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BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP1A press conference was held on Monday, July 24 near Casselton, ND to announce a series of multi-million dollar projects that will deliver leading-edge fiber broadband technology to rural communities across Eastern North Dakota and Western Minnesota. In total, these rural broadband providers are building more than $119 million worth of fiber broadband, funded by four separate state and federal funding sources.Company DollarsBEK Communications Cooperative $16,100,070 Counties: Barnes, Cass, RansomHalstad Telephone Company $12,275,934 Counties: Cass, Steele, TraillMLGC $31,000,000 Counties: Cass, Richland, SteelePolar Communications $49,626,551 Counties: Walsh, Grand Forks, Traill, SteeleRed River Communications $5,272,494 Counties: RichlandThe transformational technology upgrade will generate a surge of benefits including: igniting economic opportunities for local businesses and agricultural operations, enabling rural students to realize their educational aspirations with better access to online learning platforms, strengthening healthcare services through improved telehealth capabilities, and bolstering public safety by improving communications infrastructure.“This is a game changer for us,” says Clay Erdmann, Regional Sales Manager for Mustang Seeds, a seed supply company located just three miles south of Casselton. “We’ll be able to run our business much more eciently with a reliable, faster connection.”“The people living in this region have been waiting a long time for this to happen,” says Tom Steinolfson, CEO/GM of Red River Communications. “Speaking on behalf of my broadband colleagues across the state, we are thrilled to be able to fulfill the promise to the residents of these underserved and unserved communities who have been waiting a long time to enjoy the same connectivity as some of their neighbors in more populated areas.”Fiber Broadband Expands to Eastern North DakotaCompanies Invest in State’s Rural CommunitiesBEK COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE AUGUST 2023ONLINE EDITION2024 Calendar Photo ContestCalling all amateur photographers! PAGE 3GRANT DEADLINESBEK oers multiple grant opportunities. Learn more!PAGE 4DAKOTA TABLESIMPLE CHOCOLATE CAKEYou have to try this super simple and delicious chocolate cake recipe! PAGE 5888.475.2361bek.coop

BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP2PRCA Ropes In Dakota Cowboy on YouTube ChannelFarmworker Appreciation Day indeed is a significant day to acknowledge and appreciate the hard work and dedication of individuals working in the farming sector. Agriculture is an industry that is vital to every country’s economy, food security, and even cultural identity. It’s also an extremely demanding and often underappreciated job.Farmworkers perform various tasks including planting, harvesting, maintaining livestock, operating machinery, and even contributing to research and development in agricultural practices. Despite the physical demands and long hours associated with their job, they continue to work diligently to provide food for communities around the world.Farmworker Appreciation Day serves as a reminder of the challenges that farmworkers face, such as low wages, poor working conditions, and exposure to pesticides. It’s an opportunity to advocate for improved labor standards, health and safety protections, and fair wages in the agriculture sector. The day is about more than just gratitude—it’s about respect, dignity, and advocacy for farmworkers’ rights. Remember, every time we sit down to eat, we should appreciate the enormous amount of hard work that has gone into producing our food—from the field to the fork. So, this August 6th, thank a farmer!BEK TV is excited to announce that its hit show, Dakota Cowboy, is now streaming on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Pro Rodeo YouTube channel, bringing the thrilling world of North Dakota rodeo to a wider audience. Viewers can catch all action-packed episodes at youtube.com/@PRCAProRodeo.The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) is the oldest and largest rodeo-sanctioned body in the world. Its YouTube channel is a premier destination for rodeo fans, featuring exciting event coverage, interviews, highlights, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content. Dakota Cowboy is an hour-long original BEK TV production that celebrates the ways of Western living in North Dakota, highlighting the rich heritage and traditions of rodeo. Dakota Cowboy provides exclusive content, interviews with renowned rodeo athletes, and shines a light on young student rodeo athletes. Dakota Cowboy airs on BEK TV each Sunday evening at 7pm CT. The program also streams live on bek.news, and all episodes are archived on bek.news/dakotacowboy. The BEK Beacon is a bimonthly newsletter published by BEK Communications, © 2023. It is distributed without charge to all customers.BEK COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVEwas founded in 1952 as a local telecommunications cooperative serving Burleigh, Emmons and Kidder Counties. Since then, we’ve invested in state-of-the-art infrastructure, developed new products and services, and expanded to also serve Morton, Oliver, McLean, Logan, McIntosh, Barnes, Griggs, Cass, and Steele counties. BEK has changed quite a bit in 71 years, but we’re still a small-town cooperative at heart. This institution is an equal opportunity employer.BEK COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE 888-475-2361P.O. Box 230 200 East BroadwaySteele, ND 58482220 4th Street NortheastValley City, ND 58072923 East Interstate AvenueBismarck, ND 58503BOARD OF DIRECTORSDISTRICT IShane MorrisReganSanford WilliamsWingDISTRICT IIBob SubartRobinsonPresident Brett StrohTappenDISTRICT IIIVice President Kevin BernhardtLintonHolly WillHazeltonDISTRICT IVSecretary/Treasurer William (Bill) BeckerWishekGerald BurlackWishekAUGUST 2023August 6th: Farmworker Appreciation Day

BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP3The Mandan Rodeo serves as an emblem of North Dakota’s rich heritage, and the nationally acclaimed The Cowboy Channel wanted to carry that heritage on to their viewers across the world. They selected BEK TV to produce the rodeo for broadcast on their network through the Fourth of July holiday!This landmark partnership marks a significant progression in BEK TV’s mission to highlight North Dakota’s premier cultural events. The Cowboy Channel network is the first 24-hour television network wholly dedicated to western sports and the western lifestyle. It provides comprehensive coverage of rodeo, bull riding, and the expansive world of western sports. Additionally, The Cowgirl Channel also broadcasted the event.BEK TV, a front-runner in local broadcasting and a provider of next-generation entertainment, has been chosen for its dedication to local culture and cutting-edge technological capabilities. “This partnership presents a significant opportunity for BEK TV to showcase not just our technical capabilities, but also our profound appreciation for our local culture and traditions,” says Jordan Hassler, Chief Operations Ocer for BEK TV. “We are committed to delivering a world-class production that encapsulates the vibrant spirit and excitement of the Mandan Rodeo.”BEK Produces Mandan Rodeo for The Cowboy ChannelIt’s that time of year again! BEK is beginning work on its 2024 Community Calendar, and we need some photos to represent each month. If you’ve taken of photo that you’re proud of, consider sharing it with us for use in our calendar! Photos must illustrate nature, farming or the farming culture, or anything that represents North Dakota. Recipients of photos chosen will receive a thank you gift from BEK. Photo Entry RequirementsPhotos must be:• In color• In high resolution• Taken in North Dakota• Taken by someone who receives at least one BEK service: internet, phone, security, or EPIC IPTV.Please limit the number of photos you submit to 10. When submitting, don’t forget to include your full name and the city you live in.To Submit a PhotoEmail photo entries to: marketing@bektel.coop Subject Line: Photo Contest 2023 Submission Deadline: September 15, 2023*Please Note: When emailing photos, please attach them to the email. If you have photos in cloud storage, download the individual photos and send as an attachment in an email.BEK 2024 Calendar ContestCalling all Amateur Photographers!

BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP4Funding the FutureApply for a BEK GrantCommunity Partnership Program GrantThe next application deadline for the BEK Community Partnership Program (CPC) is coming up! CPC grants are awarded to various nonprofit community organizations and groups in the BEK serving area. Winners are chosen each April and October.The next application deadline is September 29. Apply at bek.coop/coop/cpp.Who Can Apply?• Community-Owned Businesses• Community Facilities• Community-Based or Nonprofit Projects To Apply, You Must:• Be tax-exempt• Be a nonprofit organization or group• Be located within the BEK service area OR receive BEK services through BEK FiberFoundation for Rural Services Program GrantAnother grant opportunity available to rural communities is the Community Grant Program through The Foundation of Rural Services (FRS). The annual grant is open to communities served by NTCA members, including BEK Communications.The FRS Community Grant Program focuses on four major categories:• Business and Economic Development• Community Development • Education• TelecommunicationsThe deadline to submit applications is August 31, 2023. Apply by visiting bek.coop/coop/frs-grant-application. Awards are announced each November.For more information on BEK grant opportunities, visit bek.coop and click on Resources.

BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP5Simple Chocolate CakeSUBMITTED BY: EMMA BERG FROM WILTON. (A recipe passed down from her Great Grandmother Lillian Schauer.)INGREDIENTS:3 cups flour2 cups sugar½ cup baking cocoa1 tsp salt2 tsp baking soda2 tsp vinegar2 tsp vanilla⅔ cups vegetable oil2 cups cold waterDIRECTIONS:1. Preheat the oven to 350°. In a 9x13 pan, sift together all dry ingredients. 2. Make three holes in the dry ingredients. Add 2 tsp vinegar in one hole, 2 tsp vanilla in another hole and ⅔ cup vegetable oil in the third hole. 3. Pour 2 cups of cold water over the top. Mix ingredients well.4. Bake at 350° degrees for 30-35 minutes. If desired, once the cake cools, sprinkle powdered sugar over the top.Submit your favorite recipe to Dakota Table by mailing it to: PO Box 230, Steele, ND 58482 or email marketing@bektel.comRecipes will be randomly drawn for a chance to be published in the Beacon.Submit a recipe to Dakota Table. If we publish your recipe, we will mail you some kitchen goodies!

BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEK.COOP6The digital BEK Beacon is a bimonthly publication distributed electronically and free of charge to all BEK customers. This digital publication is a supplement to the bimonthly printed BEK Beacon that is distributed by mail. This publication is only available online. Published by BEK Communications Cooperative© 2023