Gunnar and Knut explore The Rolfsrud Ranch

Brothers Gunnar and Knut inspect a pump jack on the Rolfsrud homestead. 
Their great-uncle claimed this property in 1905 after immigrating from Norway.
The modern horizontal oil well penetrates the famous Bakken Shale formation.

The visitors stood out in the wide open spaces to view
hay baling operations powered by one of the smaller farm
 tractors. David Rolfsrud explained the operation. Click 
to see the vista that's quite unlike the Norwegian terrain.

Overnight email brought photos of our Norwegian Cousins, Gunnar and Knut, and their adventures yesterday on the Rolfsrud Ranch in western North Dakota. Guy Rolfsrud photographed a busy day on the farm for the two Norwegian dudes. No comments so far, we'll get a full report soon from host and family patriarch Harold. . . and from Gunnar and Knut when they return here for a day in Shakopee.
When they do, there will be no oil wells, hay baling, dams or cattle branding. Just a beer in the back yard and a retelling of what has to  be the biggest day of their 10-day bus tour of the Upper Midwest.
Here's the photos with captions Stan made up from memory. Thanks for the pictures, Guy. You done good, you old Norwegian.

Gunnar applies the HR brand to a new calf under the watchful eye of 
ranchers Doug and John Rolfsud. 

This may be the Garrison Dam on the Missouri River that creates Lake Sakajewa, we don't know for sure. What we do know is that these blood cousins, American Harold Rolfsrud and Norwegian Gunnar Rolfsrud, are enjoying each other's company.