PRAIRIE ROSES: To Ron Offutt, 1964 graduate of Concordia College, for giving his alma mater what is believed to be the biggest gift the school has ever received to help fund the new Offutt School of Business on the Moorhead campus. Concordia has been raising money for the school for some time, and Offutt's donation puts the campaign close to its $50 million goal. Offutt is founder and chairman of R.D. Offutt Co., the nation's largest producer of potatoes, and chairman of RDO Equipment Co., which owns the largest network of John Deere agriculture and construction machinery dealerships in the U.S. In announcing the gift, Offutt credited the late Concordia President Pamela Jolicoeur for the vision that led to the business school. The school will focus ethics, global business, entrepreneurship and leadership. Offutt's generous gift enhances Concordia's tradition of excellence.
LEAFY SPURGE: To the die-hard University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux logo fans who don't seem to realize the logo has been retired. While formal retirements won't happen until August 2011, UND officials are into a process of finding a new nickname and logo to replace the old nickname and logo. The state Board of Higher Education decided in April to retire the old moniker. Supporters of keeping the logo are spitting into the wind. Furthermore, they are making a difficult but necessary transition more difficult. An era is over. A new era is dawning. UND will be stronger for it.
PRAIRIE ROSES: To the friends and neighbors of the late farmer Todd Radi of Fisher, Minn., who came out in big numbers to help his family dig 600 acres of sugar beets. Radi, who planted the crop in the spring, died Aug. 12 of cancer. He was 36. Some 150 people and a parade of equipment came to the Radi place to bring in the valuable crop. After about eight hours, the work was done. Neighbors often help neighbors in times of need, but the size of this harvest crew was amazing. Nice work, all.
Forum editorials represent the opinion of Forum management and the newspaper's Editorial Board.
