/4 cup total butter-milk and half and

halfsalt & pepper to

taste1/3 cup cheese

Drain cauliflower and add it to the blender. Puree for about 10 seconds. Mix and blend again until desired consistency.


GoatCheese


I used to think that goat cheese was one of those things that you either

loved or hated. There simply was no in-between. I used to be on the hater side, I admit it. Somewhere along the way something changed. I can't quite pin point why that is but I'm thankful it happened. I now adore goat cheese.

I stuff it in vegetables, spread it on crackers, melt it in soups, use it on

sandwiches, throw it in salads the list is long. I thought perhaps I would share a few of my favorite uses with

you. I have heard that it is easy to make yourself, so if someone out there

is willing to teach me, send me an email quick!

[email protected].


Stuffed Peppers Honey DrizzledBy Robin Arias | Bakken Living

This has long been a fa-vorite of mine. An easy go to snack that I dont feel guilty about eating. My kids even love these little gems.

Although I like to use little sweet peppers, they are not always avail-able. In a pinch I will cut up a bell pepper. In the spring and summer you can usually find these little peppers growing in backyard gardens or your local farmers mar-ket. The same can be said for the honey and goat cheese. The honey lasts virtually forever so

when we get down south we usually pick up a big jar of sourwood honey to use all year long. There are so many varieties; just pick your favorite.

Start by cutting off the stem of your pepper and then cutting it in half lengthwise. The little ones usually have just a few seeds and very lit-tle pith (the ribs). Just use a knife and carefully scrape this away. Place them cut side up on a baking sheet. (You may want to spray it lightly with non stick spray)

Now we just need to fill and drizzle. Dont put too much cheese in these as it will melt down. Using

a spoon, drizzle your favorite honey over the top and then generously sprinkle with fresh cracked pepper.

I put these in a 350 de-gree oven for 5 minutes just to get the peppers soft and then crank it up to broil for 2 or three minutes. Watch it close-ly. The honey will burn if you let it sit too long.

Now that those are done, let us imagine all the other wonder-ful things you can stuff a little goat cheese in. Cherry tomatoes, olives (yum), dates, mush-rooms and strawberries.



On average, goat cheese has up to 30 percent fewer calories and 50 percent fewer grams of fat than cheese made from cow's milk.

You also get 5 grams of protein per ounce and aside from being a good source of calcium, it also contains vital nutrients like vitamin b12, potassium, Vitamin A and niacin.

Lactose intolerant people often find that they can easily digest it.

There are no additives, preserva-tives or bovine growth hormones added.

A few Fun Facts Regarding Goat Cheese:

And finally here are a few more of my favorite food items that I pair with goat cheese. Who knew they worked so well with grits? Yes, I just admitted that I eat grits. Love em in fact. Just cook a cup of grits according to package directions and when they are done add at least 3 tablespoons half and half or heavy cream, a tablespoon butter, and 3 ounces of goat cheese. Salt and pepper to taste.

Soups. Wow, what a difference this makes. Our favorite is tomato soup or tomato bisque. Once you add goat cheese and let that melt in there it has transformed itself into what we like to call, crack in a bowl. Its so good that we often find ourselves licking the bowl. Did I just admit that? While you are at it, add some toasted bread to the party.

Finally there is a sandwich in this group of goodness. Occasionally I get tired of meat and want to spend a day or two eating mostly fruits and vegetables. This sandwich usually makes an appearance on one of those days. Its easy to do. For mine I spread goat cheese (you have to warm it up a bit) on one side of the bread and add black pepper. Then just layer on roasted red peppers and slices of avocado. Add a little arugula or bean spreads, maybe some tomato as well.

Finally, dont forget your salads! My personal favor-ite include beets and pecans with a light balsamic dressing. Its really had to go wrong no matter what you do.



Welcome to Tips from the Photography Pros, our new segment for easy quick tips on how to take better photos of your family, written by two full time photographer moms. Light is the most important tool when it comes to capturing photographs. Light can make the ordi-nary the extraordinary all based upon how we use it. There are a lot of different types of light, so lets dive in and explore a little more on types of lighting situations you might find yourself in.

Defused Light

Diffused light is something you would find on cloudy days, under a overhang, in a doorway, garage, window, or un-der a tree overhang. This type of lighting is even. It reduces contrast and minimizes harsh shadows gradually. This is the type of light that most photographers strive for, as it is most flattering for all subjects.

To achieve this type of lighting out-side wait for nice cloud cover, or find a shaded area. Indoors this lighting can be achieved by placing your subject near a window, or softening the lights by diffus-ing it in some way, like hanging a white sheet over the window.

Im Chelsy, a contemporary lifestyle pho-tographer for the modern, fun adventurous type. Owner of Creations by Chelsy Pho-tography.

I am a North Dakota native and an avid lover of all things outdoors and quirky. With me your photos will be a unique as you are because capturing moments is capturing life Im a little gangsta, and a lot hippie. I live and breath country life,

but I love to rock it in the city.I laugh a lot and dance even more. I pretty much only

drink wine, coffee & water, but not necessarily in that order. I love to work hard and play hard too.

Im really good at making a mess and unfortunately not that good at cleaning it up. Keep up with all my adventures online on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CreationsbyChelsy)

or on my website www.creationsbychelsyphotography.com.

mee

t Che

lsy

Side Light

As the name implies its light that, you guessed it, hits from a side.

To achieve this lighting, use natural light and wait until dawn or sunset.

CREA

TIONS

BYCH

ELSY

PHOT

OGRA

PHY.C

OM

meet Jam

ie

Tips from the photography pros


mee

t Che

lsy

Back Lighting

Back lighting is when light is behind your subject. This type of lighting can be very flattering to highlight your sub-ject. Another great way to use this is for silhouettes, at sunset.

Hi my name is Jamie and Im a full time mom, full time photographer, wife, animal wrangler along with many other odd jobs when the need arises in a busy household. Photography has been a wonderful canvas for me to tell stories and express my love of art.

Along with my husband, two kids and a passel of critters, I am currently living in Alexander, North Dakota. Two years ago we made the 12,000 mile journey from our hometown in the Pacific Northwest. Just a bit of a change.

If I am not taking pictures you can find me

Front Light (Hard Light)

Hard lighting is lighting that is really harsh and can be pretty intense. The light shines directly on subjects, and often causes a squinting effect. This lighting creates strong shadows and high contrast. The highlighted areas can be quite intense under hard lighting conditions. Most photographers avoid this type of lighting for portraits, but can offer some interesting photos when applied correctly. One option is to use your flash to fill in the harsh shadows.

meet Jam

ie

outside, or in the kitchen. I love to bake and I am addicted to The Food Network Channel. You can follow me online on Facebook (www.facebook.com/wildrosephotography72) or on my website

www.jamieswildrosephotography.com.

Tips from the photography pros


Stock | Photo

March Volunteer EventsMeals on Wheels- Throughout the MonthBoys and Girls Club Auction- March 15Health Fair- March 25Volunteer Stations with Regular Volunteer Opportuniti

BAKKEN LIVING MAGAZINE VOL. 1 ISSUE 2

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