FREE ! TAKE ONE HOME! A Publication of
Vol. 37 | No. 18 January 16, 2025 1411 West Dakota Parkway Suite 2a | Williston, North Dakota 701-572-4851 | info@vocella.com
Servin' up savings since 1988
Brew Your Business Celebrates First Anniversary with Yellowstone River Beef
Youth Ice Fishing Derby Presented by Williams County Parks Returns for 5th Year
BARBARA PETERSON City of Williston | Economic Development
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rew Your Business Williston marked its first anniversary on Jan. 8, with a celebration at Williston State College. Attendees enjoyed complimentary coffee, cupcakes, networking bingo and a behindthe-scenes look at the meat processing industry. Founded in late 2023 by volunteers from Williston Economic Development, Tri-County Regional Development Council, the Williston Area Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Development Center and the North Dakota Women's Business Center, BYB held its inaugural meeting in January 2024. The anniversary event showcased Calli Thorne and Luke Taylor, co-owners of Yellowstone River Beef, along with co-owner CJ Thorne, who was also present to answer questions. Anna Nelson, the executive director of Williston Economic Development, led the discussion. The Thorne and Taylor families purchased YRB in fall 2024, and when they sought financing, they found support through the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives’ Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program. This program, which offers low-interest loans funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, is designed to enhance the quality of life in rural areas. “The (original) business looked a lot different from what we do now. When we took over, there was a building, employees, and a little bit of business,” said Taylor. “For financing, we worked with
WILLIAMS COUNTY
LUKE TAYLOR, CALLI THORNE, CJ THORNE, COOWNERS OF YELLOWSTONE RIVER BEEF | SUBMITTED PHOTO Keith Olson (Small Business Development Center regional director) on the business plan and discovered the MILP program. We were the first-ever business to borrow money from them. It made a lot of sense for us.” Calli Thorne emphasized the significance of the program. “It was pretty unique that MILP lined up for us, offering a lower interest loan. That made a big difference for us,” she said. Yellowstone River Beef provides USDA-certified beef sourced from North Dakota and Montana, with much of the meat coming from the Thorne family’s Triangle M Ranch and Feedlot in Watford City. YRB operates a retail section, open Monday through Friday, where customers can purchase anything from a single ribeye steak to a 40-foot
container of custom-cut beef. Looking to the future, YRB plans to expand its offerings to include jerky, sausage, snack sticks and more. The company has already purchased a stateof-the-art smoker and is currently searching for the right employee to manage that part of their operation. BYB meets monthly and is open to anyone interested in supporting local entrepreneurs and small businesses. The meetings provide a space for entrepreneurs, business owners, lenders and resource providers to network, learn and grow. High school and college students are also encouraged to attend. The next BYB meeting will be held on Feb. 12 at 9 a.m. at the Teton Lounge at Williston State College. All are welcome to attend.
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illiams County Parks, in collaboration with the United Sportsmen of Williston and the Blacktail Dam Association, is gearing up for the fifth Annual Youth Ice Fishing Derby to be held Saturday, Feb. 22 at Blacktail Dam. The County Parks Department is particularly excited to host youth ages 15 and under, but all are welcome to join in on the family-friendly festivities. Although participants are encouraged to bring their own fishing pole and tackle, bait will be provided at this free event. Eventgoers can stop by the fire hall for a giveaway registration bag, and a complimentary lunch will be available, thanks to the generosity of Grondahl Recreation and O.K. Distributing Company. Event Details: Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025 Time: 10 am – 4 pm Central
Location: Blacktail Dam: 6983 141st Ave NW, Williston, ND Rules: Open to youth ages 15 and under; all youth must be accompanied by an adult Fish houses, tents/clams, and sonar are allowed A fishing license is required for all participants aged 16 and older Any non-resident under age 16 may take and possess a limit of fish without a non-resident fishing license if accompanied by an individual possessing a valid fishing license. Residents under age 16 may take and possess a limit of fish without a fishing license Please refer to North Dakota Game and Fish website for further details on fishing licensing requirement and to purchase a license online: https:// gf.nd.gov/fishing/licensing. For more information on the event, visit 2025 Youth Ice Fishing Derby at williamsnd.com.