TIOGA, ND – The 16th Annual Bakken Rocks CookFest is bringing its festivities to Tioga on July 18. Held each summer in the oil patch, the Bakken Rocks CookFest offers residents the opportunity to get out and learn more about the oil and gas industry, meet some of its players, attend an information session where they can listen to and visit with the experts of the industry, and best of all, eat some of the best BBQ available in western North Dakota.
The CookFest has been a hallmark event of the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation since 2009. Since then, the event has hosted more than 25,000 people in 27 different communities throughout western North Dakota.
“This event remains a favorite among our companies and a favorite among the communities in the west,” says Tessa Sandstrom, North Dakota Petroleum Foundation executive director. “The energy industry remains a stronghold for our state, especially western North Dakota. We’re excited each year to get out, get to know community leaders who help us organize the event, and celebrate the progress we’ve experienced through this fun, family-friendly event.”
Oil and gas companies will serve ribs, brisket, barbecue, and more to earn the People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice titles. The oil and natural gas companies cooking this year include: 1st International Bank/MineralTracker, 3 Forks Services, Balon Valves – Oneok, Bell Supply, Chord Energy, Continental Resources, Enbridge, GO Wireline, Grayson Mill Energy – ChampionX, Hall Trucking, Hess Corporation, Hess Services, Inc., KC Harvey Environmental, Kraken, Marathon Petroleum, Mountain Supply & Service, Murex Petroleum, Nabors, SandPro, Titan Solutions, Well Werks Energy and XTO Energy.
“Bill Falcon and The Good Medicine Band” are slated to provide musical entertainment. There will also be games and activities hosted by the Gateway to Science, a bounce house, and a target-shooting station hosted by the Mule Deer Foundation for kids. All activities are free and open to the public.
The well-attended event typically draws between 1,000 and 1,500 people each year from surrounding communities and counties, says Sandstrom, with many making a long drive to attend.
The CookFest has been held in Belden and Killdeer (2009); Tioga and New Town (2010); Crosby and Watford City (2011); Ray and Belfield (2012); Powers Lake and Parshall (2013); Kenmare and Dunn Center (2014); Alexander and South Heart (2015); Mandaree and Stanley (2016); Westhope and Medora (2017); Grenora and Twin Buttes (2018); Bowman and Van Hook (2019); and, Arnegard and Mohall (2021); and Trenton and White Shield (2022); and back in Killdeer (2023).
Details About The Event:
July 18 – Tioga
2:30-4 p.m. CDT Bakken Basics Education Session, Tioga Community Center, 410 6th St NE
Welcome – Ron Ness, President, North Dakota Petroleum Council
Drilling, Geology and Energy of the Future - Kathy Neset, NESET Consulting Services
Oil & National Gas Production and Transportation Overview - Justin Kringstad, ND Pipeline Authority
From Emissions to Opportunities: CO2 Capture, Utilization and Storage in ND - Bethany Kurz, Director of Subsurface Characterization and Community Engagement, Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)
4-7 p.m. CDT Free BBQ, games, activities for kids, and music by “Bill Falcon and The Good Medicine Band” – Tioga Park, 5th St. NE
6:45 p.m. CDT Awards presented for Judge’s Choice & People’s Choice
For more information about the CookFest, visit:
https://ndpetroleumfoundation.org/event/bakkenrockscookfest/
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