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Brittany Armstrong

SRT and Full STEAM Ahead Launch Minot’s First Lego League Junior Program

SRT and Full STEAM Ahead Launch Minot’s First Lego League Junior Program

Minot, N.D. – SRT announced today that they are supporting Full STEAM Ahead’s First Lego League Jr. program for children ages 6 to 10. This inaugural program in Minot will allow even more children to get involved with Full STEAM Ahead’s robotics programs. The program will kickoff on Tuesday, Sept. 10th at 4:30pm on the 3rd floor atrium of Swain Hall on the Minot State University campus (500 University Ave. West, Minot).

Teams of six will work together for 12 weeks and follow a curriculum based off the 2019-2020 theme called “Boomtown Builders”. Each team will explore the growing needs and challenges of people in the community and try to solve a problem that makes life easier. Through exploratory research, hands-on construction, and use of LEGO elements, each team works toward building a model and creating what’s called a “Show Me” poster for a presentation at the end of the program.  

“Currently, there is a First Lego League program in Minot geared towards ages 11 to 16, but nothing for younger children. This new program will allow kids to build an even earlier interest in science, technology, engineering and math,” said Steve Lysne, SRT CEO and General Manager. “As a technology company, we understand the importance of this education track because we see it daily in our business, and we are proud to sponsor this new program for kids in our area.”

“We are helping children develop a passion and an interest in robotics at a young age. When children explore concepts behind programming and building robots, all while working together as a team, they learn so many life skills. We are proud to partner with and be powered by SRT!” said Ali Auch, Full STEAM Ahead Executive Director and Founder.

Each team has a coach, a Minot State University student in the teacher education program. These coaches will oversee the program and help the kids meet their goal of building a motorized model.

SRT Communications located in Minot, North Dakota is the state’s largest telecommunications cooperative. SRT services include Internet, Security, TV, Phone and Business Services and has served north central North Dakota since 1951, employs nearly 200 people, and serves over 40,000 customers.

Full STEAM Ahead is a nonprofit organization in Minot, ND that was formed in 2017. Full STEAM Ahead is an umbrella organization that helped meld youth arts with science, technology, engineering and math.

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BAND Featured Story – Breaking Barriers

BAND Featured Story – Breaking Barriers

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Work Smarter & Harder: DRN + Dakota Precision Fabricating Spotlight

Innovation is happening in rural communities across North Dakota. Some view Silicon Valley or Detroit as epicenters of technological and automotive engineering. Industries at one time separate from one another, but now colliding in new ways. That same innovation between tech and steel is happening right here in our rural communities.

Hilary and Shannon Mehrer run and operate Dakota Precision Fabricating, a metal fabrications manufacturer that provides services across the country, including the production of flood wall and structural metal materials, to those like NASA, BOEING, and the World Trade Center.

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Although they operate on a national scale, the Mehrers chose to grow their business from the small town of Forman, North Dakota.

“When we moved here, our boys were three and one,” says Hilary Mehrer. “We wanted a small school and we wanted them surrounded by family. That’s what brought us here.”

Having both grown up in small towns themselves, the Mehrers knew they wanted their kids to have a similar upbringing to their own. They grew up in a small, rural town where the school was a short walk away and the edge of town not that much farther. They knew when the evening whistle blew it was time to come home. Now, their kids run home upon hearing that same familiar call.

Hilary also knew she wanted to continue growing her family business to a national scale. At first, the two goals — raising a family in rural North Dakota and growing a nationally competitive business — seemed to pose a challenge. Thankfully, by working with their local broadband provider, Dickey Rural Networks (DRN), they’ve been able to raise their kids in a rural town while operating a business at a national scale.

Dickey Rural Networks (DRN) is a broadband provider in Ellendale, North Dakota, and amember organization of the Broadband Association of North Dakota (BAND They provide broadband services to those in rural towns on the southeastern side of the state, like Forman, Kulm, and Litchville.

“The resources that DRN provides helps support family, friends, neighbors, and small business by connecting them to the rest of the world,” says Kent Schimke, General Manager of DRN.

By working with DRN, the Mehrers have been able to access all the resources they need. By utilizing server management, security, voicemail, and other services offered by DRN, Dakota Precision Fabricating has been able to operate more efficiently, enabling them to better compete in a national market. Today, they regularly work with customers across the country; in fact, their latest project is a flood wall with LaGuardia airport in New York.

“Everything is streamlined,” says Shannon Mehrer. “We needed more services and Dickey Rural was there. They answered our questions and gave us their advice.”

For DRN, seeing customers and communities use their services and succeed in their business brings meaning to the work they do.

“It can be hard work to live in a rural community,” says Kent. “Family, friends, neighbors, and businesses support each other to be stronger. That’s what rural communities do.”

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For a the Mehrer family and their business, working with a broadband provider that is local and understands their customers is what makes their small town community feel like home.it when other businesses understand their customers and support their communities.

“They’ve seen my face. I’ve seen theirs,” says Shannon. “We know each other. There’s a difference.”

To learn more about BAND and your local broadband provider visit https://www.broadbandnd.com/

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BAND Featured Story – Dairy Innovation

BAND Featured Story – Dairy Innovation

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BAND equips Northern Lights Dairy for next-generation farming

Anytime you unwrap a stick of Land O’Lakes butter, you’re likely looking at a product made with Northern Lights Dairy milk. Northern Lights Dairy is a Grade-A dairy farm facility located just south of Mandan, owned and operated by the Holle family. Andrew Holle is a 4th generation dairy producer, and he lives there with his wife, Jennifer, their four kids, and over 725 milk cows.

Today, Northern Lights is a recognizable name and has found success selling milk to Land O’Lakes in Bismarck for many years. They’ve established themselves as innovators in the industry, utilizing the latest precision ag technology to optimize their operations.

However, when Andrew and Jennifer first bought the farm 16 years ago, that kind of future was nearly impossible to imagine.

“It was just a shell of a dairy farm at the time,” Jennifer said. “Just the roof and the parlor. There was no infrastructure.

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At the time, the newlyweds had just graduated from college with degrees in Animal Science and knew they wanted to expand Andrew’s multi-generational dairy farm. When they heard of a foreclosed dairy farm not far from the family dairy in New Salem, they took a tour. Though it didn’t offer much, the 36-stall rotary parlor caught their eye. Besides, both of them had a passion for Precision Ag and AgTech. This was a chance to build a new, innovative facility from the ground up.

It’s a commitment they implement to this day, Jennifer says.

“Our motto is to work smarter, not harder,” Jennifer said. “We’re constantly upgrading and implementing new technology. We always ask ourselves, ‘What can we use to make the cows more comfortable? How can we help our farm? How can we make it more successful?’”

As the family began to grow their farm, an important need quickly emerged: a way to monitor the various aspects of their business. It was increasingly difficult to accurately monitor the cows, employees, and various stations — all crucial for running a smooth operation.

Their solution: a security camera system.

“A camera system provides security for employees, helps with quality control, and gives you flexibility with time management,” Andrew explained. “In our industry there’s a lot of manual labor required. Being able to remotely monitor allows us to be more flexible and feel comfortable leaving the farm.”

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Their first attempt was a do-it-yourself system. They had high hopes that this would enable them to keep a close eye on their operation. However, they were soon fighting an uphill battle; poor quality cameras, metal buildings causing problems, and poor internet connection made the system more hassle than help.

They soon realized they’d invested a lot of time and money into a system that wasn’t working as they’d hoped. As their operation continued to grow, they needed help, and fast.

They found their answer with their local BAND member organization, WRT. They heard about the security camera systems that WRT offers and decided to give it a shot.

“We knew we were getting a quality system,” Andrew Holle said. “And there’s the added benefit of having someone there in person to install it, make sure it’s working right, and come back if needed.”

The results were instantaneous — literally. While WRT team members were installing the cameras, the Holles noticed a cow had tipped over in one of the pens. Curious how this happened, they were able to rewind the DVR recording and see that another cow had hit the other and knocked it down.

With over 725 cows, a method of surveillance is vital to the animals’ success. Monitoring each cow’s health and milk production are all part of maintaining a healthy herd. Thanks to WRT’s broadband services, they are able to use RFID tags as “Fitbits” for their cows; tracking their temperature, heart rate, eating, and sleeping habits, all to ensure they are in good health.

“Ever since WRT put in fiber, we’ve had no problems. Our activity collars are able to send data at a high speed, and we’re able to track each cow individually. It’s the best way to provide personalized care for each cow,” Jennifer said.

A quality surveillance system also helps them monitor the most crucial moment for a cow: when they’re born. As Calving Manager, Jennifer oversees an average of 3-4 births a day — and sometimes up to 15. The health of the calf at birth determines their health throughout their lifespan, she explained, and it’s a role she takes very seriously.

“We care about our animals,” she said. “This is what we do day in and day out because we love it. We don’t look at our cows as money-makers. They’re an extension of our family.”

Of course, although they love their work, running a dairy farm at this scale can be exhausting. In the early years, without a way to monitor the farm, the family was unable to travel far from home. With the security cameras in place, the Holles are now able to ensure their bovine family is well cared for, even from abroad. Now, they’re able to check in on their cows from anywhere; trade shows, visiting family, even during a well-earned family vacation to Cancun.

“I got up in the morning and checked on all the baby calves through my phone. Andrew could go into the milking system and see what our milk production was like that day, and check on the sick cows,” Jennifer said. “All while sitting on the beach with a drink in our hand.”

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tilizing WRT’s technology is part of the Holles greater vision to create a successful and innovative dairy farm; one that puts animal care at the center and creates a safe environment for animals and employees alike.

“We rely very heavily on WRT and broadband. It really is priceless how much time we save by utilizing the security system,” Jennifer said. “If we didn’t have that kind of technology, we couldn’t be a successful farm.”

With how much technology has transformed the ag industry in the past decade, the Holles can only imagine what it will look like for the next generation. Already, their four kids — now 5th generation farmers — are learning a new, innovative way of farming. And while Jennifer never puts any pressure on any of them to one day take over their farm, she sees a particular affinity for the work in her 9-year-old son, Devon.

“He is his father’s shadow,” she said with a laugh. “He’s got the pens in his pocket, wears the same boots, and drives the payloader and the Bobcat.”

This is what Andrew and Jennifer love most — a business and lifestyle that allows them to grow, learn, and be together as a family while doing work that they love. They both know that no matter how technology continues to change the industry, the heart of why they do what they do remains the same.

“We do what we do because we love it. Come rain, snow, sunshine,” Jennifer said. “It’s hard to describe, because it’s so much a part of who you are. It’s not a job. It’s a livelihood.”

Learn more about BAND and how you can connect with your local BAND organization, at broadbandnd.com.

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SRT Annual Meeting to be Held in Minot

SRT Annual Meeting to be Held in Minot

MINOT, N.D. – SRT Communications will hold its Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 20, 2019 at the North Dakota State Fair Center in Minot. The event takes place from 4:30 – 8:00pm. The purpose of the meeting is to elect SRT’s Board of Directors and review the financial statements of the cooperative.

The theme of this year’s meeting is “Technology For Every Generation.” This theme showcases SRT’s efforts to bring the best communications technology products and services to all our members. SRT’s products and services will be on display and SRT employees will be on hand to answer questions. A complimentary meal will be catered by Homesteaders from 5:00 – 7:00pm with musical entertainment from Too Old To Stand taking place in the meeting room from 5:30 – 7:00pm. Prize drawings will follow the meeting, including $500 cash, $250 gift certificates and much more.

“The annual meeting is an exciting event for the cooperative as it brings together member owners from across our territory,” said Steve Lysne, SRT General Manager/CEO. “It’s important for us to share our message about the cooperative’s financial position and what the vision is for the future.”

In addition to everything present for adults, there will also be a Kids Zone with inflatables, snacks, and prize drawings for kids.

SRT Communications located in Minot, North Dakota is the state’s largest telecommunications cooperative. SRT services include Internet, Security, TV, Phone and Business Services and has served north central North Dakota since 1951, employs nearly 200 people, and serves over 48,000 customers.

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Two Area Students Represent SRT in Washington, D.C.

Two Area Students Represent SRT in Washington, D.C.

MINOT, N.D. –

SRT and the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) are proud to announce that Téa Boeckel from Our Redeemer’s Christian School and Cody Frounfelter from TGU-Granville High School will be attending the FRS Youth Tour, an all-expense paid educational tour to Washington, D.C., taking place the first week of June.

Téa and Cody were selected by their schools to represent SRT and North Dakota as they learn about the regulatory process and impact of legislative decisions on the telecommunications industry in rural America. They will have the opportunity to visit many historic sights, the U.S. Capitol, and the Supreme Court along with 110 other high school students from across suburban and rural America.

“This is a unique opportunity for these two students to join fellow high schoolers from across the United States and gain a first-hand look into how regulatory decisions are made within government, and how this relates to telecommunications in their home communities,” said Steve Lysne, SRT CEO/General Manager. “We hope they are inspired to be even more active in their communities and possibly spark a career interest in telecommunications.”

The FRS Youth Tour is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year. FRS is sponsored in part by telecommunication companies, including SRT.  FRS is the philanthropic branch of NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, of which SRT is a member.

SRT Communications located in Minot, North Dakota is the state’s largest telecommunications cooperative. SRT services include Internet, Security, TV, Phone and Business Services and has served north central North Dakota since 1951, employs nearly 200 people, and serves over 48,000 customers.

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