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The Good Life – July-August 2024

On the cover – Motorcycle enthusiast, Dave Currier goes on the ride of a lifetime! Also in this issue, Local hero and Fargo Assistant Chief of Police, Travis Stefonowicz. Dad Life – Keeping your kids active and healthy this summer. Stand-up comedian Marlin Wells, Camping, Martial Arts and more!

On the cover – Motorcycle enthusiast, Dave Currier goes on the ride of a lifetime! Also in this issue, Local hero and Fargo Assistant Chief of Police, Travis Stefonowicz. Dad Life – Keeping your kids active and healthy this summer. Stand-up comedian Marlin Wells, Camping, Martial Arts and more!

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DAD LIFE<br />

WRITTEN BY: PAUL HANKEL<br />

GETTING OUT THERE<br />

Keeping Your Kids Active and Healthy This Summer<br />

As the summer sun approaches<br />

and school days give way to lazy<br />

afternoons, many parents find<br />

themselves facing the age-old<br />

question: How do we keep our<br />

children active and engaged during<br />

the long days of summer break?<br />

With the temptations of screens,<br />

“lazy days,” and video games everpresent,<br />

it can be challenging to<br />

ensure that our kids are getting the<br />

exercise they need. Here is my list of<br />

suggestions for how to ensure your<br />

kids remain active this summer.<br />

Visit the Parks<br />

Encourage your children to embrace<br />

the great outdoors by planning fun<br />

activities such as hiking, biking,<br />

camping, or swimming at any of<br />

the many local and regional parks.<br />

Minnesota and North Dakota are<br />

home to a combined 78 state parks,<br />

2 | THE GOOD LIFE<br />

that feature any and all forms of<br />

summer recreation.<br />

Locally, Fargo is home to over 150<br />

parks and over 100 miles of trails<br />

and paths for residents to enjoy.<br />

Moorhead has 48 parks and many<br />

trails and walking paths.<br />

Community and Recreational<br />

Centers<br />

<strong>The</strong>re is rarely a weekend that goes<br />

by that my son and I don’t head over<br />

to the Rustad Center in West Fargo.<br />

<strong>The</strong>se sporting complexes are<br />

great venues that host a multitude<br />

of sporting activities, open to the<br />

public.<br />

Fargo is close to completing Phase<br />

1 of their new multipurpose Fargo<br />

Parks Sports Center, located in<br />

south Fargo. Once completed, the<br />

new facility will span more than<br />

390,000 square feet and host:<br />

- Full-size turf field<br />

- Walking track<br />

- Basketball courts<br />

- Ice rinks<br />

- Pickleball courts<br />

- An indoor playground<br />

- Community meeting spaces<br />

Sports Camps and Recreation<br />

Enrolling your kids in summer<br />

sports programs or camps is a great<br />

way to ensure they stay active and<br />

is also a way to make new friends.<br />

Whether it's soccer, swimming,<br />

tennis, or martial arts, there are<br />

plenty of options and local sports<br />

programs to choose from. To see a<br />

list of available sports and outdoor<br />

programs, check with your local<br />

Park Board for a list of options.


Make Fitness a Family Affair<br />

Make staying active as a family a priority by planning<br />

activities that everyone can enjoy together. Take family<br />

bike rides, go for nature walks, or have a friendly game<br />

of tag in the backyard. Not only will this promote physical<br />

activity, but it will also strengthen family bonds and create<br />

lasting memories.<br />

Limit or Involve Screen Time in Outdoor Activities<br />

While some screen time is inevitable, especially during the<br />

summer months, it's important to set limits and encourage<br />

other forms of entertainment. I suggest creating a schedule<br />

that includes designated screen-free times for outdoor<br />

play, reading, or chores.<br />

In many cases, technology and screens can be incorporated<br />

into summertime activities. Online sports and activity<br />

training, listening to music or podcasts while outdoors, or<br />

even watching a movie on a blow-up screen in the backyard<br />

are great ways to incorporate tech into your outdoor<br />

activities with your kids.<br />

Lead by Example<br />

Children learn by example, so make sure to lead an active<br />

lifestyle yourself. It is important to show your kids that<br />

staying active is not only important but also enjoyable.<br />

When they see you being active and enjoying nature, they<br />

will want to join you. You have the opportunity to instill a<br />

lifelong commitment to an active and healthy lifestyle in<br />

your children and a love for outdoor adventure by falling in<br />

love with an active lifestyle yourself.<br />

Try a New Sport or Activity<br />

Summer is a great time to teach your children to step<br />

outside of their comfort zone and to try new things. In<br />

today’s youth sports landscape, more and more student<br />

athletes are choosing to specialize in and only play one<br />

sport, due to the time commitment needed to compete<br />

at the high school level. Most coaches, myself included,<br />

would disagree with this notion, however. It is important<br />

for children to explore other sports that utilize and train all<br />

parts of their growing bodies. Also, many of the skills and<br />

movements used to play the most popular sports translate<br />

extremely well to other less-play sports such as tennis,<br />

racquetball, and frisbee golf.<br />

Secondly, having your children try a new sport will teach<br />

them perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity<br />

(learning a new sport).<br />

A healthy lifestyle isn’t just about working out or being<br />

outdoors. It also encompasses eating healthy, getting<br />

enough sleep, and yours and your child’s mental health.<br />

By incorporating these tips into your summer routine, you<br />

can help ensure that your children stay active, engaged,<br />

and healthy throughout the summer months. So, embrace<br />

the sunshine, get to know the summer activity options in<br />

your area, and get out there! •<br />

urbantoadmedia.com | 3


JULY-AUGUST <strong>2024</strong><br />

VOLUME 12 | ISSUE 1<br />

02<br />

DAD LIFE<br />

GETTING OUT THERE<br />

Keeping Your Kids Active and<br />

Healthy This Summer<br />

06<br />

CAMPING<br />

Going Big or Small<br />

10<br />

HEADQUARTERS FITNESS & MARTIAL ARTS<br />

Something for Everyone<br />

14<br />

CHRIS ARGENZIANO<br />

One Man’s Journey Through Music<br />

18<br />

ON THE COVER<br />

DAVE CURRIER<br />

<strong>The</strong> Ride of A <strong>Life</strong>time<br />

24<br />

HAVING A BEER WITH<br />

MARLIN WELLS<br />

Fargo Stand-up Comedian<br />

28<br />

HOMEWARD ANIMAL SHELTER<br />

Dreaming of <strong>The</strong>ir Forever Homes<br />

30<br />

LOCAL HERO<br />

TRAVIS STEFONOWICZ<br />

Fargo Assistant Chief of Police<br />

COVER IMAGE<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: DARREN LOSEE<br />

DESIGN BY: DAWN SIEWERT<br />

4 | THE GOOD LIFE


PUBLISHED BY<br />

Urban Toad Media LLP<br />

www.urbantoadmedia.com<br />

OWNER / GRAPHIC DESIGNER<br />

Dawn Siewert<br />

dawn@urbantoadmedia.com<br />

OWNER / PHOTOGRAPHER<br />

Darren Losee<br />

darren@urbantoadmedia.com<br />

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS<br />

Paul Hankel<br />

Ben Hanson<br />

Jeffrey Miller<br />

Krissy Ness<br />

Danielle Teigen<br />

Emma Vatnsdal<br />

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES<br />

Darren Losee<br />

darren@urbantoadmedia.com<br />

READ A PAST ISSUE<br />

yumpu.com/user/thegoodlife<br />

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK<br />

facebook.com/urbantoadmedia<br />

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM + X<br />

@urbantoadmedia<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Good</strong> <strong>Life</strong> Men’s Magazine is distributed six<br />

times a year by Urban Toad Media LLP. Material<br />

may not be reproduced without permission. <strong>The</strong><br />

<strong>Good</strong> <strong>Life</strong> Men’s Magazine accepts no liability for<br />

reader dissatisfaction arising from content in this<br />

publication. <strong>The</strong> opinions expressed, or advice given,<br />

are the views of individual writers or advertisers and<br />

do not necessarily represent the views or policies of<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Good</strong> <strong>Life</strong> Men’s Magazine.<br />

urbantoadmedia.com | 5


CAMPING<br />

GOING BIG OR SMALL<br />

WRITTEN BY: JEFFREY MILLER<br />

Tent camping is a great way to<br />

experience a Midwestern summer.<br />

Falling asleep with a soft night<br />

wind blowing and coyotes howling,<br />

frogs croaking and a myriad of<br />

insects making a symphony of<br />

sound is something that can’t<br />

be found indoors. No matter<br />

6 | THE GOOD LIFE<br />

the budget or skill set, there is a<br />

camping experience for everyone.<br />

Where to Go?<br />

Places to camp abound in and<br />

near the Fargo/Moorhead area.<br />

Lindenwood Park, in the heart<br />

of Fargo on the Red River, offers<br />

a place for an urban camper to<br />

enjoy nature while also being<br />

close to home. A little further<br />

away, Buffalo River State Park<br />

is a picturesque location west of<br />

Hawley, Minnesota. <strong>The</strong> Buffalo<br />

River burbles through the park<br />

and hiking trails abound through


PHOTO BY: JEFFREY MILLER<br />

Tent camping is a great way to experience<br />

a Midwestern summer.<br />

both riparian forest and tallgrass<br />

prairie. On the North Dakota side,<br />

Brewer Lake is located near the<br />

town of Erie. Situated in a forested<br />

area near the small impoundment<br />

of Brewer Lake, the campground is<br />

located in one of the most beautiful<br />

areas of Cass County. Further<br />

south, both Sheyenne Oaks<br />

Campground and Jorgen’s Hollow<br />

Campground offer campsites near<br />

the Sheyenne National Grasslands<br />

of southeastern North Dakota.<br />

For the more adventurous camper,<br />

both the National Grasslands and<br />

State Forests in North Dakota<br />

and Minnesota offer dispersed<br />

camping. Dispersed camping has<br />

no amenities, just a place to get<br />

away from the hustle and bustle of<br />

the city and enjoy peace and quiet.<br />

What Do You Need?<br />

It’s easy to try to pack the entire<br />

house on a camping trip, but<br />

try to refrain from including the<br />

kitchen sink. <strong>The</strong> most important<br />

part of camping is, of course, the<br />

tent. Tents can range from a tiny<br />

bivy tent, just big enough for one<br />

person to sleep to a canvas wall<br />

tent big enough for a group of<br />

people and a stove. For camping<br />

in our area, especially with more<br />

than one person, a 6-to-8-person<br />

tent is perfect. Tent sizes are<br />

a bit misleading, as a 4-person<br />

tent, while it can certainly fit four<br />

people jammed in like sardines,<br />

is better suited for 2 people. Our<br />

family of 5 sleeps comfortably in<br />

an 8-person tent, with ample room<br />

for everyone.<br />

Tents come with a rain fly, but<br />

I’ve spent too many nights feeling<br />

raindrops bouncing off of my<br />

head to trust the nylon rain fly. A<br />

simple and efficient solution is a<br />

lightweight nylon tarp. Stretched<br />

over the tent, it provides a piece of<br />

mind that a torrential summer rain<br />

won’t flood the tent.<br />

One summer during my teenage<br />

years my dad, brother and I spent<br />

urbantoadmedia.com | 7


Locations with a river or lake are great places to wet a<br />

line, and simple fishing gear with bait appropriate to the<br />

fish targeted takes up little room in the kit and<br />

can provide a fresh meal for supper.<br />

a few days on a lake in Ontario,<br />

Canada. Camping on an island<br />

in the middle of a large lake, we<br />

caught walleyes and northern pike<br />

during the day. One night there<br />

was a rain of biblical proportions,<br />

and even though dad had to get<br />

up every few hours to push the<br />

pooling rain off the tarp, we never<br />

got wet.<br />

I’ve come to use my hub-style<br />

hunting blind more and more for<br />

spartan camping purposes. Last<br />

fall, on a pronghorn antelope hunt<br />

in central Wyoming, I decided to<br />

forgo a large tent and instead just<br />

pop up my hunting blind each night.<br />

It had just enough room for my<br />

8 | THE GOOD LIFE<br />

cot and some clothes, was sturdy<br />

enough to withstand the wind, and<br />

could be set up and taken done in<br />

mere minutes. I slept like a baby<br />

every night.<br />

In colder weather, hub style<br />

insulated ice fishing huts offer<br />

more warmth.<br />

Folding camping chairs make<br />

sitting around the campfire more<br />

comfortable and a propane lantern<br />

helps shed a light on the campsite.<br />

Gear<br />

When I was younger I thought<br />

nothing of using my sleeping bag<br />

on the ground when camping, but<br />

as I’ve gotten older the comfort<br />

of a cot ensures I don’t wake up<br />

in the morning with a stiff, sore<br />

back. Cots help get a person off<br />

the ground, helping to keep the<br />

camper warm as well as providing<br />

a softer sleeping surface.<br />

A few years ago, I bit the bullet<br />

and purchased a quality sleeping<br />

bag, and it made all the difference<br />

in the world. Wrapped in mummy<br />

style sleeping bag, in the soft<br />

cradle of a cot, I find I can sleep<br />

comfortably in temperatures down<br />

into the 20’s. On warmer nights, I<br />

simply unzip the bag to let the cool<br />

air in.


Camping offers an inexpensive way for us<br />

to enjoy the natural world around us.<br />

When camping with my family,<br />

we usually bring an air mattress.<br />

Using a converter plugged into<br />

the pickup’s input socket in the<br />

dash, I can fill the mattress up<br />

easily and give the kids a soft<br />

sleeping surface. <strong>The</strong> last thing I<br />

want is cranky, irritable kids in the<br />

morning.<br />

A good night’s sleep is built upon<br />

a good meal, and a small propane<br />

camp stove ensures hot, delicious<br />

food. <strong>The</strong> old standby green<br />

Coleman style stove heats up<br />

quickly, cooks evenly and is small<br />

enough to stash in the vehicle for<br />

the trip. When camping solo, I<br />

can easily live on canned ravioli,<br />

beef stew and other staples of the<br />

canned goods aisle. When the kids<br />

and Heather are along, however,<br />

I need to step up the game. Hot<br />

dogs, hamburgers and bratwurst<br />

are easily cooked in a saucepan on<br />

the stove and provide hot, delicious<br />

meals. A small cooler ensures the<br />

cold food stays cold.<br />

What to Do<br />

Depending on the campsite’s<br />

location, there are a variety of<br />

activities to do during the day.<br />

Hiking trails are a good place<br />

to experience the landscape,<br />

and insect repellent, water and<br />

snacks keep the kids happy and<br />

attentive. Locations with a river<br />

or lake are great places to wet<br />

a line, and simple fishing gear<br />

with bait appropriate to the fish<br />

targeted takes up little room in<br />

the kit and can provide a fresh<br />

meal for supper. In Wyoming, I<br />

camped near a river one evening<br />

and caught enough trout for a fish<br />

dinner. Fresh from the cold water,<br />

it was absolutely delicious.<br />

Enjoying the World<br />

Around Us<br />

Camping offers an inexpensive<br />

way for us to enjoy the natural<br />

world around us. It’s easy to<br />

become complacent when living<br />

in our houses, with heat and air<br />

conditioning and all the comforts<br />

of home. Sleeping in a tent,<br />

surrounded by the natural world,<br />

not only affords us recreation but<br />

a sense of place as well, reminding<br />

us how small humans are in our<br />

vast world. •<br />

urbantoadmedia.com | 9


WRITTEN BY: KRISSY NESS<br />

PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA<br />

HEADQUARTERS FITNESS & MARTIAL ARTS<br />

Something For Everyone<br />

Joining a gym can be intimidating. Often, you find<br />

yourself stuck between someone whose arms are<br />

bigger than your waist and someone trying to film<br />

their workout for “likes” when all you want is to get<br />

healthy and maybe fit into those jeans you loved<br />

from last year.<br />

A gym should give you a sense of community and<br />

a positive outlook on your fitness goals, and that’s<br />

exactly what you will find at Headquarters Fitness<br />

and Martial Arts. This hidden gem is located just<br />

outside of Fargo, in Horace, ND, and is waiting to<br />

help you meet your goals.<br />

Now for the catch: This isn’t your ordinary gym. Its<br />

focus is martial arts, kickboxing, and total gym.<br />

For 18 years, Jason Natal, owner and operator,<br />

has studied martial arts from wrestling to MMA,<br />

kickboxing, and Jujitsu. Natal holds a black belt in<br />

Jujitsu, but you won't find him flaunting it around<br />

his gym; as I'll explain later, his gym is about<br />

community, not hierarchy.<br />

“People often think that martial arts are just filled<br />

with violence and physical strain, but it’s much<br />

more than that. In general, martial arts or combat<br />

10 | THE GOOD LIFE


“Martial arts or combat sports build more<br />

secure individuals and can offer a place to<br />

grow better people. It works you mentally,<br />

physically, and, as cheesy as it sounds,<br />

spiritually.” – Jason Natal<br />

sports build more secure individuals and can offer a<br />

place to grow better people. It works you mentally,<br />

physically, and, as cheesy as it sounds, spiritually,”<br />

explained Natal.<br />

Natal has been training people for over nine years. “We<br />

can match your goals however needed. We have a space<br />

for fitness, so we can work on strength conditioning,<br />

sports-related training, and rehab-focused activities<br />

to build someone back up so they can train and move<br />

around,” said Natal.<br />

Natal explains that he is creating a space for everyone,<br />

whether that means marital arts, a total fitness gym,<br />

chiropractic work, etc. While not all of these can<br />

be found at the gym today, the future is bright for<br />

Headquarters.<br />

When speaking to Natal, I noticed the sense of<br />

community his gym offers. You can find any person<br />

at his gym, and you are all equal when you're in the<br />

building, and that is a significant draw for some people,<br />

me included.<br />

“I think people just gravitate to who you are because<br />

it relates to them as well … I mean, I could be doing<br />

anything else with my time,” said Natal. “If you can offer<br />

a space where a bunch of like-minded people can come<br />

in and enjoy what they do, it’s a sense of community,<br />

and I don’t think you can force it.”<br />

urbantoadmedia.com | 11


This is exactly the type of energy to look for in a<br />

gym: people who are dedicated to the craft because<br />

it appeals to them. With so many commercial<br />

gyms popping up, it is easy to get sucked into the<br />

promotion they are offering, but what you won't find<br />

is a caring and dedicated group of people working<br />

with you toward your goals.<br />

“One thing we try to eliminate is that hierarchy<br />

system; when we are on the mat, there is no uniform<br />

nor belting system,” explained Natal. “So, nobody<br />

knows who's who, and you train with everybody<br />

[regardless of ranking].”<br />

“Tradition is great, but when we train here, it's for a<br />

purpose,” said Natal.<br />

<strong>The</strong> purpose may be different for everyone. Like I<br />

said before, you may want to get back into shape,<br />

or maybe you’re a fighter who needs training or just<br />

wants to learn martial arts. <strong>The</strong> possibilities are<br />

endless.<br />

People from Moorhead, Fargo, West Fargo, and<br />

Canada visit Headquarters to achieve their fitness<br />

goals.<br />

Another attribute of this company is the kid-focused<br />

classes on Saturdays.<br />

“It's such a great development tool for kids, to be<br />

honest,” explained Natal. “This is exactly what<br />

drove me in a positive direction. I wasn’t sure<br />

what I wanted to do. Martial arts gave me different<br />

possibilities that I never thought I would have<br />

without it. It’s been such a great direction for me<br />

and has given me everything in my life today —<br />

relationships, my job, just my life in general.”<br />

As kids, my sisters and I took many years of martial<br />

arts, specifically Karate, and to this day, I find uses<br />

for it. Whether that be how to fall correctly without<br />

hurting yourself or, of course, self-defense. It's like<br />

learning to ride a bike; you never forget how to do<br />

it, but practice makes perfect.<br />

So here it is — this is your sign to get out there and<br />

learn something new, whether that’s martial arts or<br />

just getting into a fitness routine.<br />

Finally, as we do, I asked Natal what the good life<br />

means to him.<br />

12 | THE GOOD LIFE


“<strong>The</strong> good life to me is being in a room full of<br />

individuals who have different goals or the same and<br />

being supported throughout the process, being truly<br />

cheered on and cared about without anything given<br />

back in return,” said Natal. “Success doesn’t have to be<br />

for them; it’s just having the ability to be around people<br />

who want success and growth for you. Being able to<br />

do what you love every single day, choosing your own<br />

struggle, and working towards progress and growth.” •<br />

urbantoadmedia.com | 13


WRITTEN BY: KRISSY NESS<br />

PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA<br />

14 | THE GOOD LIFE


One Man’s Journey<br />

Through Music<br />

Local music instructor and professional<br />

musician Chris Argenziano has played guitar<br />

for roughly 26 years. He first got his hands on<br />

a guitar at 14, after his brother had borrowed a<br />

guitar from their grandma and taught himself<br />

to play using Metallica tabs and simple cord<br />

books.<br />

After some time, he found that he enjoyed<br />

playing and did what most other musicians do<br />

– he started collecting guitars.<br />

“I currently have 15 guitars, four of which are<br />

the main ones I play, and a lot of them sit in a<br />

closet that need to be listed or donated,” Chris<br />

laughed.<br />

Like many other musicians, Chris started<br />

playing with his buddies, which is how his first<br />

band, Head Shop, was formed. <strong>The</strong>y continued<br />

to play and, as always, went through a series of<br />

name changes before they landed on Soul Patch<br />

Adams. This was roughly around the time I met<br />

Chris, and being under 21 at the time, I never<br />

had the opportunity to hear them play live, as<br />

they were exclusively playing at bars during this<br />

time. <strong>The</strong>y played the Elks Lodge and the old JT<br />

Cigarros on 45th Street in Fargo.<br />

“<strong>The</strong> focus then was actually like writing our<br />

tunes too, which was a lot of fun, and it was<br />

interesting because I started out playing a ton<br />

of metal,” explained Chris. “I still love metal,<br />

but then I heard the album Dave Matthews and<br />

Tim Reynolds Live at Luther College, and I was<br />

like, holy ****!”<br />

To this day, Tim Reynolds has inspired Chris,<br />

and he often receives feedback from listeners<br />

that his style reflects that of Tim Reynolds,<br />

which is a big compliment.<br />

“As you predicted, the band broke up before you<br />

ever got to come and see us,” joked Chris.<br />

urbantoadmedia.com | 15


After playing for some time together, Soul Patch Adams<br />

inevitably broke up, launching Chris back into college. It<br />

would be eight years between the first time he attended<br />

college at UND, where he received a “PhD in partying,”<br />

and the time he received his master’s degree in classical<br />

guitar from NDSU.<br />

“My first meeting with the classical guitar instructor<br />

at NDSU, I did not like him,” laughed Chris. “<strong>The</strong> first<br />

thing he did was like, here, read this music, and I barely<br />

read music on guitar. I played trumpet and knew how to<br />

read music there, so I struggled through these pieces.”<br />

He then dropped a bomb on Chris, he would only teach<br />

classical guitar, no other method, and since Chris<br />

didn’t own a classical guitar or know how to play one,<br />

he had a long hard look in the mirror and, out of spite<br />

said, “screw that guy, I’m going to learn to play classical<br />

guitar, and I'm going to get good at it,” laughed Chris.<br />

He did just that.<br />

I have enjoyed hearing Chris play in many settings, from<br />

late-night bar shows to jazzy brunches around town.<br />

Although modest, Chris is a fantastic guitar player.<br />

“I still consider myself a student; you're never done;<br />

you're always learning, especially with classical and<br />

jazz; it’s so vast,” exclaimed Chris. “When learning<br />

new classical music, or any music, you should sing<br />

the melody first because emulating the human voice is<br />

what we try to do; there is nothing as expressive.”<br />

While attending college, Chris continued to play<br />

around town. He started in a band he created with local<br />

musician Ciro De La Garza, <strong>The</strong> Ciro and Toph Show,<br />

where they played together for ten years. Eventually, he<br />

found himself in the Gina Powers Band, playing original<br />

and cover music.<br />

At this time, he also met fellow musician Eric<br />

Martens, and they bonded over a shared love of the<br />

guitar. <strong>The</strong>y play in a duo called Twelve Strings<br />

and book private gigs together.<br />

After many years of college and playing late-night<br />

gigs, Chris finally moved out of the late-night gigs<br />

and turned it into a working career.<br />

Currently, you can find him playing with his jazz Duo,<br />

Twelve Strings, booking many private gigs such as<br />

the Fargo Country Club and weddings, and teaching<br />

students from his home and at two different colleges,<br />

Valley City and the University of Jamestown.<br />

16 | THE GOOD LIFE


It has been a pleasure watching my<br />

friend Chris grow in his profession<br />

from student to teacher and beef up<br />

his musical repertoire.<br />

I took this opportunity to ask Chris<br />

how he prepares for a gig.<br />

“As far as unfamiliar terrain, I mean,<br />

you learn as you go,” exclaimed Chris.<br />

“I basically have my survival kit of<br />

things that I might need at any given<br />

gig.”<br />

“I remember we had one gig where<br />

Eric's amp didn't work, and like, I've<br />

got a tackle box filled with pretty much<br />

every adapter, and we had changed all<br />

the adapters, and he's like, that's the<br />

first time I've ever seen anyone like<br />

have all the adapters we need to chain<br />

this together to get two inputs into one<br />

amp,” reminisced Chris.<br />

As we wrapped up Chris’s fantastic<br />

journey from bar musician to<br />

professional classical/jazz guitarist, I<br />

asked what the good life meant to him.<br />

“Being able to pursue the music that I<br />

like obviously and still having the time<br />

to do all the other things I want to do,<br />

not just make it work, is what the good<br />

life means to me.” •<br />

urbantoadmedia.com | 17


ON THE COVER | DAVE CURRIER<br />

Inspired by his dad, Dave Currier won<br />

the 2021 Cannonball motorcycle race riding a<br />

restored 1911 bike<br />

WRITTEN BY: DANIELLE TEIGEN<br />

PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA<br />

<strong>The</strong> numbers are mind boggling: a 3,389-mile motorcycle<br />

race across 12 states completed in 16 consecutive days.<br />

What’s even more mind boggling is that Dave Currier won<br />

it in 2021 riding a restored motorcycle that was more<br />

than 100 years old.<br />

You read that right.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Motorcycle Cannonball is the most difficult antique<br />

endurance run, and Dave won the entire race while riding<br />

a century old machine he had painstakingly restored and<br />

upgraded to endure such a grueling ride.<br />

Dave has always been a motorcycle guy. His dad, Dick,<br />

owned the Indian Motorcycle dealership in Fargo in<br />

the ‘40s and ‘50s and eventually a Harley-Davidson<br />

dealership, and Dave was right there, soaking up all that<br />

knowledge and passion. He was riding a motorcycle at<br />

just seven years old.<br />

Dave parlayed his drive and ambition into entrepreneurship:<br />

he started Dakota Fence Company in 1972 in Fargo<br />

as a senior in high school and has built it into a successful<br />

multi-generational business with offices in six cities. Now<br />

that he’s retired and his business rests in the hands of his<br />

three capable children, Dave has cultivated his passion for<br />

motorcycles into a full-fledged hobby.<br />

Okay, maybe it’s more than a hobby.<br />

It’s a lifestyle.<br />

One where Dave researches and reads about antique<br />

motorcycles, networks with other motorcycle aficionados,<br />

and scours flea markets and estate sales for rare machine<br />

parts all in the name of bringing an old motorcycle back<br />

to life.<br />

18 | THE GOOD LIFE


urbantoadmedia.com | 19


ON THE COVER | DAVE CURRIER<br />

Even though the race celebrates the old, it’s actually<br />

relatively new. Founder Lonnie Isam, Jr., dreamed up the<br />

idea of cruising on scenic American roads on an antique<br />

motorcycle in 2009 and the first race happened a year<br />

after that with fewer than 50 riders. He named his race<br />

after Edwin “Cannonball” Baker, a motorcycling pioneer<br />

who set countless cross-country records. Baker famously<br />

rode an Indian motorcycle from San Diego to New York<br />

in 11 days, a Cadillac roadster from Los Angeles to New<br />

York in 7 days and a Rickenbacker car from Canada to<br />

Mexico, according to the Crown Hill Foundation. When<br />

he retired, Baker had ridden more than 5 million miles<br />

with 126 coast-to-coast trips.<br />

Baker’s “Cannonball” nickname came from a New York<br />

journalist who compared him to the Cannonball Express<br />

train following a record-setting transcontinental run in<br />

1914, and the nickname stuck. Baker died in 1960 and<br />

was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.<br />

Since the first Cannonball in 2010, six more races have<br />

been held every couple of years with a different crosscountry<br />

course each time with 100 riders. Dave learned<br />

about the race in 2012 and eventually started meeting<br />

many of the riders.<br />

He first competed in 2018 riding a restored 1915 Harley-<br />

Davidson twin cylinder. It was grueling.<br />

“I was up at 5 a.m. and ate breakfast, then I had to get<br />

my map of the course and by 7:30 we started,” Dave<br />

explained. “<strong>The</strong>y start with the oldest, slowest class, so I<br />

was in class 3 with a twin cylinder. <strong>The</strong> average speed was<br />

45 miles per hour a day, and we only stopped for gas and<br />

mandatory lunch … you badge out at the end of the day for<br />

your miles completed, then eat supper, check your bike<br />

and go to bed. It’s pretty intense and then you do it all over<br />

again the next day.”<br />

Winning the Cannonball comes down to miles completed,<br />

the age of the motorcycle and the age of the rider.<br />

In 2018, Dave completed all the miles and finished 13th<br />

overall riding a 1915 Harley twin.<br />

“I knew if I wanted to win I had to ride an older bike,”<br />

Dave said.<br />

An avid motorcycle collector, Dave already had a 1911<br />

Harley-Davidson in his collection, so after the 2018 race<br />

he started to assess what it would take to build a race<br />

20 | THE GOOD LIFE


motorcycle out of what is essentially a bike with a motor on it,<br />

he said.<br />

“It’s the toughest motorcycle to do the Cannonball with,”<br />

Dave explained. “<strong>The</strong> bike would have to do what it was never<br />

designed to do.”<br />

He and his team of two specialized mechanics – John Rouland<br />

and Tim Ekstrom – spent two years upgrading, experimenting,<br />

fixing, adjusting. Dave even took the bike up to Thief River Falls<br />

for testing and slept on a cot next to his bike while he was there.<br />

“<strong>The</strong>re are two types of people who compete in the Cannonball:<br />

those who just want to experience it and those who want to win<br />

it,” Dave explained with a smile. “I’m very competitive … when I<br />

set my mind on something, I do it. I’m in it to win it!”<br />

Dave poses with his restored 1911 motorcycle in<br />

South Padre after winning the Cannonball race.<br />

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: DAVE CURRIER<br />

Part of building the bike to be race-worthy involved also making<br />

sure Dave would have backups ready in the event that something<br />

malfunctioned while on the road. He explained that once a racer<br />

hits the road, no one can touch the bike except the racer.<br />

“My biggest fear was a flat tire because time is a racer’s best<br />

asset; a flat tire would take up so much time on the road,” Dave<br />

said.<br />

If a racer has a major breakdown along the course, the bike is<br />

taken to the truck and trailer of shame, Dave shared. “You lose<br />

the miles for that day but you can start again the next day,” he<br />

said. “That’s why just finishing is a feat itself.”<br />

No matter how many people a racer knows on the ride, “once<br />

the flag drops, you’re on your own to run your own race,” Dave<br />

explained.<br />

Long rides on long days mean racers have to take care of<br />

themselves, so Dave was disciplined about getting a good night's<br />

sleep, staying hydrated and managing any unexpected elements<br />

he encountered on the ride.<br />

During the 2021 race, Dave didn’t have any rain gear along so he<br />

simply had to endure torrential rain. He didn’t have room on the<br />

bike for anything more than what he absolutely needed.<br />

But no matter what challenges happened along the way, Dave<br />

said the scenery was worth it. “We rode 11,000-feet high over<br />

Monarch Pass (in Colorado) and across the Hoover Dam,” he<br />

said. “It’s an opportunity to ride a motorcycle in places you’ve<br />

never been before.”<br />

Dave Currier’s two specialized mechanics John<br />

Rouland and Tim Ekstrom have become like<br />

brothers to him throughout their time preparing<br />

for and participating in the Cannonball race.<br />

In 2021, Dave rode his 1911 motorcycle from Sault Sainte<br />

Marie, Michigan to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina before<br />

finishing in South Padre Island, Texas. Along the way, Dave<br />

knew he was competing well – he was clocking all the miles, and<br />

had no major breakdowns or mechanical setbacks. On the last<br />

Dave Currier holds up the Open Road trophy he<br />

received for winning the Cannonball race.<br />

urbantoadmedia.com | 21


ON THE COVER | DAVE CURRIER<br />

day, Dave said race director Jason Sims<br />

rode up alongside him and indicated that<br />

he should follow the police escort for the<br />

last nine miles.<br />

What an experience.<br />

“You are the parade – there are people<br />

everywhere,” Dave remembered. “Those<br />

last 115 miles I was pretty balled up<br />

because I knew this was it.”<br />

As he approached the finish line, Dave<br />

saw that his three adult children had<br />

surprised him by flying down to Texas to<br />

greet their dad at the end of the race.<br />

“It was quite a finish,” he said.<br />

Thinking back on his win, Dave is quick to<br />

point out how many people played a role<br />

in his accomplishment. His mechanics<br />

– they’re like brothers, he said – were<br />

with him for every step of preparing the<br />

bike and then actually being on the route<br />

with him. His sponsors – Dakota Fence<br />

Company, Acme Tools, and Milwaukee<br />

Tool – made his bike building possible.<br />

His wife Kay is extremely supportive of<br />

his passion after 48 years of marriage,<br />

and knowing the company he started and<br />

is now retired from is in the hands of his<br />

kids is a great comfort to him.<br />

Riding a nearly 4,000-mile motorcycle<br />

race as a 70-year-old and starting a<br />

company as a high school senior are<br />

surprisingly similar, Dave said. “You start<br />

with nothing, but you get out of it what<br />

you put into it,” he explained. “Your effort<br />

is what pays dividends.”<br />

Dakota Fence Company has been a family<br />

business even before his kids started<br />

working there. Shortly after he started<br />

the company in 1972, Dave’s father Dick<br />

came to work with him. Once Dave’s own<br />

kids were graduating from college, he<br />

told all of them the same thing.<br />

“I said they should go out and get a job<br />

and call me if you ever want to come back<br />

and work for me,” he said. “<strong>The</strong>y needed<br />

to have a taste of the world before coming<br />

back to Dakota Fence.”<br />

22 | THE GOOD LIFE


Sure enough, sons Joe and John and daughter Amy<br />

all returned to Fargo, one by one.<br />

“<strong>The</strong>y’re all aggressive like me and ventured off<br />

into what they liked to do,” he said.<br />

And how about his dad, the man who started it all?<br />

Dick Currier died in 2020, so he didn’t get to see<br />

his son claim the Cannonball victory. But he was<br />

right there for every mile – his smiling face stares<br />

out from the side of the 1911 motorcycle Dave won<br />

the race riding.<br />

“He was on that ride with me,” Dave shared, tearing<br />

up. “When you’re on a long race like that, you have<br />

a lot of time to think. And I thought about my dad<br />

a lot.”<br />

So will Dave race another Cannonball? He’s<br />

not sure yet. He’s waiting to see where the next<br />

route will go as well as the minimum age of the<br />

motorcycle.<br />

“I just love antique motorcycles and the Cannonball,”<br />

Dave said.<br />

Even if he doesn’t compete in another future<br />

Cannonball, Dave will still attend motorcycle shows<br />

with his restored antique bikes so other people<br />

can enjoy them. He’ll still be out in his Cannonball<br />

shop – his back garage in Fargo dedicated solely<br />

to restoring antique bikes. His shop also serves as<br />

a Cannonball showroom, with the walls covered<br />

in photos and souvenirs from his races, with his<br />

cherished Cannonball trophy displayed proudly.<br />

Show attendees love seeing the solid brass “Open<br />

Road” trophy and talking with Dave about his win.<br />

“That trophy is a pretty big deal to me,” he said<br />

with a smile.<br />

What does the good<br />

life mean to Dave?<br />

“Enjoying the benefits<br />

of life to the fullest!<br />

I’m blessed with good<br />

health, family and<br />

friends and love every<br />

day God gives us!” •<br />

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY:<br />

DAVE CURRIER<br />

urbantoadmedia.com | 23


HAVING A BEER WITH | MARLIN WELLS<br />

John Mulaney has his suit and tie. Bert Kreischer has<br />

his belly. Carrot Top … well, carrot top. A signature look<br />

— rooted in upbringing, alcoholism or unfortunate<br />

genetics — can define a stand-up comic as much as<br />

their material.<br />

For Marlin Wells, it took the isolation of a global<br />

pandemic to birth his personal style.<br />

“We all came out of Covid a little strange,” Wells said<br />

with a knowing grin. “It just kinda happened one day.<br />

I had an old shirt and I figured what the hell, I like<br />

to keep people guessing. Sleeveless flannel, tattoos<br />

and a laid back Mohawk … What even is this guy? I<br />

like surprising people with a rougher exterior only for<br />

them to find I’m the sweetest silly boy.”<br />

Wearing a sleeveless flannel shirt with hair to match,<br />

the local Fargo comic stood out more than usual<br />

amidst the post-Fargo Marathon crowd that steadily<br />

spilled into Drekker’s Brewhalla with participation<br />

medals around their necks. He with his Watermelon<br />

Mint Sloosh and I with my full-bodied root beer (I had<br />

a drive ahead of me), nobody mistook us for runners.<br />

Fancying myself a humorist, I<br />

was excited to meet Wells and<br />

learn more about his craft. So, we<br />

settled into one of the few remaining<br />

tables and dove right in to explore his<br />

life as a Midwestern comic.<br />

So how was the Fargo marathon?<br />

<strong>The</strong>y didn’t have a bib big enough for me. I<br />

tried safety pins, but it just looked like a name<br />

tag. I can’t imagine liking to run. What a thing to<br />

like. Me? I like ice cream.<br />

What’s the “Marlin Wells the comic” origin story?<br />

I didn’t know what stand-up was until I saw it on<br />

Comedy Central. I ran to my mom and said “It’s like a<br />

movie, but he's just talking, but it’s not like the news.”<br />

… just a ten-year-old trying to explain what standup<br />

was to an adult. I never once connected that it’s<br />

a thing that just anyone can do, until I was working<br />

in radio and made a friend named JD Provorse, a<br />

comedian himself, who badgered me for like two<br />

years to give it a try. <strong>The</strong> Red Raven was my first set<br />

in 2014.<br />

24 | THE GOOD LIFE


WRITTEN BY: BEN HANSON<br />

PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA<br />

urbantoadmedia.com | 25


HAVING A BEER WITH | MARLIN WELLS<br />

<strong>The</strong> good life<br />

looks like …<br />

never having<br />

to do something<br />

you don’t<br />

want to do.<br />

Who do you want to give your<br />

eulogy?<br />

It would be a tough heat between<br />

a handful of friends, who are all<br />

very good public speakers. What<br />

I’d be most excited about is all<br />

my different compartmentalized<br />

friend groups to come together<br />

and shake hands and be like<br />

“really he was friends with that<br />

person, too?”<br />

What’s the best/worst heckling<br />

you’ve encountered and was it<br />

warranted?<br />

Heckling is never warranted,<br />

and Midwesterners are not big<br />

hecklers. <strong>The</strong>y will sit with their<br />

hands folded not laughing, but<br />

no one is going to shout. Most of<br />

the time it’s someone who’s just<br />

drunk and talking loudly. But once<br />

in Velva there were only like eight<br />

people at this show in a bar the<br />

size of an airplane hanger. He was<br />

hammered drunk, and I was in<br />

mid-sentence doing a joke when<br />

he asked what my bandana was<br />

26 | THE GOOD LIFE<br />

for. I felt like a librarian reading to<br />

children.<br />

How long does it take you to<br />

organize and memorize a full<br />

show?<br />

From writing a note on my phone<br />

to me thinking it's ready for the<br />

stage … it's fairly quick. I’ll take<br />

stuff to the stage long before it's<br />

ready. I think everyone does. My<br />

45-minute set has some twoyear-old<br />

stuff in it.<br />

When you eventually get<br />

canceled, what will it be for?<br />

Canceling is not a real thing, you<br />

just gain a different audience.<br />

You made a terrible joke about<br />

something and now a certain<br />

audience doesn’t want to go<br />

to your shows anymore. For<br />

example: I don’t love that we’ve<br />

all just culturally decided you<br />

can take your dog everywhere.<br />

I don’t remember voting-in that<br />

policy. Your dog will be fine at<br />

home.<br />

What’s your backup career?<br />

I don’t have one. I have nothing but<br />

soft skills. I dropped out of college<br />

with half of a mass comm degree,<br />

but I guess I’d probably try to go<br />

back to radio. I loved my time in<br />

radio. Why not try and be the last<br />

gnat on that dinosaur’s back?<br />

How long do you think you’d last<br />

as a court jester?<br />

I’d like to think I’d be OK. I’d have<br />

to crank up the physicality, but I<br />

could do it. As always, it depends<br />

on the audience. Does the king<br />

have a sense of humor? But on<br />

the other hand, I’m not very good<br />

at crowd work. I’m not much of a<br />

roaster … not good at being mean.<br />

But I think I could make it to the<br />

ripe old age of 31, when everyone<br />

else died back then.<br />

Who are your comedy heroes?<br />

Sinbad for sure. His jokes are just<br />

assaulting, one after another like<br />

a machine gun. Robin Williams is<br />

the same way. I like a few of the


thinkers like George Carlin and<br />

Bill Hicks. I’m jealous of Mitch<br />

Hedberg; I wish I could write<br />

good short jokes like him. I think<br />

Nikki Glaser is amazing. Kyle<br />

Kinane is amazing … he’s been<br />

a favorite of mine since his first<br />

album.<br />

Tell me about the first time you<br />

felt you had totally won over an<br />

audience.<br />

I don’t have a specific moment,<br />

but it happens often. I’ve<br />

had audiences staring at me<br />

confused as to what I’m even<br />

doing, like waiting for me to sing.<br />

Those shows are fun like pulling<br />

teeth. Some shows are just a<br />

can’t win, lost cause.<br />

How long does it take to know<br />

if the audience is on your side?<br />

Usually within five minutes you<br />

know. My usual set has things I<br />

open with that are for everybody,<br />

then I get more specific and<br />

might lose you — I call them dip<br />

a toe jokes. But then I go back to<br />

stuff for everyone. Sometimes<br />

you can tell before you even get<br />

on stage … oh, they will not care<br />

for me.<br />

What are your comedic goals?<br />

I would do this for free, but if I<br />

got to a place where I take home<br />

like $30K a year but all I do is tell<br />

jokes, perfect. My next big goal is<br />

to perform only in places where<br />

comedy happens, like comedy<br />

clubs. I don’t need a Netflix<br />

special, but if I could just perform<br />

in comedy clubs and not on the<br />

other side of the pool table at the<br />

back of the bar, that’d be perfect.<br />

What does the <strong>Good</strong> <strong>Life</strong> mean<br />

to you?<br />

<strong>The</strong> good life looks like … never<br />

having to do something you don’t<br />

want to do. Whether that's a job<br />

you don’t want to go to or people<br />

you don’t want to see. <strong>The</strong> good<br />

life means not having to work a<br />

job you hate, but still being able<br />

to afford to hire someone to<br />

clean so you don’t have to. A life<br />

free of worry and obligation. •<br />

urbantoadmedia.com | 27


Dreaming of <strong>The</strong>ir<br />

Forever Homes<br />

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: HOMEWARD ANIMAL SHELTER<br />

<strong>The</strong>se are just a few of the many faces in our care that are<br />

patiently waiting for their forever families to find them. We<br />

know there’s a match out there for all of them. And for all<br />

the rest of their friends at the shelter and in foster homes<br />

that aren’t pictured here on these pages. Maybe one has<br />

been waiting all this time to rescue YOU ... Adopt a shelter<br />

pet today!<br />

At Homeward Animal Shelter, our mission is: “Rescue.<br />

Shelter. Protect. Rehome.” We provide a second chance<br />

at happiness to lost, abandoned, and owner-surrendered<br />

animals; and educate the community on the proper, loving,<br />

and kind treatment of animals.<br />

Homeward Animal Shelter is committed to preventing<br />

animal overpopulation and spays/neuters all animals<br />

6 months or older before adoption. Since its inception in<br />

1966, Homeward Animal Shelter has placed nearly 41,000<br />

animals in lifelong homes. •<br />

For information on adopting, volunteering or to make a<br />

donation, visit: homewardonline.org<br />

Winnebago Kit Kat Oats<br />

Female | 4 yrs old | Hound Mix Female | 9 yrs old | Torbie DSH Male | 3 ½ yrs old | Pit Bull Terrier Mix<br />

Hi there! <strong>The</strong> name is Winnebago,<br />

and boy oh boy, have I done a lot of<br />

moving around! It's time for me to find<br />

my forever home and settle down. In<br />

my first home, I spent a lot of time in a<br />

kennel and didn't get a lot of attention.<br />

It wasn't very fun, but thankfully, I'm<br />

not there anymore. Unfortunately, I<br />

missed out on what it meant to be a<br />

dog when I was younger, so meeting<br />

new dogs can be scary for me. I'm still<br />

learning how to integrate into a home,<br />

now that I won't need to live in a kennel<br />

all the time, and I'm hoping someone<br />

will be patient and help me do that. All<br />

in all, I’m just an affectionate, playful<br />

gal looking for someone to love me …<br />

think that could be you? Come meet<br />

me and see!<br />

28 | THE GOOD LIFE<br />

Hi there, I’m Kit Kat! As you may have<br />

guessed, I am very sweet. I live up to<br />

the name of the sugary confection I<br />

was named after. I love to mosey about<br />

my surroundings and keep an eye out<br />

for birds; it's a passion of mine. People<br />

often tell me I have a melodious and<br />

deep voice when I decide to speak. I'm<br />

just a laid-back, affectionate senior<br />

lady looking for a family to love. My<br />

ideal home would have plenty of<br />

great windows so I can continue my<br />

birdwatching adventures. Do you<br />

think I might be the one for you?<br />

Hi there, I’m Oats! My happiness<br />

knows no bounds, especially when<br />

I’m playing fetch! I’m a playful soul<br />

who loves both playtime and leisurely<br />

strolls.<br />

I’m not just about fun and games,<br />

though; I’m a smart cookie who knows<br />

commands like heel, sit, and down,<br />

with “free” being my absolute favorite<br />

during walks. Remarkably, I never<br />

show interest in chewing on anything<br />

other than my toys or bones, making<br />

me a model housemate.<br />

I’m also a champion cuddler. Whether<br />

it’s on the couch or by your side,<br />

I love being close to my human<br />

companions. With my sweet nature<br />

and affectionate demeanor, I’m sure<br />

to melt hearts wherever I go. Think I<br />

could be the one for you?


Barry<br />

Male | 4 ½ yrs old | Gray Tabby DSH<br />

Hi, I'm Barry, a delightful gray tabby<br />

with a strong broad chest and soft<br />

velvety feet who enjoys petting and<br />

head rubs. I love to play, although<br />

sometimes, lately, I get carried away<br />

to the point where I must ask myself,<br />

"Am I a cat or am I a squirrel? But I think<br />

that's because I've been cooped up in<br />

this kennel for so long. If you would<br />

like to add a little action adventure to<br />

your daily routine (in addition to my<br />

loving adoration, of course...), I may<br />

just be the boy for you!<br />

Peppermint patty<br />

Female | 1 ½ yrs old<br />

Pit Bull Terrier Mix<br />

Hey, I'm Peppermint Patty, a oneyear-old<br />

brindle and white beauty<br />

filled with boundless energy and an<br />

unmatched zest for life! I might be a<br />

bit slow to warm up to new faces, but<br />

once you've earned my trust, consider<br />

yourself part of my inner circle.<br />

Playtime is my favorite - squeaky<br />

toys, dog friends, and snacks are the<br />

things I enjoy most. I'm on the lookout<br />

for an active forever family who can<br />

keep up with my energetic nature and<br />

adventurous spirit. If you're ready for<br />

a bubbly, loving, and fun companion,<br />

I'm your girl! I promise we'll have a<br />

blast together embarking on epic<br />

adventures and living life to the fullest.<br />

I can't wait to meet you!<br />

Luffy<br />

Male | 2 yrs old | Tuxedo DSH<br />

Hi there, I'm Luffy, a gorgeous, regal<br />

tuxedo cat who is dreaming of quiet<br />

companionship and a peaceful home<br />

of my own. I'm a gentle boy with a<br />

sweet demeanor who would do best<br />

in a household without a huge amount<br />

of ruckus. I hope to find a human who<br />

will understand that I need a little time<br />

to settle in, and who won't mind me<br />

making myself at home on their lap<br />

while they read a book or watch a<br />

movie.<br />

If you are yearning for a companion<br />

who will adore you with their whole<br />

heart, I might just be the guy for you.<br />

Please come and meet me today!<br />

Cove<br />

Female | 5 ½ yrs old<br />

Torbie & White DSH<br />

Hi there, I'm Cove, I'm a sweet girl<br />

with some trust issues. As you can<br />

imagine, being surrounded by other<br />

animals and lots of new people makes<br />

it hard for me to relax. However, once<br />

I get to know you, there isn't a nicer<br />

girl than me! I am a bit starved for<br />

affection and I will pace around and<br />

watch you carefully to see if you want<br />

a friend. If you are not in the mood, I<br />

will find a cozy spot to be on my own.<br />

But if you give me a sign (like talking<br />

to me encouragingly or patting your<br />

lap) I'll cozy right on up to you for<br />

some petting and love. I hope you will<br />

take a chance on me so that we can<br />

grow together!<br />

BONDED PAIR<br />

Prosecco &<br />

Champagne<br />

PROSCECCO | Male | 2 yrs old<br />

CHAMPAGNE | Female | 2 yrs old<br />

Black and White DSH<br />

We bring out the best in each other and<br />

will bring endless joy, laughter, and<br />

companionship to your home. Adopt<br />

us, and let’s create heartwarming<br />

memories together!<br />

Wallace<br />

Male | 1 yr old | Pit Bull Terrier Mix<br />

Hello, I'm Wallace, or you can call me<br />

Wally, I'm not picky when it comes<br />

to my name or affection. I'm a big<br />

love bug that's ready to have fun! I'm<br />

"short for a Pitbull" some might say,<br />

but my love for life and playing is not.<br />

I'm a boy who loves living large! I’m<br />

outgoing and goofy, and as playful as<br />

they come! I can’t wait to live my best<br />

life full of love and exciting adventures<br />

with my perfect family. I sure hope you<br />

come find me soon… I’ll be right here<br />

waiting for you.<br />

urbantoadmedia.com | 29


LOCAL HERO | TRAVIS STEFONOWICZ<br />

FARGO ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE<br />

WRITTEN BY: EMMA VATNSDAL<br />

PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA<br />

Winston Churchill once said, "We make a living by what<br />

we get, but we make a life by what we give. <strong>The</strong> true<br />

guide of life is to do what is right, even if it is not always<br />

easy, and to seek always to help others in their time of<br />

need."<br />

With more than two decades in law enforcement under<br />

his belt, Travis Stefonowicz has experienced a lot. And<br />

it was the helpers who inspired him to become one<br />

himself.<br />

“Growing up in a small town, I witnessed a tight-knit<br />

community of hardworking individuals who always<br />

came together,” said Stefonowicz. “One of the people<br />

I really looked up to was a standout wrestler. He was<br />

an amazing person and an amazing athlete, but he was<br />

in a car accident where he ended up losing his legs.<br />

And the community just kind of rallied around him and<br />

the other families involved, showing them incredible<br />

support. I was pretty young, but it left an impression<br />

on me.”<br />

But the road to where he’s at now wasn’t paved with a<br />

blue stripe. <strong>The</strong> obstacles he’s overcome propelled him<br />

from dispatcher to Assistant Chief of Police for Fargo,<br />

N.D.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Early Days<br />

“When I first started school, I wanted to be a nurse<br />

or an occupational therapist,” said Stefonowicz. “But<br />

as a young person, studying and doing (the medical)<br />

stuff really wasn’t in my trajectory at that time. I wasn’t<br />

interested or passionate about (nursing). But I saw that<br />

there was this need for good people to help people, so<br />

30 | THE GOOD LIFE


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LOCAL HERO | TRAVIS STEFONOWICZ<br />

that kind of opened my eyes a little bit and I decided<br />

(nursing and occupational therapy) wasn’t going to be<br />

my path.”<br />

Stefonowicz then shifted his focus to the business<br />

world, pursuing a business major in accounting.<br />

“I immediately recognized that I didn’t like desk work,”<br />

he said, chuckling.<br />

While at school for business, Stefonowicz worked in<br />

loss prevention at JCPenney.<br />

“I started picking up on when money and other things<br />

went missing,” he said. “My boss at the time said ‘have<br />

you ever considered a career in law enforcement?<br />

You’re good at this part.’ And when officers came to<br />

deal with cases (at JCPenney) they’d bring it up too.”<br />

When officers would ask him if he had considered<br />

pursuing law enforcement, Stefonowicz said he<br />

couldn’t help but feel frustrated.<br />

“I was always frustrated, because when they would<br />

(ask if he’d ever consider law enforcement) I would<br />

ask them questions like ‘Who do I contact? How do I<br />

even start the process?’ and (the officers working the<br />

loss prevention cases) said they didn’t even know the<br />

number for HR or who we were supposed to contact.<br />

I also worked at a bar at the time so I would see (the<br />

officers) there too. <strong>The</strong>y’d remember me and we’d have<br />

these conversations all the time, but it was always the<br />

same answer, ‘I don’t know the number’ or ‘I don’t even<br />

remember the test we took or how you could study.’ So<br />

I was really really frustrated.”<br />

But it was that frustration that opened the door and<br />

set his path for the future.<br />

Opening the Door<br />

At that time, the Fargo police department tested every<br />

two years.<br />

“I took the first test, and I could tell you exactly<br />

what I scored,” said Stefonowicz. “And I could tell<br />

you the name of the person who scored one less<br />

than me. He was chosen and I wasn’t, for another<br />

reason, but ultimately it ended up being just a little<br />

bit of serendipity. Because I walked across the street<br />

to the Police Department and asked what jobs there<br />

were that either people weren’t huge fans of or that I<br />

could sign up for and start right away. That application<br />

process and rejection was the driving force to show<br />

32 | THE GOOD LIFE


them they had made a poor choice and I was on a<br />

mission to prove it.”<br />

He started working the overnight shift as a<br />

dispatcher and realized immediately that he was<br />

on the wrong side of the radio.<br />

“From that point on, whenever anyone asked for<br />

something I would go out of my way for them,”<br />

he said. “I’m not very talkative or outgoing, I’m<br />

actually pretty reserved, but any time there was<br />

an officer in the room I’d ask them how they got to<br />

where they were, where they had went to school,<br />

and ultimately what can I do to prepare.”<br />

He befriended one of the younger officers, who<br />

clued him into where he could purchase study<br />

exams for the police hiring tests. He spent the<br />

next few months studying for the exams when he<br />

had downtime during his shifts as a dispatcher.<br />

But the Fargo Police Department only administers<br />

the test every two years. So Stefonowicz set his<br />

sights west; he applied and was hired in Aurora,<br />

Colorado, where his father was living.<br />

“It worked out well,” he said. “I got to spend<br />

some time there, learned a lot on the big city<br />

side of things and got to see a professionally-run<br />

academy.”<br />

He returned to Fargo and was told he needed<br />

to attend the academy again, giving him the<br />

urbantoadmedia.com | 33


LOCAL HERO | TRAVIS STEFONOWICZ<br />

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: TRAVIS STEFONOWICZ<br />

opportunity to see two different styles of instruction.<br />

Once again, he found himself surrounded by two types<br />

of people: some who felt they were meant to be there<br />

and others who were a bit less passionate.<br />

Stefonowicz knew what side he wanted to work with.<br />

“That set my tone,” Stefonowicz said. “From that<br />

point on, recruiting and teaching was my sole purpose<br />

in life. It was helping other good people get into law<br />

enforcement.”<br />

Clearing the Way<br />

Whether it’s late nights and weekends helping prepare<br />

new recruits for interviews, or helping sort out<br />

resumes, once Stefonowicz found his purpose there<br />

was nothing that could stop him.<br />

“I find a lot of satisfaction and purpose in (helping<br />

recruits),” he said. “And it’s been a really cool<br />

experience. As I helped some people get into the<br />

field — whether that was through getting hired or the<br />

academy — I get to see them green as green can be<br />

on their first day. <strong>The</strong>y don’t know much of anything<br />

and they’re not real sure of themselves, but then they<br />

start to grow their confidence and things start to work<br />

in their favor and it’s fantastic. <strong>The</strong> work doesn’t get<br />

easier, they just get better.”<br />

Throughout his time with the Fargo Police<br />

Department, Stefonowicz has held various teaching<br />

positions, including firearms instructor, defensive<br />

tactics instructor, active shooter instructor and police<br />

training officer. He also served on the Red River<br />

Regional SWAT team for nine years as an operator,<br />

basic training instructor and team leader.<br />

“You get these people when they’re<br />

coming in and they’re so excited,<br />

they’re like a sponge and you get to<br />

help set the course for them.”<br />

– Travis Stefonowicz<br />

“You get these people when they’re coming in and<br />

they’re so excited, they’re like a sponge and you get to<br />

help set the course for them,” Stefonowicz said. “I’ve<br />

found a lot of satisfaction in that.”<br />

34 | THE GOOD LIFE


Living the <strong>Good</strong> <strong>Life</strong><br />

While Stefonowicz excels in the “classroom,” his<br />

life extends far beyond that.<br />

“Family time is extremely important,” he said.<br />

“Friday nights in the fall, getting to watch my son<br />

play football … That’s precious time. My other two<br />

kids are involved in theater, so getting to see them<br />

at plays is super cool. <strong>The</strong>y’re so brave. I’d rather<br />

have somebody shoot at me than stand up there on<br />

stage and do what they do. It’s just amazing.”<br />

He has had to master balancing his responsibilities<br />

in uniform with his personal life at home, but it’s<br />

the support from his family that makes it all worth<br />

it.<br />

“My career path has certainly been interesting,<br />

and it’s been a fun ride for sure,” said Stefonowicz.<br />

“I never thought I’d find myself behind the desk,<br />

but the path that’s brought me from one end to the<br />

other is what I’ve got.<br />

It’s the little things that happen along the way that<br />

shape who you are, and you try to share those<br />

experiences with everybody else. I guess my sense<br />

of purpose is sharing those experiences so others<br />

don’t have to make the mistakes I made, they can<br />

learn from mine and be better from the get-go.”<br />

But through all the experiences, his sense of the<br />

good life is simple: happy, healthy and wealthy.<br />

“Wealthy can mean financial wealth, but also<br />

spiritual, emotional and physical wealth,” he<br />

said. “And for each person that’s going to look a<br />

little different. To some it’s a place, to others it’s<br />

a person. So I can be happy, healthy and wealthy<br />

in my relationship with my wife and kids. It's not<br />

necessarily a place for me, it’s a purpose. Happy,<br />

healthy and wealthy, for me, is a purpose driven by<br />

family.” •<br />

urbantoadmedia.com | 35

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