at least they didn't send them to jersey, that would have been cruel.

I was born across the river about 45 miles NE in a little town of 2,000 people and glad I was, even if our state bird is the Mosquito. My health, values, and physical well being were cultivated there and my good will to all came from that upbringing. I got a great education there and in the colleges there and I am very grateful. Terrific people. Have a great Holiday Kevin.

They use snow plows to make huge piles of snow and use that. I don't even live in a cold place and I know that.

They go to the Dikes, an area next to the Red River, neat little rec area if you can stand the cold. Fargo has extreme weather - bitter bitter cold in the winter, hot as h*ll in the summer with high humidity, floods every spring and some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Don't figure.

Actually, in that picture they're standing right in front of the Fargo Theater, which isn't all that far from the Red River. There's a pretty decent-sized dike there right across the street from the YMCA, where they have sledding in the winter.

I wonder if the theater still has the life-sized wooden sculpture of Marge Gunderson upstairs?

The sliding hill is the huge earthen dike along the river. In the winter it functions as a sliding hill and has a little warming house that rents out inner tubes if you don't have your own sled; and in the spring and early summer it holds back the river, protecting the city from flood.

jackieca, it's LESBIAN! you tea party palin lover haters need to educate yourselves!!

No, it's actually dike. The derogatory or slang term that you're referring to for lesbians is spelled with a Y not and I. Just thought I'd educate you ;)

HAHAHAHAHA They will find ANY way to put something political out there. What a freakin stupid post.

Mike - I love it! What a great sense of humor and I'm guessing the team-building done on this trip won't be matched by anything else. They are spending money pumping up a city's economy and still having fun! Great story!

It's called a publicity stunt. And it worked. Besides, these were managers and directors, not actual worker types. In the end, an all expenses paid trip is great no matter where you go. This was not punishment, this was just a lesser reward than an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii. Being punished would be getting no bonus, which I bet these guys got as well, or being fired.

They still made profit for the year, just not as much as they wanted. So it's not like the company went into the Red to pull this team building stunt.

Hello? they just got national attention...

a very clever move if you ask me. I bet they make next years target within 6 months due to this article.

Now if only our government could do the same thing with their employees!

Funny, most of the Government employees I know are extremely hard workers. In the past, Government jobs were much lower paying than general industry. To make up for it, they got a little more in the way of security and benefits. These days, if we think of them as overpaid, it's because the private sector has screwed the rest of us over.

My company pays for a weekend at a motel in the twin cities every year. It's not hawaii, but it is a chance to get away. I don't know of any government jobs that gives a paid vacation to anywhere.

I agree with you Mike. An all-expense paid trip anywhere is not a punishment, not matter what the employees think. The company could have donated that money to Toys for Tots or some other worthwhile organization.

as a typical conservative hater, you didn't get it.besides I thought that you people respected the private sector and waht they do with their money. Obviously this was a publicity stunt for the company and the publicity they will get, is priceless

Hey Granny, there are government jobs that give paid vacations, sometimes several a year. The jobs are Congressman and Senator. The trips are commonly referred to as "junkets" or "fact-finding missions". What facts they are looking for in the Carribean, I have no idea.

Actually that's "Jeeeeeeepers" or "Offfff Ta" or my favorite is "Yah Den". I agree what a great stunt. Lots of traffic on the topic for both Fargo the their product. Not a bad deal. Otherwise you Fargoanions need to show that tough outer skin made so famous in the movies and commercial ads and quit your dad gum whinning. Nothin' but a bunch of Duurrettttt Seckins! Look it up, it's Norwegian. Maybe spelled incorrectly but I have a sense of humor too. hahahahaha Let it snow let it snow let it snow! ;-))

smokey, it's just a plain "jeepers" -- and it's "uffda". Of course, the action in the movie "Fargo" actually took place in and around Minneapolis and Bemidji, MN -- not Fargo, ND. The only thing that might have happened in Fargo was when Jerry Lundegaard was arrested while trying to escape out the motel room's bathroom window. I've been to both Bemidji and Fargo, and neither town is as bleak and "lifeless" as Hollywood and the "mainstream" media portray them to be.

As for annual flooding, if you don't want your home and/or business flooded -- don't build in a floodplain. Here's a huge clue: The Red River valley is a GIANT floodplain -- and it's why that same valley has always been such a great place to grow FOOD (the flooding deposits silt, which makes the area fertile, which makes it so perfect for farming).

"From this Valley they say You are leaving,

Do not hasten to bid me adieu,

Just remem-ber this Red River Valley,

and the Cowboy who loved only you~

Marty Robbins I believe. Think he wrote about Fargo?

Story was in Brainerd, MN not Bemidji (even though, filming took place in Bemidji and not Brainerd).

Steve, how else do we human beings acquire the material values we need to thrive? Companies that are constantly increasing their revenues by upping their sales make us all richer by providing us with the products and services we need. The opposite of corporate greed would have them give stuff away at a loss and run the business into the ground. Try spreading that across an economy. Jeez.

Steve,

What a special little man you are. A company looks to increase its’ profits by a mere 4% and you call that greed; given the economy 4% is very reasonable. A company can only stay in business if it grows. Just to keep up with inflation a company HAS to grow. Tell you what Stevie old boy, next time you’re offered a raise tell them “No Thanks, I wouldn’t want you to have to expect an increase in profits in order to pay for it. Anyway, expecting a raise would make me look GREEDY.

I award you the ID-10-T award of the day.

A company can only stay in business if it grows? Take some more Oxycontin. A business stays around as long as it makes a decent profit. The problem is, for a lot of business owners/shareholders, no amount of profit is enough.THAT is greed, little man.

Growth means greed? Golly, I wish more folks were greedy, becasue maybe there'd be more growth, and thus more jobs and lower unemployment. Or maybe more companies should just 'settle down' once they've achieved a 'decent profit' No growth, no new jobs, but the owners will feel good that they are not greedy.

A business does not have to grow or make a profit just to stay in business. Amtrak is a perfect example of that -- it loses money every year, yet it's been around far longer than the majority of small businesses that have managed to make even a "modest" profit from the get-go.

Msorny, if you want more people employed and more jobs -- get your Right-wing Conservative heroes to bring all those jobs back to the U.S.A. Problem is, every time a robot is brought to make things more efficient and work is "outsourced" to India and Thailand, at least three people in the U.S.A. lose their jobs. But you don't really care, do you, as long as folks like Dick Cheney can make millions of dollars a day.

You can't be serious right? When I initially started reading your comment I thought you were going to be funny, or prove some point but you stayed with what you stated that a company doesnt have to grow or turn a profit to stay in business. If you think Amtrak is a wonderful example of that, let me ask you where you think they get their money from? Yes, Amtrak can lose money every year and stay in business, thats because it is government subsidized.

You say we should ask our right wing conservative heroes to bring back jobs, and I sure hope they do. Because your left wing liberal "heroes" over years have created a job environment in the United States that is toxic to most business models, specifically and most importantly manufacturing. Too many labor unions, too many taxes, too many government subsidized plans, etc have put so much of a burden on our businesses backs (small and medium to large sized businesses) that they have shifted their manufacturing overseas. So maybe you should ask your socialist heroes to play nicey nicey, and help create the type of environment that is conducive to economic growth and prosperity! I D I O T!

I can't believe the "Idiots" who couldn't understand what they read. The company DID grow their sales, by 2%. In this lousy economy, they should be HAPPY and THANKFUL, it's clearly a GOOD thing. Instead they remind me of that psychotic character in the movie "The Addams Family" screaming how she got a Barbie doll for Christmas, but she had to kill her parents anyway because it wasn't good enough. She'd wanted a Malibu Barbie. Never grateful, that's my definition of greed, folks.

Don't know why you think we are getting raises in Fargo...the company I work for hasnt handed one out for 3 years.

Robin

Not a raise in Fargo. Just go to Fargo, which means they probably still have a job.

And maybe, dear Jimmy, that sales team deliberately "under-performed" so they could go to Fargo. I would rather go to Rapid City than Honolulu; Rapid is far less crowded any time of the year, and things are less expensive there, too.

In this market I am very dismayed at persons who gripe about not getting a raise when so many have been laid off and let go and many, many others have been hit with salary reductions of anywhere from 5-20% in order to keep their jobs because management says "either we cut pay or some people have to be let go". Persons in this economic environment still able to pay their bills, put food on the table and who do not have ruined credit should shut the F up and be grateful that they are not in the position that at least one in four of their fellow Americans are!

More fun even ;)

Fun is what you make it, but yes there is actually a lot to do to have fun.

Kenneth - Bush put us there. He should get a trip to Siberia!

Only losers put politics into everything. You are both losers in this story

kenneth -

you pack his bags and i will pay for his one way ticket lol

Part of being responsible is knowing how to use propper grammar.

The Bush bashing is done! The Democrats were in control of Congress, so why don't you hang Barney and friends.

Dammit! Proper*

Antartica? Siberia?

Hey, hire Palin as their tour guide! She can see both from her backyard!

you guys forget it was Clinton that started the housing crisis. Just saying.

And Clinton had a Republican congress that actually passed the laws.

We need to stop blaming the Pres & Start putting the blame where it really lies, Congress. Of course, if the president would just go back to being the manager the constitution says he's supposed to be, things might be a bit better for all.

Why does everyone have to be so partisan and say stupid things. This wasn't about anyone of those people. Get a life.

Gracie, it's Reagan who is responsible for the whole mess, with his de-regulation of everything. Just look at how successful that hasn't been.

Oh, and I'm still waiting for my share of that "trickle-down" financial windfall. Not holding my breath, but still waiting.

Everybody here for the most part has played right into the hands of the parties and exactly what they want you to think. Ever notice its never their party's fault? Its always the other party? That no party D or R says "Oops, yeah, that didn't work out as planned and we really didn't think this through right"? Of course not, its always the other side of the aisle that messed up. Quit being so stupid and gullible people.

ReebootIt-

Again... It's Damn it NOT Dammit.

You probably shouldn't get on other people's grammar if yours isn't all that great.

I agree SJLND! I love Fargo and North Dakota in general. I have had the pleasure to head there for work from California a number of times and the people are great, the food is good, and its just a nice break in general. Although they should have gone curling instead of watching a movie called Fargo which wasn't even filmed in Fargo.

And you're right...ND is the best state in the country from an economic point of view. They didn't do the foolish thing a few years ago and return their surplus to the population. It's better off where it is.

California and other "boom" states could learn from ND and SD.

Ridiculously low crime rates, a 1.2 billion dollar surplus, excellent infrastructure and education...and absolutely no sense of humour.... (:

But its also 50th in tourism right behind ......You guessed it South Dakota

I live 45 miles from Fargo. I love North Dakota and everything about it. I have traveled to various places in the United States. Compared to the northern Midwest, everyone is rude and uptight. Quit bashing our state, it doesn't take much to tolerate the cold. Its called dressing warm.

Fargo?- it was great till my car got stolen, lost my job cause i couldn't get to work and told no free school lunch for kids just cause i didnt have an income. moved back to california where i can live minutes from the beach, free healthcare, and get a government check!

you probably souldn't read this stuff if you get offened cause someone doesn't want to be in your town. Get over it. They have a right to an opinion, and I'm sure you'd rather go on vacation to HI too.

Take it easy. I am sure he wasn't bashing Fargo, as he had the chance to go to Hawaii. I have been to Fargo and I can say it's the climate and life I love. A nice sized town with a winter romantic package that is among the best. You need to love the cold, to say you love Fargo. I know live in MD and at my age, the 21 degree weather gets to me. Take care and I hope to get back to Fargo in the near future.

50th in tourism!? I think I might move there just to avoid the jackasses on vacation!

oh dont get your panties in a bunch can no one crack a joke anymore without offending someone? How many people say California is land of the fruits and nuts? Get over yourself and learn to laugh it off please.

Sounds like karma, cd.

North Dakota is a nice state, worked there for several years. However, their current boom is due to oil and a very vibrant (right now, not always) agricultural economy.

Great promotion by a company, which most likely will cause more public recognition of their products than any advertising would of.

I live in Hawaii,SJLND. I moved from frigid Michigan 30 years ago. People are very nice here too, but we don't have the life-threatening weather.There's no way I could put up with the difficulties surrounding the cold.I haven't scraped ice off my car windshield since 1979! We have low crime rates too. But we don't have a surplus ( which some would say is irresponsible for a taxing government to maintain, especially if you don;t seem to need it). But we have employer mandated health insurance. Every person working over 20 hours per week has it and it's been working fine for 36 years. Our premiums for a family of 4 are some of the lowest in the nation.

The best comment in all of these posts is that we are 50th in tourism. We don't want tourists. The saying in Nodak is, "the cold just keeps the riff-raff out!"

SJLND, What is the typical annual temperature swing in that part of the state, and are there any decent lumber yards around? Washington is nice, but the incompetent political system here is driving me nuts! I've always felt more at home in the mid-west anyway.

bucky, I guess you forgot to mention the life threatening volcanoes and tropical storms. Nowhere is perfect, but I would trade tourists for cold any day.

I love Fargo and Rapid City SD is one of my favorite cities. Isn't fargo one of the towns with the lowest UI? It is still a great town and the people are so sweet. I wish I had been on that team...I would show them how to enjoy a great city.

BTW- I am on the EAST coast and it is about 20 degrees with a 7 degrees wind chill.

The company sending them to your town as punishment is what you should be upset about. Not some sales guy who would rather be vacationing in Hawaii, can't say I blame him either.

And by all means, stay out of California. One less Croc wearing hick tourist meandering around.

Get over yurself you simple minded little whiney bum! What a crock of poop that you feel so "Slighted" by the comments. Poor YOU! Now get your boots and go outside and enjoy the winter air. ;-))

I don't think Fargo should be offended - I don't think the aim was to say Fargo itself is a bad place, but simply the humorous tion of going to Fargo in December versus Hawaii. You have to admit it is not what you would normally consider a winter holiday destination.

IMO, Fargo is great, about twice a year: for the entire six minute interval between summer and winter, and vice-versa. It seems to have only two seasons: "boiling hot", and "frozen solid". You like it? Good for you, my friend, you can keep it.

LOL Someone's got the defensive stick ALL THE WAY up their hiney.

ND sucks compared to WA. There, now you can feel offended. lol

Better Fargo than Las Vegas where I live. At least Obama didn't diss North Dakota twice on national TV!

I agree SJLND - I live in Fargo. Punishment? Maybe, but self-inflicted. Note: We can all leave if we wanted to. However; when asked by out of state people why I live here...I just ask them what they pay for rent and mortgage. The conversation usually stops there with a disgusted "sigh". We may live here, but because of the status of our state government and the conservative way we live...we can all still afford to travel on vacations. Yep - vacation. We all still have jobs here.

Ummm, guys? You have jobs for the same reason you have no tourism--nobody goes to the Dakotas unless they have a job. Well, unless they are Native American.

Something tells me that the unemployment rate in the Dakotas, as well as other economic indicators, does not reflect the situation with the Native Americans. Unemployment in South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Reservation is over 80% and over 90% live in poverty. On the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota, two out of three residents are out of work, and the average annual income is about $4K.

Yes, I suppose if one excludes the poverty class element of the population because they are on reservations that aren't really a "part" of the Dakotas, that your economy looks great. Do we get to exclude the poverty class element of the population in all the other states, also?

SJLND - First of all get a sense of humor! If the article offended you, then you're a sad individual.

Secondly North Dakota has a surplus because of states like California. Look at how much you receive in Federal Money and look how much North Dakota is putting in. They're getting over a 200% return on their money. Your "Surplus" is the Welfare coming in from other states.

only if the class in question CONSIDERS ITSELF sovereign.

charleyb - cool it charley...it's a candy company. So they put together a team building exercise that appears to have worked. They aren't spending your money.

Then you are robbing yourself of deliciousness like Hot Tamales and Mike & Ikes. Good. More for me!

They increased sales by 2% instead of 4%. The fact that they increased sales of candy in an economy like this is, I think, well worth a vacation!

hey a trip somewhere is better than a trip nowhere ! booo hooo i got a free trip get over it !

TwoEdgedSword.

You're right and they got a vacation, didn't they?

A) The employees actually got a benefit - travel to a place they have probably never been before and have experiences they have never had before, all expenses paid - I would LOVE that.

B) The economy got a boost - the company sent their employees to Fargo so Fargo got an economic boost and the company shelled out some of the money they made in profits and now non-company people have benefited from the largesse of the company.

C) And the company gets a bonus - free publicity! It hit the front page of MSN.COM; where is the coverage of the Hawaii trip - that wouldn't have made any news because it is so commonplace.

And I bet the employees would rather take this trip than stay home.

Dude you haven't been a customer of theirs in any real or meaningful way, get over yourself. And those who felt it was an insult then you probably don't have much of a sense of humor or humility anyhow and the article wasnt written for you. But I would be looking for another job because the one's who should be insulted were the sales force that had 2% growth in a completely down economy. Though I have to admit I got them beat with a 16% growth this year.

charlyb

You need to get sent to the most southern tip of Texas or maybe to Arizona to visit its governor. Fargo is not a bad place.

Amen to that! At least this company is still investing in it's people. My company did the same and I have to deal with those people all the time. I would much rather deal with people in Fargo. I can sort of make out what they say! Sort of. :D

Your labor union probably demanded $40/hr + benefits to turn screws.

Oh hate.. you're sad. Speculation at it's finest. So.. you're in favor of shipping jobs outside the company? Says a lot.

6 years, 7 months, 14 days, 7 hours, and 52 minutes

Can do achievers? The local economy is so bad they would blow their brains out!! You can't sell what people can't buy! Remember there is a lot of people who had decent jobs, those jobs are gone, they're lucky to keep a roof over their heads.

At least their kept their jobs, Fargo never been there.

No sales managers = no sales = no jobs. Wanna change your mind?

MeMeMe--I am quite sure that there were sales long before there were sales managers. And, I am quite sure that if responsibilities were spread among the other workers, that things would do fine.

A tad self-important, are we?

I love the weather in RC! They seem to think RC is punishment just the same as they think Fargo, is punishment. I am a tad bit offended by both! I lived in ND most of my life and live near RC now. Although I would prefer RC weather, ND weather is not what the article makes it out to be. Both states are wonderful states to live in and it's a pity that the ppl that wrote the article have no idea what they are missing, having not lived in the Dakotas. Fresh air, low crime and uncrowded cities are just a few of the wonderful gifts we enjoy here. But the colder weather does keep some of the riff-raff out, so I guess we'll take it!