Prairie Village & Museum

10/11/2026

🧨 DID YOU KNOW? A farmer near Dunseith tried solving a gardening problem with dynamite!

In 1922, a farmer decided to destroy eight barberry bushes after learning they helped spread wheat rust—a threat to his crops. His solution? Blow them up!

Unfortunately, the explosion scattered pieces of the roots across several acres. An agricultural college student later found nearly 100 young barberry plants sprouting instead. 🌱

Talk about a plan that backfired!

There’s always another surprising story to uncover here at Prairie Village Museum.

Source: Prairie Public’s Dakota Datebook

10/09/2026

HEY, PRAIRIE VILLAGE MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS! ❤️

Whether you spent two hours gardening, helped clean up after torrential rains, or volunteered all season long, we appreciate YOU!

Join us for our Volunteer Appreciation Social on Tuesday, October 13, from 5–7 PM at Prairie Village Museum.

Stop in anytime, enjoy some snacks, sweets, and refreshments, and let us thank you for all you do!

Please RSVP:
📧 [email protected]
📱 Call or text Jeff at 701-240-7560

Prairie Village Museum

10/08/2026

The corn is getting low...Friday, October 9th will probably be the last day if sales continue like they have been.

Make sure you get out to the museum early to get some. We start selling at 9:00 and will stop at 2:00. $1.00 per 5-gallon pail. You scoop it!

We also have pumpkins available - you can pick your own pumpkin, and if you would kindly leave us a donation in the donation box by the front door of the office to the museum, that would be greatly appreciated. The pumpkin patch operation is not a cheap event to put on, and we are a nonprofit!

10/08/2026

🦌 🏹 HUNTERS!!!

We still have a lot of corn...$1.00 per 5-gallon bucket...bring a 55-gallon drum or 2 and load up!

Stop in at the museum office to pay from 9:00 to 2:00 today and tomorrow (October 8th and 9th).

Gates will be locked outside those hours and this weekend - make sure to come in today or tomorrow!

10/07/2026

🎃 A BIG THANK-YOU to the people and businesses who helped bring the Prairie Pumpkin Patch to life!

Behind every wagon ride, corn pit adventure, and family photo is a community willing to lend equipment, share supplies, and put in the work. We’re grateful to:

🌽 Fritel Ag Sales — for the grain bin structure for our corn pit.
📸 Robert Brossart and Jenna Garhoffer — for the hay bale/wagon photo opportunity.
🚜 Gary Letvin — for the use of his tractor.
💪 Kenny Gefroh — for the use of his skid steer.
🚜 Don Jelsing and the Fair Board — for helping us with the telehandler.
🛺 Paula Jelsing — for the use of her golf cart.
🌾 Danny B. Brossart — for the small square bales.
🌽 Rugby Elevator — for the corn in our corn pit.
🌾 Tim Ostrem — for taking care of the corn maze.
🚜 Dave Bednardz — for the use of his Gator and keeping the John Deere 520 running.
🚜 Dave Anderson — for moving the large bales with his tractor.
🦟 City of Rugby — for fogging the museum grounds.

Your generosity helps our nonprofit museum create something special for families while raising funds to support its work. These contributions make a real difference!

Please join us in thanking this wonderful group. We appreciate you! 🧡

10/07/2026

10/07/2026

🎃 PRAIRIE PUMPKIN PATCH — BEHIND THE SCENES 🎃

What visitors see are the pumpkins, attractions, food, music, and families having fun.

What they don’t always see are the many, many hours that go into setting it all up — and taking it all back down when the season is over!

Today, this crew put in a full day of work tearing down the Prairie Pumpkin Patch and getting the museum grounds back in order.

📸 Left to right: Jim Hoffert, Gary Letvin, Steve Dockter, David Sjol, and Jay Burkhartsmeier

Not pictured: Renae Dockter and Veronica Beaver

The dedication this group has to the Prairie Pumpkin Patch and Prairie Village Museum is a big part of what makes this event possible year after year.

There’s a lot of work that happens when nobody is watching, and these folks are always willing to roll up their sleeves and get it done.

If you see them around town, please let them know their hard work is noticed and appreciated! ❤️

From all of us at Prairie Village Museum — THANK YOU! 🎃

10/06/2026

HUNTERS - Prairie Village Museum in Rugby has a whole lot of kernels of corn we need to get rid of, and we will sell them to you for $1.00 per 5-gallon bucket - bring your own bucket(s) or barrel(s) - do your own scooping.

Come to the museum office between the hours of 9:00 and 2:00, Monday - Thursday. Don't wait; we won't hold it very long!!!

10/04/2026

🚨🐘 LAST-MINUTE EXCITING NEWS!!! 🐘🚨

Due to a last-minute change in our food vendor lineup, The Little Blue Elephant Thai Food will be BACK at Prairie Village Museum TOMORROW for the FINAL DAY of the Prairie Pumpkin Patch! 🎃🎉

If you’ve been craving their amazing Thai food — or haven’t had a chance to try it yet — this is your chance!

And what a way to wrap up the 2026 Prairie Pumpkin Patch!

🎶 Great live music from 49th Parallel
🍜 Awesome food vendors — including The Little Blue Elephant!
🎃 Plenty of pumpkins still available
🛝 Giant Slide
🦘 Our ALL-NEW Jump Pad
🎯 Slingshot Gallery
🛞 Hamster Roll
⚡ Zip Line
🚂 Barrel Train & more!

We’ve had an incredible Pumpkin Patch season, and TOMORROW IS YOUR LAST CHANCE to come out and enjoy it!

Bring the kids. Bring your appetite. Bring your friends and family. And help us send the 2026 Prairie Pumpkin Patch out with a bang! 🎃❤️

📍 Prairie Village Museum – Rugby, ND
🗓️ Sunday, October 4
⏰ 12:00–6:00 PM

ONE. LAST. DAY.
Let’s make it a GREAT one! 🎃🎶🐘

Please SHARE and help us spread the word about the last-minute return of The Little Blue Elephant!

10/04/2026

Catch us tomorrow (October 4th) at the prairie pumpkin patch in Rugby! Showtimes are 12pm, 2pm and 4pm. Today was our first day and it was awesome!! Can’t wait to see more familiar faces tomorrow. Tabby Joy will be joining us for the day, so get ready for those three part harmonies!