State of North Dakota

Submit your handmade ornaments for the North Dakota State Christmas Tree! First Lady Kjersti Armstrong has selected “Peace” as the theme of this year’s State Christmas Tree, which will be displayed in Memorial Hall at the Capitol starting with a tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 2. The public is invited to create ornaments in any shape or medium of their choosing (excluding commercially made items or items from kits). Ornaments must be received in the Office of Management and Budget office no later than Dec. 1. The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. on Dec. 2 in Memorial Hall at the Capitol. The public is invited to join Gov. Kelly Armstrong and First Lady Kjersti Armstrong for an evening of music, readings and remarks. Read the full ornament submission guidelines: https://lnkd.in/gx8eex_G

Happy Birthday, North Dakota! From wide open prairies that stretch farther than the eye can see, to the rugged beauty of the Badlands, our state is filled with landscapes that take your breath away and experiences you won’t find anywhere else. But what truly sets North Dakota apart is the people who are welcoming, hardworking and always ready with a friendly hello. Here’s to our home, and all the adventure, beauty and community it holds.  📷: Laura Gardner captured the sun set over the frozen waters of Government Bay, Lake Sakakawea.

Celebrate North Dakota’s Statehood Day and launch North Dakota’s official commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary! This is a free event open to the public. When: Sunday, Nov. 2 from 1 - 4 p.m. Where: ND Heritage Center & State Museum, Bismarck Entertainment includes St. Mary’s Central High School Wind Orchestra of Bismarck; the ND National Guard Band; Jack Dalrymple, former governor and author of “Oliver Dalrymple and His Bonanza Farm;” John Dobmeier, Theodore Roosevelt re-enactor; and Chuck Suchy, state troubadour. Booths will be set up for military organizations, North Dakota organizations, face painting and children’s activities, and refreshments will be served. Learn more about this weekend's event at https://lnkd.in/gSpfyNdq Learn more about ND250, North Dakota's official commemoration of America's 250th anniversary, at www.ND250.com.

Submit a design for North Dakota's next "I Voted" sticker! The North Dakota Secretary of State's "I Voted - More Than Just a Sticker" contest is open to all North Dakotans of any age. Submissions will be accepted online or by mail through Nov. 15. A panel will select the top designs, and the public will vote to decide the winner, which will be announced in March 2026. The winning sticker will debut at polling locations during the Primary Election on June 9, 2026. The winner will also receive a professionally framed copy of their design and recognition from Secretary of State Michael Howe during an official ceremony. Visit https://lnkd.in/gstUDdni for complete contest rules, submission guidelines and the official entry form.

Vote for North Dakota in America's Transportation Awards! The North Dakota Department of Transportation 's Wrong Way Detection project has been named a top 12 finalist in AASHTO’s America’s Transportation Awards! NDDOT's project won WASHTO’s regional contest, and now the finalists are competing for the grand prize and the People’s Choice Award. The project involved onramps in Fargo, Bismarck and Jamestown with challenging roadway geometries and histories of drunk or distracted drivers going the wrong way. Cameras detect wrong way drivers and use software to notify law enforcement and traffic management centers. Red lights flash at the driver on the exit ramp, while dynamic message signs warn oncoming interstate drivers that a wrong way vehicle is approaching. The public can vote for their favorite projects once per day through Monday, Nov. 17 at https://lnkd.in/gisEq2v

Ready to fall into your next career opportunity? Join Team ND! From internships to full-time positions, the state of North Dakota has a wide variety of jobs available - each offering great benefits and the chance to make a difference. Find your next career move today: www.nd.gov/careers #TeamND

Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Governor's Awards for Excellence in Public Service! During a ceremony in the North Dakota State Capitol's Memorial Hall, Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden recognized teams across state government for their exceptional efforts to serve citizens and meet a variety of challenges. Read more about the awards: https://lnkd.in/d6Yr-xf4 Triple-Play Award: NDPERS Retirement Plan Transition Team Prairie Pheasant Flush Award: Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and Center for Distance Education (CDE) for Choice-Ready Framework for Military Readiness Backbone Collaboration Award: North Dakota Parks and Recreation’s Little Missouri State Park Trail Restoration Team Strength from the Soil Award: North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s State Wildlife Management Area (WMA) District Managers Roaming Bison Award: October Wildfire Unified Command

The Dakotas lead the nation in affordable bachelor's degrees! According to an eLearning Industry calculation that compared programs that cost under $50 thousand to the population of 15-19-year-olds in each state, South Dakota and North Dakota are the most and second-most affordable states for earning a bachelor's degree, respectively. South Dakota leads the country with 179 bachelor's degree programs and 118 affordable (under $50 thousand) programs. North Dakota isn't far behind, with 149 bachelor's degree programs and 81 affordable programs. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g4nGfXtM

Join #TeamND in a vital leadership position as the Executive Director of the newly created North Dakota Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship (OGC), a state agency dedicated to strengthening protections for some of North Dakota's most vulnerable citizens. The Executive Director position will serve as the founding leader of the OGC, leading and managing agency operations, building and developing the organization, overseeing services, ensuring accountability and transparency, and representing the agency externally. This position is located in Bismarck, and it closes on September 22, 2025. Read more and apply today: https://lnkd.in/g335dF_F

NORTH DAKOTA COUNCIL ON THE ARTS is exhibiting Dakota Territory, a collection of mixed media on canvas by Harvey artist Chris Wakefield, on the 18th floor of the Capitol through December 2025. The exhibition features 30 artworks that reflect Wakefield’s personal observations and experiences in both North and South Dakota. “This show represents just a small cross section of my observations during my time here in the Dakota Territory,” Wakefield notes. “It’s a portrayal of the beauty, wonder, romanticism, risk, danger, mystery, hope and heartache all woven into the tapestry of this once very wild place.” In addition, a selection of nature photography by Bismarck-based artist Jill Edinger is also on display in the Governor’s staff offices on the ground floor of the Capitol. Edinger’s work highlights the subtle beauty of North Dakota’s natural environment. “Photography is about slowing down and really seeing what’s around us,” she explains. “I’m drawn to those small, often overlooked moments in nature - a bird taking flight, the light hitting a field just right, a deer pausing to listen.” Please stop into the Governor's office on the first floor to request a viewing. Read more about the featured artists: https://lnkd.in/eD7KXiBi