Submitted Photo More than $50,000 was raised at the Prairie Warrior Auction to be used for the airmen’s Home for the Holidays program at Minot Air Force Base. From the left are Brekka Kramer, Minot Area Chamber EDC president/CEO; Tom Rafferty, Verendrye Electric Member Services and Communications manager/Military Affairs Committee chair; Brad Doll, Verendrye Electric manager; Daniel Hoadley, commander of the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB; Kenneth McGhee, commander of the 91st Missile Wing at Minot AFB; Brent Lohnes, Hess general manager; and Cassidy Hjelmstad, MACEDC Board chair/SRT Communications general manager/CEO.

A record-breaking $111,855.21 was raised to support Minot Air Force Base at this year’s Prairie Warrior Auction held on March 21 in Minot.

Proceeds from the auction will be used to help squadrons at the base fund events, meals and other morale-boosting activities aimed at improving day-to-day life. In addition, a significant amount of the funds raised will be used for the airmen’s Home for the Holidays program.

“The 37th Annual Prairie Warrior Auction was a huge success this year, setting records in both attendance and dollars raised for Team Minot,” Cassidy Hjelmstad, Minot Area Chamber EDC 2024 Board chair, said. “It is amazing what can be accomplished when we come together.”

“Minot Area Chamber EDC is proud to administer a program in partnership with Minot Air Force Base to purchase airline tickets to send first-term airmen home for the holidays,” Brekka Kramer, president/CEO of the Minot Area Chamber EDC, said. “With the table sponsors and generous donations from Hess Corporation and Verendrye Electric Cooperative, we were able to raise over $50,000 at this year’s event to send airmen home.”

Verendrye Electric Cooperative was the presenting sponsor of the auction for the second year in a row.

“Verendrye is extremely proud of the service the airmen at Minot Air Force Base provide in protecting the nation and we want to do everything we can to support our friends and neighbors,” said Tom Rafferty, chair of the Minot Area Chamber EDC Military Affairs Committee.