Home » News »

$110,197 RAISED FOR TEAM MINOT AT PRAIRIE WARRIOR AUCTION

Posted: Apr 29 2025

Minot Area Chamber EDC (MACEDC) is thrilled to announce that a total of $110,197 was raised to support the personnel of Team Minot at the 2025 Prairie Warrior Auction on April 24. The funds were generated from a combination community and Minot AFB donated live and silent auction items, table sales, event games, and cash donations. The event was open to the public and cost $25 per person, while active-duty military and spouses could attend at no cost.

“The Minot Area is incredibly proud of our friends at Minot Air Force Base, and the support shown by the community at the Prairie Warrior Auction is simply proof of how important to us the personnel are who live and work on base,” said Ryan Ackerman, 2025 MACEDC Board Chair. “We’re excited that so many individuals and companies are finding such creative ways to give back and are feeling optimistic that we’ll be able to beat last year’s record of sending people home to visit their families over the holidays. Thank you to everyone who made this year such a roaring success.”

Proceeds from the auction will be used to help squadrons at Minot Air Force Base fund events, meals, and other morale-boosting activities aimed at improving day-to-day life for Team Minot through The Prairie Warrior Association. A portion of the proceeds goes directly to the Home for the Holidays program facilitated by MACEDC that purchases airline tickets for first-term airmen to go home and visit their friends and family members throughout the November and December holiday season. Over $52,000 was raised through table sales and donations from Hess Corporation, Verendrye Electric Cooperative, and Basin Electric Power Cooperative for Home for the Holidays.

Verendrye Electric Cooperative was the event’s presenting sponsor for the third year in a row.

“Verendrye is honored to be the presenting sponsor as a way to recognize the sacrifices and hard work of our local military personnel and everyone on the Minot Air Force Base,” remarked Tom Rafferty, Chair of the MACEDC Military Affairs Committee and Verendrye Electric Member Services Manager. "We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who supported through item and monetary donations, took the time to attend, and especially for the service members that serve our country and supported the event by crafting donations and volunteering their time. It’s because of you that we have such a great community and can continue to bring people together.”

“We’re consistently finding ways that we can help our military friends and neighbors feel at home and included the community,” commented Brekka Kramer, MACEDC President | CEO. “Minot isn’t Minot without Minot Air Force Base, which is evident from the $651 million economic impact of 2024, but it’s so much more than just the economic impact that makes Minot Air Force Base so special to the community. It’s about those who serve so putting on this annual event is just one way the community can give back and help.”

Military Support is one of the key pillars of the Minot Area Chamber EDC and is spearheaded by Keli Rosselli-Sullivan. Throughout the year there are many opportunities to get involved and support local military personnel through donations, volunteer opportunities, and more. To learn more, please reach out to Keli at keli@minotchamberedc.com or by phone at 701.852.6000.

MACEDC Chair Ryan Ackerman Providing the Welcome

Brad Doll, Verendrye Electric Cooperative General Manager and Tom Rafferty, MACEDC Military Affairs Committee Chair and Verendrye Electric Cooperative Member Services Manage, presenting the Home for the Holidays check.

Brekka Kramer, MACEDC President | CEO, Col. Jesse Lamarand, Commander 5BW MAFB, Col. Jimmy Schlabach, Commander 91 MW MAFB, and Ryan Ackerman, MACEDC Board Chair.

The auction contained a variety of unique items for bid.

Keli Rosselli-Sullivan, MACEDC military liaison, showcasing a live auction item.

Tom Rafferty, Verendrye Electric Cooperative; Brad Doll, Verendrye Electric Cooperative; Col. Jimmy Schlabach, Commander 91MW; Col. Jesse Lamarand, Commander 5BW; Brekka Kramer, MACEDC; and Ryan Ackerman, MACEDC Board.

MACEDC Team