Fort Ransom State Park
Sodbusters Association
The Fort Ransom Sodbusters Association was incorporated in 1988 by a group of people interested in preserving the farm life heritage of the early 1900s. Together with the ND Parks & Recreation Dept., the association sponsors two Sodbuster Days events each year. These take place at the Sunne Demonstration Farm within Ft. Ransom State Park.
During Sodbuster Days, teams of draft horses and mules do field preparation, haying, threshing, and the ever-popular "putting hay in the barn." The small engine demonstrations show how things were done before electricity--elevating grain, sawing wood, grinding corn, pumping water and more. Blacksmiths in the two blacksmith shops shoe the ingenuity of the early pioneers for making what was needed on the farmstead. A popular demonstration is the setting of a rim on a wagon wheel--today, this is becoming a lost art. A group of pedal-powered woodworking tools gives spectators a glimpse of what it took to do fine woodworking before the advent of electric routers and jig saws.
Various homemaking skills are demonstrated in the Sodbuster building, log house, Sunne farmhouse, outside the tent site, summer kitchen and cook car. Visitors will be able to sample lefse, rommegrot, ice cream, rolls and pies baked in the Dutch oven over a firepit, jelly doughnuts, cornmeal muffins and other ethnic foods. They can learn how to quilt, tat, embroider, do hardanger embroidery, card and spin wool or make memory boxes. Other skills that have been demonstrated at past shows include bookbinding, woodcarving, chair caning, rosemaling and pine needle baskets.
Displays show the many aspects of pioneer life. A farm toy display is popular with young and old. Most of the buildings on the Sunne Farm have furniture, utensils, equipment or tools of the pioneer era.
A group of dedicated, volunteer musicians entertain visitors in the park's new Music Building. A Saturday night Harvest Dance is held at the fall show.
Children ages 5-12 have a variety of children's games and activities, showing today's kids that they can be entertained without computers or television.
Food service is provided by a local church circle and members of the Sodbuster Association.
The Ft. Ransom Sodbuster Association, is composed of about a hundred members from a tri-state area. It is governed by a board of nine members who preside over monthly meetings or any other special meetings, as required. The annual membership fee is $5 per person or $10 per family (includes all children under age 18).
For more information about becoming a member, contact Ft. Ransom State Park at frsp@nd.gov or call (701) 973-4331.
