| Summary: | ON THE COVER This cover photograph reflects two vivid symbols of North Dakota's prairie culture - her agriculture and rural churches. Sunflowers are a major crop in North Dakota, and the state produces 68 percent of all sunflowers in the country. Their vibrant yellow heads decorate the landscape at the end of every summer. This photograph, taken by Sheldon Green, Fargo, in August 1999, shows St. John's Lutheran Church on Highway 81 near Abercrombie. Often founded by first-generation settlers from Germany, Poland, Iceland, Russia, and Scandinavia, North Dakota's prairie churches were usually the first buildings to go up when a town was settled. Of North Dakota's 2,000 church structures, today more than 400 are vacant or threatened by inadequate maintenance. Preservation North Dakota is a statewide preservation advocacy group with a grant program to help restore these prairie landmarks. More information on the efforts of this organization can be found at www.prairiechurches.org. BLUE BOOK CONTRIBUTORS The Secretary of State wishes to express a sincere "thank you" to the many contributors who made this edition of the North Dakota Blue Book possible: FORWARD: John Hoeven, Governor; Alvin A. Jaeger, Secretary of State Cover Photos: Sheldon Green, Fargo, front cover; Greater North Dakota Association, back cover 2003-2005 BLUE BOOK COMMITTEE: J. Michael McCormack , Associate Professor of History, Bismarck State College; Jim Davis, Reference Specialist, State Historical Society of North Dakota; Dolores Vyzralek, Chief Librarian, State Historical Society of North Dakota; Ted Smith, Law Librarian, North Dakota Supreme Court; Marilyn Johnson, Research Librarian, North Dakota Legislative Council, Melanie Johnson-Luger, Administrative Assistant, North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission; Kim Shaw, Executive Assistant, Secretary of State; Kermit Lidstrom, Ed.D., Past President, Bismarck State College; Patrick Fridgen, Natural Resource Economist, State Water Commission; Ted Quanrud, Public Information Specialist II, North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner; Leigh Ann Huether, Research Analyst, Department of Commerce; Stella B. Cone, Head of Local Library & Disability Services, North Dakota State Library; Andrea Winkjer Collin, Clearwater Communications, Bismarck BLUE BOOK EDITORIAL BOARD: Andrea Winkjer Collin, Clearwater Communications, Bismarck; Thomas Jones, Director, Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library; Kermit Lidstrom, Ed.D., Past President, Bismarck State College; J. Michael McCormack, Associate Professor of History, Bismarck State College
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