Colfax: Norman Rockwell, 1960s

Those words describe Nathan Berseth’s depiction of Colfax, North Dakota, population 240. Born and raised in the Richland County town, Berseth moved away following school to pursue a professional career. Yet you can take the boy out of North Dakota, but not the North Dakota out of the boy.

Those words describe Nathan Berseth’s depiction of Colfax, North Dakota, population 240. Born and raised in the Richland County town, Berseth moved away following school to pursue a professional career. Yet you can take the boy out of North Dakota, but not the North Dakota out of the boy.

“It’s the people; I almost get emotional thinking about it,” Berseth said. ”The only thing that’s changed in this community in the past decades is a few (new) families. You’ve got grandmas and grandpas down the street, and even if they aren’t blood-related, people treat you like it. It’s a quiet town with a great school district where people look out for each other. There’s a lot of pride.”

Colfax is much more than a town with a swimming pool (although it’s a community staple year in and year out). Nor is it just a bedroom community on the fringe of two of North Dakota’s key metropolitan areas.

With a population that has grown substantallly over the past decade, it’s no secret that Colfax is on the rise. Perhaps the root of its successes? Investing in its youth and the next generation.

Investing in the future
A town built on the railroad in 1881, Colfax displays the beauties of a Midwest small town; a post office, local watering hole, and a Lutheran church make up the core ecosystem of the community. Yet as Berseth drives around the town, the sense of pride is evident as he waves to residents of new developments alongside dwellers of the “heritage” part of town.

“I don’t refer to it as the ‘old part of town,’ I refer to it as heritage because it’s what we were built on,” Berseth said. “Longtime or new, our community members do an incredible job keeping up their properties.”

Just as concern for community is a core value in the cooperative world, the same can be said for Colfax, home of Richland #44 School District, serving the communities of Abercrombie, Christine, Colfax, and Galchutt. The area’s most recent embodiment of this? Breaking ground in March on an estimated $11 million state-of-the-art event and performing arts center located on the eastern edge of Colfax that is slated to be completed by the end of next summer.

Phase one, which includes the event portion of the project, broke ground in March for the community-oriented facility and won’t cost taxpayers any dollars. Expected to be completed in July 2025, fundraising for phase one is in full swing. For Richland #44 Superintendent Dr. Britney Gandhi, the project is a win-win for both community members and students in the district.

“It will produce a profit for the (Richland #44) foundation, which will go to benefit students in the district,” Gandhi said.

The facility creates a needed space for a growing community, whether for weddings, concerts, or community gatherings.

“If we’re going to do it, we want to do it right,” Berseth said. “We’ve always had a great athletic tradition, it’s time to capitalize on our already excellent fine arts programs. And outside of school events, currently, we have a
church and a bar where community members can gather. This will create a space for individuals of all interests and demographics to congregate.”

Once phase one is completed, construction on the performing arts center of the facility will begin, serving as the future home of Richland #44 music and theatre programs.

“People want what’s best for their kids, but they also support teachers, administration, and anything our students are doing,” Gandhi said. “People really prioritize public education in our community.”

Giving back to the next generation
A new facility garnishing top-class amenities is a win for any community and school district. For Richland #44, it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to investing in students.

Since 2019, every graduating senior who spends at least three years at Richland #44 High School receives a $10,000 scholarship courtesy of a generous gift from the late Darrel Hendrickson and the Richland #44 Foundation.

Hendrickson, a local farmer, passed away in 2016. In his will, he included a gift to support the community and education.

“Darrel gave to the city of Colfax, the local church, and $4.5 million toward investing in this city’s education,” Richland #44 Foundation president Megan Kummer said. “That led to the creation of the foundation and allowed us to think about how we could truly make an impact in the lives of students.” Kummer is the daughter-in-law of recently elected CCEC director, Vanessa Kummer.

When allocating the funds, the foundation wanted to honor the versatile interests and career paths that students have the opportunity to pursue. Trade school or university, local or coastal, graduates receive the scholarship.

“Any type of post-secondary education, as long as it’s accredited,” Gandhi said when referring to how the scholarship can be used. “Individuals going to the military are able to defer the scholarship (until a later time), and it can also be used toward graduate school.”

“Ten thousand dollars is a meaningful gift, whether a student is going to a tech school or getting their Ph.D,” Kummer said. “It’s truly life-changing.”

Between the scholarship fund and the excitement of the new facility, the rock of the community remains what it’s always been… the people.

“It’s truly the best of both worlds,” Berseth said. “The people are just phenomenal and care about their community.”

CCEC is rooted in the dynamic rural communities it serves and looks forward to supporting the growth and prosperity of Colfax for years to come.

*Main image courtesy of Tiffany Olsen