North Dakota Stockmen's Association
10/22/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/22/2026 15:30
North Dakota Stockmen’s Association becomes legacy partner in Stockmen’s Square project
Posted 10/22/2026
For immediate release:
Oct. 22, 2026
For more information, contact:
Tim Erbele, North Dakota Stockmen's Association president: (701) 269-3045 • [email protected]
Randy Schmitt, North Dakota Stockmen's Foundation president: (701) 537-3440 • [email protected]
Jason Leiseth, North Dakota Stockmen's Foundation past president: (701) 770-1129 • [email protected]
Julie Schaff Ellingson, North Dakota Stockmen's Association executive vice president: (701) 223-2522 • [email protected]
Elizabeth Hasenwinkel, North Dakota Stockmen's Association communications director: (701) 833-1162 • [email protected]
North Dakota Stockmen's Association becomes legacy partner in Stockmen's Square project
Partnership honors association's roots in Watford City,
looks ahead to 2029 centennial
The North Dakota Stockmen's Association (NDSA) will have a lasting presence in Watford City, N.D.'s downtown redevelopment through the Stockmen's Square, a planned gathering space celebrating the organization's history and North Dakota's strong ranching heritage. The project is being led by the City of Watford City, with support from the McKenzie County Commission.
The City recently announced the NDSA as the legacy naming rights partner for Area 2-B of its Downtown Redevelopment Project. The designation carries special significance for the association, which was founded in Watford City June 6, 1929, on the same block where the Stockmen's Square will be developed. It was there where its founding members christened the organization and created a reward fund that still stands today for information leading to the arrest and conviction of cattle rustlers.
As the NDSA approaches its 100th anniversary in 2029, the partnership connects the association's nearly century of service to North Dakota's cattle producers with a project designed to preserve the stories, traditions and values that continue to shape the state's ranching communities.
"This is a meaningful way to connect our association's history with the future of a community that played an important role in our beginnings and beyond," said Tim Erbele, NDSA president, a Streeter, N.D., cow-calf producer and feeder. "The cattle industry has always been about more than raising livestock. It's about families, communities, hard work and a commitment to the next generation. The Stockmen's Square will help tell that story to residents and visitors alike."
The naming agreement represents a collaboration between the NDSA and the North Dakota Stockmen's Foundation (NDSF), a charitable foundation dedicated to providing hope and opportunity for North Dakota's beef cattle industry, now and in the future. Together, the organizations aim to strengthen rural communities and ensure the contributions of North Dakota's ranching families remain part of the state's story.
Jason Leiseth, an Arnegard, N.D., rancher and past president of both organizations, said the Stockmen's Square will recognize the enduring influence of ranching in the region.
"North Dakota's ranching heritage is woven into the fabric of our state, and Watford City is an important part of that heritage," Leiseth said. "Our industry has weathered droughts, economic uncertainty and countless changes over the decades, but the values that define us - stewardship, perseverance and independence - remain strong. The Stockmen's Square will help keep those values and the people behind them at the center of the conversation."
Planned features include a covered stage, concessions, vendor utilities and infrastructure to accommodate community events throughout the year. Interactive storytelling elements, as well as a brand wall display, are also planned to highlight the people, places and traditions that have shaped the region.
For the NDSA, the project reflects its longstanding mission to unite, protect, promote, educate and serve North Dakota's cattle producers. Since its founding, the association has advocated for producers and educated the public about agriculture's importance to North Dakota's economy and way of life.
"The upcoming centennial gives us an opportunity to reflect on where we started, recognize the generations who built this association and consider what we want to leave for those who follow," said Randy Schmitt, the NDSF president and a cow-calf producer from Rugby, N.D. "This collaboration brings those ideas together in a very tangible way."
Among its efforts, the NDSF supports the cattle industry through educational opportunities, leadership development and initiatives that help prepare the next generation of agricultural leaders. Its partnership with the NDSA on the Stockmen's Square extends that commitment by helping connect the industry's history with its future.
The Stockmen's Square is part of Watford City's broader Area 2 Downtown Redevelopment Project. Construction of the Square will begin in Spring 2028, with completion expected in 2029.
"Tradition matters because it reminds us who we are and what brought us here," Erbele said. "But our responsibility is also to make sure the next generation has the opportunity to build on that foundation. We're proud to be part of a project that will preserve our story while creating a gathering place for the community and future generations."
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North Dakota Stockmen's Association published this content on October 22, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 22, 2026 at 21:31 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]