WATFORD CITY, N.D. — I’m not sure if I’ve seen a July like this in western North Dakota. It feels like we’re living in an entirely different climate, waking up every morning to new puddles on the gravel road and a bit of a mist in the air.

Most days in July have been greeted with or ended with a thunderstorm or shower; it simply won’t stop raining. And this is just fine news for us. The stock dams are full, the alfalfa is lush, and the grass is as green as can be. It makes timing getting the hay crops off the fields a little tricky, but I think any rancher up here will take the rain with the inconvenience.

The consistent threat of a storm has also made our North Dakota outdoor engagements a bit harrowing, although we persist because we only get approximately four full seconds of outdoor

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