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Patriot Acres, Emerado, ND (2026)

09/16/2026

Pumpkins are ready for fall and this is only the first half.

09/15/2026

Great day with Boo and the tournament winner Johnson!

08/25/2026

First cantaloupe and watermelon from the garden this year.

07/04/2026

The United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026 offers a moment to look back at how a bold experiment in self-government has evolved over two and a half centuries.
In 1776, representatives from 13 British colonies declared independence, inspired by ideas of liberty, natural rights, and government by consent. The Revolutionary War tested whether those ideals could survive against one of the world’s great powers. Victory led to the Constitution of 1787, which created a new framework of checks and balances, federalism, and the rule of law—while still leaving many people, including enslaved Africans, Native Americans, and women, outside full participation.
The 19th century saw rapid expansion across the continent, industrial growth, and profound conflict. The Civil War (1861–1865) was a defining crisis, fought over the future of the Union and the fate of slavery. Its outcome preserved the United States as a single nation and led to constitutional amendments ending slavery and promising equal protection under the law—commitments that would take generations to more fully pursue.
In the 20th century, the United States became an industrial and technological leader, helped win two world wars, and confronted the long struggle of the Cold War. At home, movements for civil rights, women’s rights, and expanded democratic participation pushed the country closer to its founding promises. Advances in science, engineering, and industry reshaped daily life and connected the United States more deeply to the wider world.
As we approach 250 years, the nation is both older and still unfinished. New technologies, global challenges, and changing demographics continue to test our institutions and values. Yet the core ideas first articulated in 1776—liberty, representation, and the belief that people can govern themselves—remain central to the American story.
The semiquincentennial is not only a celebration of endurance, but an invitation: to reflect honestly on our history, to recognize the contributions and sacrifices of many different communities, and to carry forward the ongoing work of building a more just, secure, and prosperous nation for the next 250 years.
God bless America.