TOUGH AS NAILS

READ BOOKS, RUN THE BASES DID YOU KNOW... Combine Ground Beef and seasoning into a 1 THE LARKS Kids in classrooms without classroom libraries read large bowl mixing lightly but thoroughly. READING PROGRAM 50% less than kids in classrooms with libraries? BY ETHAN CHAIET

The Farmer’s Union Insurance Reading Program encourages students in the Bismarck-Mandan and “The ballpark is my happy place, it is somewhere I can be myself and bring light to everyone’s day.” surrounding areas to read. The more books they read, the more opportunities they have to earn Gameday staff member, Kaylee Hughes, brings a BIG smile and energetic attitude each day she comes super cool prizes such as pencils and erasers, passes to work. As a fan of the Larks since day one, Kaylee has enjoyed watching the Larks community grow and to the Dakota Zoo, the Medora zip-line and free overcome adversity. pizza at Pizza Ranch! 2 Shape the mixture into equal-sized balls. Kaylee is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. During the pandemic, she struggled to find herself and It’s our goal to help create excitement about reading be proud in her own skin. But when she learned about a FUN job opening with the Larks, her mindset and rewards students for accomplishing their changed. She decided it was time to work on herself, step out of her comfort zone and embrace her talents. reading goals. “To be ‘tough as nails,’ you can’t let little bumps in the road ruin your journey,” Kaylee said. “I try to This year the reading program grew by more than encourage everyone to stay positive when times get hard. I really pride myself on bringing positivity and 2,000 students. Check out the numbers below. light even in the darkest of times.” As for the Larks players on the field, Kaylee hopes that the team will always be there for each other in their best and worst moments. She wants the dugout to mirror the energy of the crowd and be full of love and encouragement.

34 57 1,115 3 Gently press the balls down to make flat burger shapes ½-¾-inch thick. 9,198 SCHOOLS CLASSROOMSCITIES Any guesses what — or should we say WHO — Kaylee is at the ballpark? STUDENTS

4 Make a small indentation in the center of the burger with your thumb. This prevents the center from swelling, leading to uneven cooking.

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