Joe Weigand has been in Medora for many years, as Teddy Roosevelt. He tells the joke about walking briskly across the park in Medora at his way to one of his many performances and having some youngster exclaim “Look Mom, it’s that guy from Monopoly!”

Adorned in his black 3-piece tux, including his round top hat, Joe certainly does look like Teddy Roosevelt, and that guy from Monopoly. I often tell the story of escorting Joe Weigand on a trip to Minot Air Force Base. Joe does indeed love the Minot Air Force Base and is especially akin to the 91st Missile Wing because a long time ago they chose to be The Rough Riders.

Teddy Roosevelt was of course our 26th President and Medora were his home for some of his more formidable years. In the Badlands of North Dakota, he gained his character and personality. He went from being a shy, rather introverted young man, to a season toughened cattle rancher and hunter with a raucous personality.

Well back to my story about Joe Weigand on Minot Air Force Base. We were walking together and he was not in TR character. He was asking me about how it was that I became a reporter. I started to explain my storied trip from journalism school at the University of North Dakota to my current position as a reporter/editor for the Northern Sentry. Joe stopped and continued the conversation with a question about where I grew up. Before I could answer, there were 2 young Airmen walking towards us and soon they were within ear shot, and in the middle of the question he instantly transformed to Teddy Roosevelt boisterously exclaiming that the 91st Missile Wing, right here on Minot Air Force Base was named in the honor of his magnificent Rough Riders. He turned to the young Airmen and asked, as if though they had been part of the conversation all along, if they knew the story of the Rough Riders and Joe (now Teddy) transitioned seamlessly into the story of the Rough Riders and their heroics in the great Spanish American war. He included the charge up Kettle Hill led by a young Lt. Col. by the name of Theodore Roosevelt. “That was me of course” he said with a chuckle. They were captured in the moment as Joe talked about the famous Bully Stick and how he had seen them all over in the headquarters of the 91st MW. Finally, he said, “well I better let you go so you can do your jobs” Joe, or Teddy said, “two great outfits you know, my Rough Riders and the 91st Missile Wing….Bully!!!” And as they walked away, Teddy told me that it was he, Theodore Roosevelt as President, that made the press welcomed at the White House” and just as quickly as he became TR he was again Joe Weigand, as now the young Airmen were quite far away now Joe asked again where in North Dakota I was born and raised.

I truly admire Joe Weigand as he carries on the tradition of Teddy Roosevelt and Medora. He spends a lot of his winters on tour as the famous TR. If you ever get a chance to see him on stage, or at his now famous Brunch with the President in Medora, take the opportunity, it will be well worth your time.

Fall Festival Is This Saturday!
Downtown Minot will be rockin’ as our annual Fall Festival kicks off at 10 AM on Saturday. There’s a lot to do including the usual Farmer’s Market, The Magic City Lions Kidzone, Bounce Houses, over 40 street vendors, lots of food trucks, BINGO!, A Petting Zoo and Pony Rides…a patriotic program at Noon on the Main Street Stage and much, much more! Entrance to the event is absolutely free…10 AM to 5 PM this Saturday, we’ll see you in downtown Minot!

Anne Says…
That she has a couple of very busy days in her garden and she will be at the North Prairie Farmer’s Market in Downtown Minot on Saturday. Last week I had a chance to tour the NP Farmer’s Market, and I was just absolutely amazed at the variety of produce and home canned goods.

And Don’t Miss…
I may sound like a broken record, but the nature trails in and around Minot are starting to show their scenic fall colors. Take a camera, take the family, and well…take a few photos.

This Week’s Chuckle…
This comes from my Labor Day Weekend with the grandkids. The youngest grandson, now 5, walks into the cabin we rented at Fort Stevenson State Park. After a thorough tour of the cabin, he says “BePa, what happened to the TVs? I don’t see any.” His older sister answered, “Don’t you know that we are camping, there aren’t any TV’s?” To which her younger brother replied “No, that can’t be true. I bet they are hidden around here somewhere.”