McKenzie County Commission grants $500k to Cowboy Hall of Fame
M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer
In a bold move that highlights the deep connection between McKenzie County and the state’s agricultural heritage, the McKenzie County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve a $500,000 budget contribution to the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame. The decision came during their meeting on August 5, following a presentation from Hall of Fame representatives detailing a $12.5 million expansion project.
The request was presented by Rick Thompson, the Hall of Fame’s executive director, and Gene Veeder, a member of its board of directors. Veeder, a McKenzie County resident, made a passionate case for the funding, emphasizing the Hall’s role in preserving the region’s history. “A vast majority of the history that in the ranching and rodeo community comes out of McKenzie County,” Veeder stated, highlighting that over 100 Hall of Fame inductees have ties to McKenzie, Dunn, or Billings counties.
Thompson explained that the expansion, which will add over 10,000 square feet to the Medora-based facility, is necessary to keep up with technology, provide more space for exhibits and storage, and create a modern “learning and event center.” The new center will be able to seat 350 people and feature a state-of-the-art kitchen, addressing a key need for larger event spaces in the area.
However, the discussion was not without debate. The commissioners brought up the potential for controversy surrounding the allocation of such a substantial amount of county funds to a project located outside of McKenzie County. “I’m hoping that McKenzie County will help participate financially in it…It’s not necessarily about where it is, it’s more about what we’re gonna do with it,” Veeder countered, arguing that the Hall of Fame serves as a crucial platform to tell the story of North Dakota’s ranching community to a national audience.
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