What kind of bear is best ? ... BI&E Northome!

[ One of my favorite scenes from 'The Office' ]

Jim (dressed as Dwight): Question:what kind of bear is best ?

Dwight: That's a ridiculous question

Jim: FALSE. Black bear.

Dwight: That's debatable. There are basically two two schools of thought...

Jim: Fact: Bears eat beets. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Gallactica.
Dwight: Bears do not... what is going on? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? [pause] Oh, well your sincere imitation is flattering.

...Ok, so that might have been semi-random BUT, it does have a point. Following our morning in Baudette; Labecca, Mr. Ertl and I traveled back down the state of Minnesota, through the bogs and past Red Lake to the town of Northome. With a population of about 230, Northome is has been dubbed "The Heart of Big Bear Country", because of the black bears that are hunted frequently there. (hence , The Office, reference)

While visiting the high school students of Northome I learned a lot about the members and about their FFA chapter:

Mark... is a former Blackduck FFA member, and current Northome FFA member. He has had a number of state level experiences including this past State Convention and SLCCL 2008. (The year they broke the couch, Mark reminded me)

Trista... is interested in horses and would like to study Equine at the University of Minnesota Crookston. I think that is a great choice, considering the excellent facilities they have there. She is also serving as a chapter officer.

Chester... currently works for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. In his position, he spends his time removing invasive species.

Cody... has a deep interest in the outdoors. From working on a resort to hunting grouse and even guiding bear hunting trips, Cody has done it all. Whenever he isn't collecting trophies out in the woods, he can be found on the football field representing the Mustangs as the team's center.

Mr. Sherman and his small engines class, took Labecca and I out to their school forest to see the trails and shelters they built. The school forests are managed by the students in Northome. Being in "BEAR COUNTRY", I asked Cody to track me a bear.

As intently as I fixed my eyes to the trees, looking for a ruffed-grouse or black bear, I didn't see anything. When I looked to the ground, I did find a leopard frog, but it wasn't that big of a deal because I see them everywhere. I also learned that in addition to their chapter's annual "Fruit Sales"( some thing I am sure you are familiar with), they harvest the timber from their school forest and have "Timber Sales" (something that blew my mind) NORTHOME: If you ever have extra timber, you know who to call.

Labecca and I got to meet the superintendent of the school district, eat lunch with the students and above all, - WE HAD A GREAT TIME!
I look forward to see where this chapter goes, the new ideas they have to further engage current and potential FFA members and the community of Northome.

Hopefully the Northome jacket will return to St.Paul for State Convention !

435.17 miles... are we there YET ?!