Before there were hundreds of established towns and cities, North Dakota was a quiet, open prairie full of opportunity. Early settlers came through as the railroad made its way west, establishing farms that they hoped would be their family legacy. You can step into the shoes of those homesteaders and see how they lived more than a century ago during the North Dakota Sodbuster Days, coming up in September 2021.

Imagine yourself as someone who just traveled hundreds of miles, probably from across the ocean, looking to start a new life for your family in the beautiful, untouched hills shown below.

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That was the start for many homesteaders back at the turn of the century, often bringing with them nothing but determination and a dream. Two such homesteaders settled in the Sheyenne River Valley at what is now Fort Ransom State Park.

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Every year, the park hosts an annual Sodbuster Days at one of the two homesteads, harkening back to the life of the settlers. In 2021, the Sodbuster Days will be held on the weekend of September 11th and 12th at the Sunne Farm.

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Watch live demonstrations of life on the farm back then and everything that came with it.

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All different aspects of how people worked the farm and their homes in yesteryear are explored.

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Everything from cooking and home-making to haying and plowing will be demonstrated in a way that will make you feel like you’ve stepped through a time machine.

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Many fun things to experience will take place all throughout Saturday and Sunday, such as a parade, live old-time music, and food available to purchase.

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It’s all happening in Fort Ransom State Park here in North Dakota. Give this old farm a visit and see what life was like over a century ago!

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More information about the event can be found on this webpage and the Fort Ransom Sodbuster Days Facebook page.

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Have you visited Fort Ransom State Park before? It’s a North Dakota gem, and you can learn more about it here.

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Address: Fort Ransom State Park, 5981 Walt Hjelle Pkwy, Fort Ransom, ND 58033, USA