The annual Flere Lag Stevne is coming to Willmar Aug. 6-9, 2024. This gathering is sponsored by heritage groups whose ancestors immigrated from the old Norwegian regions of Solør, Romerike (Akershus), Hedmark, Gudbrandsdal, and Trøndelag. Volunteer genealogists with experience in researching those areas will be on hand to assist in tracing family history in Norwegian records.
This year’s theme is “A Skillet in One Hand, a Hoe in the Other: Norwegian Women Settlers.” Jill Wohnoutka (Executive Director of the Kandiyohi Historical Association) is set to talk about Scandinavian female pioneers in the Lakes area. Other guest speakers will include authors Candace Simar (Sister Lumberjack); Gracia Grindal (Early Churches of the -Norwegian Settlers); and Paul Arneson (I Couldn’t Milk Another Goat: Goodbye Norway, Hello Minnesota). A highlight is the Thursday night banquet with humorous remarks by Eric Dregni (For the Love of Cod). The event will end on the morning of Friday, Aug. 9, with a bus tour of Norwegian heritage sites, and lunch at the Kandiyohi County Museum.
The public is invited to the Scandinavian Vendor Fair:
• 1-9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6
• 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7
• 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8
Nonmembers are welcome to attend presentations and to use the Genealogy Research Room for a daily fee of $20.
The stevne will be held at the Willmar Conference Center & Best Western Plus Willmar, 2100 Highway 12 E., Willmar, MN 56301. For more information, email
nkwbarnes@yahoo.com, or go to www.fellesraad.com and click on the Flere Lag Stevne page.