Summer is practically over and the brief cool air of Autumn is blowing in. Before Winter hibernation ensues, let’s take a minute to reminisce about the not-so-far-past sensational Summer months! During Summer 2024, the Northern Sentry asked the Minot AFB Community to submit fun, silly, beautiful and/or glorious photos of residents enjoying the summer weather in North Dakota.

You guys did not disappoint: we received almost 200 photo entries! While extra enticement for submitting photos was a chance to win the Grand Prize (a Night Stay and Water Park Tickets at the Canad Inn in Grand Forks), we enjoyed all the user submitted content on our Facebook page and hard copy newspaper!

The Grand Prize winner was chosen at random from the entire pool of entries and Dana Berger was selected! The Berger Family moved here in 2023, but has taken full advantage of their first full year in the Peace Garden State. The Northern Sentry caught up with Dana to award her prize and got her opinion about the lovely Summer months. She said, “My favorite activity to do in the summer is camping! My family and I spent every weekend this July at a different ND State Park. We’ve met a lot of really wonderful people and have made friends that have turned into family, so I would say that is my favorite thing about this community.”

When asked about how she deals with the long winter, Dana remarked, ”My advice to make it through the winter months is not to have a negative mindset, just know that it will be over soon. Also to find an indoor hobby! My family loves to play board games, legos, puzzles and have movie nights. I love the snow and am looking forward to spending this winter cuddled under my heated blanket with a good book.”

Besides the coveted Grand Prize Winner, the Northern Sentry also awarded a “Staff Pick” prize to our favorite photo. This was a tough choice as there were so many wonderful pictures. But after we all voted, our favorite was the sunrise photo of Lake Darling taken and submitted by Martha Lusson. Martha will be awarded a Downtown Minot gift card for her contribution.
Thank-you to the wonderful Minot AFB community for taking the time to submit photos and interact with the Northern Sentry. Our main goal is to “Share Your Minot AFB Adventure!” Keep an eye out for future giveaways, contests and stories about life on MAFB at the Northern Sentry.