NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State
University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
May 21, 1998
Last year members of the Dakota Riders 4-H horse club from Pierce County were among the 4-H'ers taking part in the Prairie Rose State Games Torch Run. This year's Torch Run provides another opportunity for all 4-H members, alumni, volunteers and leaders—horse or no horse—to take part in an activity that's healthful, fun and helps support the state, says Mary Beth Odegaard with the 4-H youth development program at North Dakota State University.
Organizers of the 1998 Prairie Rose State Games Torch Run, set to begin in Williston on Wednesday, July 1, and end in Fargo on Friday, July 10, expect this year's event to be the largest yet, with more than 260 joggers and walkers taking part. At the same time, organizers are hoping for an increase in the number of four-legged participants.
This year's event includes a Minot-to-Jamestown horseback route, to run from Monday, July 6, to Thursday, July 9. The Williston-to-Minot run will occur on Wednesday and Thursday, July 1 and 2. The Minot-to-Bismarck run will take place on Monday and Tuesday, July 6 and 7. And the Bismarck-to-Fargo run will stretch from Wednesday to Friday, July 8 to July 10.
"The horse people will hook up with the runners in Jamestown some time on July 9," says Randy Harmon, torch run coordinator. "We definitely want involvement with horse riders."
The relays begin at 8 a.m. each day, except for the last day of the torch run, Friday, July 10. A delayed start that day will allow the torch's arrival in Fargo to coincide with the opening ceremony, set for 8 p.m. All participants are invited to join the final leg of the relay, as runners carry the torch into Fargo's Newman Outdoor Stadium for the 1998 Prairie Rose State Games Opening Ceremony. Gov. Ed Schafer will escort the runners into the stadium.
To play up the Pony Express theme, riders will be carrying unofficial mail, says Paul Murphy, the member of the Prairie Rose States Games board of directors who is coordinating the Minot-to-Jamestown run.
"If someone has a note they want delivered, we'll put it in the saddle bags, and the recipient can meet the horses going through town to pick up their note. The cards will be printed on one side and say `Prairie Rose Pony Express—1998,'" explains Murphy.
A $10 fee for delivering the notes will help defray costs of the Torch Run. Murphy says that due to space limitations, the riders will be able to honor only the first 200 delivery requests they receive.
North Dakota residents of all ages and abilities can participate in this year's Torch Run, and each participant will receive a 1998 Torch Run T-shirt. Anyone with a 4-H affiliation wanting to find out more about this year's Prairie Rose State Games Torch Run can call (701) 231-7280. Interested individuals or groups may also contact Harmon at (701) 328-5357.
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Sources: Mary Beth Odegaard (701) 231-7280 & Randy Harmon (701) 328-5357
Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136