Archives: Episodes

This Friday edition of Bonnie and Friends, recorded on October 10, 2025, covers the excitement of a new convenience store opening, a political fallout from a prominent local activist's legal trouble, and a check on the beautiful, extended fall weather.

Local News & Political Fallout

• Quick Trip Phasing Out the Penny: Quick Trip will be the first major convenience store chain in the U.S. to phase out the penny, rounding cash purchases to the nearest five cents. The first local Quick Trip store is opening this morning in Moorhead. Fargo locations will be called Quick Stars.
• Activist Faith Dixon to Plead Guilty to Theft: Local activist Faith Dixon plans to plead guilty to theft charges for allegedly misusing grant money intended for a children's scholarship fund and funneling thousands of dollars to relatives. She is scheduled to stand trial next month.
• Controversial Book Stays on Moorhead Shelves: The book "Not My Idea, a book about whiteness" is back in circulation at Moorhead Public Schools after no formal request for reconsideration was submitted. Superintendent Dr. Brandon Lunick had previously expressed that the district needed to better vet books.
• Federal Aid for ND Employees: The State Industrial Commission approved a short-term, low-interest loan program (2% interest) for furloughed federal workers and military members stationed in North Dakota, covering up to three months of base net pay.
• Turning Point USA Event Security: Authorities, including the FBI and Homeland Security, are implementing heightened security for tonight's Turning Point USA event in Grand Forks, headlined by Glenn Beck. Over 2,000 people are expected to attend.

This episode of "The Hockey Guys" features the hosts and guests breaking down the latest action and major issues in college and junior hockey, including a major upset and the ongoing impact of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) money on player commitment.

Key Moments

• UND Upsets St. Thomas: The University of North Dakota (UND) secured a 6-2 victory over the St. Thomas Tommies. Despite the final score, the Tommies gave UND some trouble in the first period. The hosts credit UND's veteran players (second and third-year athletes) for stepping up, highlighting the "time to develop" needed for first-year players.
• NCHC Scoreboard Surprises: Early in the season, the NCHC has shown unexpected results:

  • Minnesota tied Boston College 2-2.
  • Alaska beat Quinnipiac, a result that caught the hosts' eye.
  • Arizona State beat Notre Dame.
  • Miami beat RPI 5-3, and Army beat Northeastern 2-1.

• Coaching Challenges with NIL Money: Former junior hockey General Manager Bliss Littler discusses the difficulty college coaches now face in navigating the NIL landscape. He mentions that high-end draft picks who receive large signing bonuses are technically not being paid by the NHL team during the college season, which can create mental and financial challenges for coaches trying to maintain team harmony.
• Mental Toll of One-and-Done Players: Littler refers to a clip about a Penn State player who announced he would be a "one-year college player" before jumping to the NHL, creating a challenge for coaches:

  • The Transfer Mindset: He notes the challenge is that players view college as a "stepping stone" and may only take the minimum college credits required.
  • Mental Load: Coaches must navigate which players are genuinely committed versus those who are "one-and-done."

• New NCHC Rule Change: Director of Officiating Mike Schmidt explains a new rule change focusing on tightening up the face-off standard to prevent centers from turning their foot or twisting their body to gain an advantage. The new rule requires a distinct pause after the stick is down, with the attacking center having to put their stick down last.

Land headlines may say “wild,” but the on-the-ground story is sharper: focused buyers, resilient prices on the right tracts, and real opportunity in mixed-use and grassland parcels. We unpack the three pillars driving value—farm profitability, interest rates, and safety nets—then dig into why “land is local” still explains so much of what clears at auction. Attendance may be thinner than last year, yet prime quarters near existing operations continue to command strength, especially where soils, access, and water line up.

We also trace the season’s format shift. Lakota’s live room popped, Devils Lake went heavy online, and harvest convenience kept producers bidding from the cab. You’ll hear when we choose live high-bidder’s choice versus timed online, how buyer profiles influence results, and why clear parceling, fencing status, water sources, and drone footage help sellers earn trust and bidders move fast. On the ground, grassland remains a bright spot as livestock values hold firm across western North Dakota and eastern Montana—where contiguous pasture, reliable water, strong fences, and maintained roads are the real currency.

Then we map the fall slate: Jamestown’s multi-parcel cropland, Emmons County’s contiguous grass, western ND pheasant-country tracts, and a standout 1,763-acre Cass County offering stretching Castleton to Wheatland. High PI soils and development shadow along Highways 10 and 18 create long-hold optionality, while additional parcels sit near the ethanol plant and along the interstate for future flexibility. Add a 2,500-acre Slope–Bowman package with river-bottom trees on Little Beaver Creek, and recreational and grazing value intersect in rare ways.

Looking to engage, learn, or bid? Join our Midwest Farm Land Seminar on October 14 at 5:30 PM in Bismarck, browse aerials and soils at Pifers.com, and subscribe for weekly updates. If this deep dive helps you plan your next move, share it with a neighbor and leave a review—what opportunity are you scouting next?

Follow at www.americalandauctioneer.com and on Instagram & Facebook

Contact the team at Pifer's

The Jay Thomas Show from Friday October 10th, 2025.  Guests include your emails and phone calls.

In this week’s Rocky’s Downtown Hour, host Rocky Schneider dives into the big questions shaping Fargo’s future — from where to build the city’s next convention center to how local philanthropy and nonprofits are transforming lives.

Rocky starts with a breakdown of Fargo’s nine convention center proposals and why the downtown option could be the city’s biggest win yet for economic growth and community vibrancy. Then, he’s joined by Eric Wilkie of the FM Area Foundation to talk about how local generosity powers everything from affordable housing to public art and the annual Caring Catalog initiative.

Later, Rocky sits down with Taylor Severson of United Way and Chandler Esslinger of the FM Coalition to End Homelessness to explore how their “United to End Homelessness” effort is creating real solutions — from preventing housing crises to helping the most vulnerable find permanent stability.

It’s a deep, hopeful, and hometown-focused conversation about how cities grow stronger when communities care.

The Coffee Club from Friday October 10th, 2025.  Guests include Travis Ostrom and Tony Baker.

Tonight Big Game James McCarty and Jace Denman are joined by Kevin Marshall, Host of FCS Nation, for their weekly college football conversation. Plus, they preview what's to come on our family of stations the rest of the week.

This episode of Bonnie and Friends, recorded on Thursday, October 9, 2025, covers excitement over new local business, updates on the political and sports fronts, and a lively discussion on seasonal spending.

Local Excitement and Safety

• Quick Trip Mania: The first local Quick Trip (Quick Star on the Fargo side) store opened this morning in Moorhead, with a customer waiting in line hours early to be the first in. The hosts express excitement over the chain's food and convenience, which is well-known outside the region.
• Fire Safety Alert: Near critical fire weather conditions are forecasted for parts of northwestern and west-central Minnesota (including Clay, Norman, and Wilkin counties) due to dry conditions and south-southeast winds gusting up to 30 mph.
• Activist Pleads Guilty: Local Black Lives Matter activist Faith Dixon is set to plead guilty to theft charges for allegedly stealing grant money intended for children's scholarship funds and giving some to relatives.
• UND Turning Point Event: Heightened security is in place for tonight's Turning Point USA event at the University of North Dakota, headlined by Glenn Beck. The event was originally planned by the late Charlie Kirk, and over 2,000 people are expected to attend.
• New State Crypto: North Dakota is launching the Rough Rider Coin sometime next year, a stable coin backed by assets like the U.S. dollar and other commodities, intended to maintain a steady value unlike other cryptocurrencies.

The Jay Thomas Show from Thursday October 9th, 2025.  Guests include Chris Larson, Stacie Van Dyke and your calls and emails.

In this forward-looking conversation, host Ricot Aladin sits down with Minnesota State University Moorhead President Tim Downs to talk about growth, leadership, and the future of higher education.

President Downs shares how MSUM’s freshman enrollment jumped 31%, crediting teamwork, visibility, and a renewed sense of belonging on campus. He discusses purpose-driven leadership, emphasizing that education isn’t just about degrees—it’s about equipping students with critical thinking, resilience, and adaptability for a changing world.

Listeners hear about new initiatives like the Institute for Applied Artificial Intelligence, the new Honors College, and the Morehead Scholars program, which offers local high school students tuition-free opportunities to study close to home—strengthening the regional workforce.

Downs also reflects on balancing innovation and tradition, explaining that while technology like AI is transforming learning, the human element—authenticity, mentorship, and community—remains essential.

In closing, he and Aladin explore the power of mentorship, the importance of intentional growth, and how collaboration across education, business, and government can build thriving communities.