Brandi Malarkey

Tuesday, August 9, 2022 - The North Dakota Department of Commerce is inviting communities to apply for the “Artists on Main Street” program, which offers technical assistance and funding for local art projects. Each year a different community is selected. The first of the 5 planned grants went to Bowman last year. Special contributor Brandi Malarkey went to Bowman to gather interviews about the project for a feature we first aired earlier this summer. ~~~ Tom Isern shares a Plains Folk essay titled “Big History.” ~~~ Prairie Public music host Scott Prebys joins us to preview this year’s “Night of Great Jazz” ~~~ Speaking of music, we have a TellTale story from Germans-From-Russia folk singers Joe Gross of Bismarck and John Gross of Napoleon.

Fifth generation farmer Jessica Hawkes is seeking non-profit status for her family farm in New Rockford. With the help of friends Ryan Keel and Anna Burger she has converted her family farm, Hawkes Homestead, into an animal sanctuary. Hawkes Homestead is now a permanent and temporary home to a host of various animals, including runaway pigs, a spitting llama, and a mail-stealing donkey.

The pandemic hit gig musicians pretty hard, but help came from American Rescue Plan. Special contributor Brandi Malarkey introduces us to Jerry and Friends, a trio of accordion players who used the funds to pivot to Facebook Live.

Tuesday, June 28, 2022 - “Growing Small Towns” is an effort to tell the story of small-town life in a more accurate, nuanced way. It’s headquartered in Oakes, where Brandi Malarkey recently caught up with muralist LesleyAnne Buegel. ~~~ What books best represent North Dakota? Prairie Public intern Nick Rommel spoke with bookstore representatives from around the state to get their thoughts. ~~~ Katie Hoerth is a poet, and she recently won an award from NDSU, their annual "Poetry of the Plains and Prairies" award. She talks with Bill Thomas about plains and prairies, metaphors, and poetically likening herself to a spent farm field.

Thursday, June 23, 2022 - Special contributor Brandi Malarkey continues her series on American Rescue Plan Grant recipients with a tour of the Nome Schoolhouse. ~~~ Sue Balcom’s topic this week on Main Street Eats is “Dairy Month.”

Monday, June 20 - Folks in the small town of Buxton are working to restore some of the town's beloved buildings. The effort is called Buxton in Bloom. Bobbi Hepper Olson visits with special contributor Brandi Malarkey. ~~~ A new book just released explores the jazz scene in Fargo. It’s called Fargo Jazz. Ashley Thornberg visits with musician Russ Peterson and photographer/writer W. Scott Olsen.

Tuesday, June 14, 2022 - Juneteenth is coming up on Sunday. This federal holiday commemorates the emancipation of enslaved black Americans. Coinciding with the holiday is an exhibit at the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County titled “Stories of Local Black History.” Special contributor Brandi Malarkey stopped by and toured the exhibit with communications manager Gabby Clavo. ~~~ We continue with more history as historian Tom Isern shares a Plains Folk essay, “The Idea of North Dakota.” ~~~ When people think of jobs in agriculture, they might think of traditional jobs on a farm. But over the past few decades, the industry has changed. Now there’s a real need for people who are interested in science. St. Louis Public Radio’s Kate Grumke reports. ~~~ Speaking of jobs, we share a conversation with Carey Fry, of Job Service North Dakota as she visits with John Harris in an excerpt of this week’s Prairie Pulse television show.

North Dakota artist and TikTok sensation Hannah Stelter is known for her cheerful images, entertaining puns, and embracing imperfection. She visits with Brandi Malarkey.

Brandi Malarkey visits with Ellen Knudsen Duffey, who’s embarking on an ambitious plan to create a stained-glass greenhouse.

Wednesday, April 27, 2022 - Linda Christman is the outgoing executive director of the Bismarck Arts and Galleries Association. She visits with Brandi Malarkey about 22 years at BAGA as she heads into retirement. ~~~ Tom Isern shares a Plains Folk essay, Lord Byron Number Two. ~~~ A highly pathogenic bird flu virus is taking its toll on U.S. farms and poultry yards, spreading to at least 29 states. More than 167,000 birds in North Dakota have died. Alicia Hegland-Thorpe visits with NDSU Extension agent Tyler Kralicek. To learn more about the Avian Flu, or to report sick or deceased birds in your area, contact North Dakota Game and Fish at 701-328-2655, or contact your local county extension agent.