The largest group to attend in several years gathered for registration and genealogy sessions on the beautiful University of Wisconsin campus at River Falls.  Friday morning included special demonstrations and presentations.  Chet Habberstad showed a video taken in Norway recently, Russel Wangen gave a demonstration on bentwood boxes, and Norman Brynsaas explained the detailed process of moving an 1860 immigrant barn from the Decorah, Iowa area to the museum at Hamer, Norway. 

On Friday afternoon the 7-Lags were called together by the sound of the lur, played by Paul Rockswold, Palmer Rockswold’s grandson.  The call of the lur, so rich in Norwegian history and legend was, of course, the theme of the Stevne.  Greetings were brought to the group from the Bygdelagenes Fellesraad; Lars Loberg, the Norwegian Vice Consul; and the presidents of the 7-Lags. Dick Rees, professional accordionist, offered a variety of Norwegian music followed by a video and commentary on Norwegian Stave Churches by Jim Rupert of the University of Wisconsin, River Falls.

The weather was pleasant and the genealogists were in their places waiting to assist members in their research when the Stevne opened on July 9.  It can only be called highly successful, as each year elated individuals find new information about their roots.  This is due to the quality of the volunteer genealogists and their leader, Marilyn Sorenson.  Genealogy continued until 10PM on Thursday and from 8 AM to noon on Friday.

Arts and crafts were exhibited and/or sold in the hallways.  Alternative entertainment was provided for those not interested in genealogy.

The afternoon program opened at 1:30 with the call of the "lur" by Reggie Habberstad and the parade of flags and banners to the stage of Stern Cultural Center.  The national anthems were sung, led by Larry Opsahl. Emcee Chet Habberstad called on college vice president Gedde and Mayor Schuler from Wahpeton for welcoming messages, followed by each of the 7-lag presidents.  Vice consul, Lars Løberg gave a talk about Norwegian-American activities in America.  This was followed by a sing-a-long led by Larry Opsahl.

The main program consisted of a Norwegian choir from Fergus Falls  and a comedian, Selmer Jordheim.  Also a presentation on immigration by Verlyn Anderson.

After the program those attending enjoyed visiting during the evening meal. The evening program at the auditorium at 7:30 presented a dramatic production based on Palmer Rockswold's book "PER (Immigrant & Pioneer)" Act 1. Verlyn Anderson was MC for the evening and Priscilla Sorknes was the soloist, with accompanist Evonne Anderson at the piano. The audience found the play, directed by Charles Sorum, nostalgic and emotional as the seven scenes depicted a Norwegian immigrant leaving family and homeland. Later on, those who wished to do so danced to the music of Harold and Vonnie Anderson of Fargo, who followed the theme of Scandinavian tunes.

At the Hadeland Lag meeting on Saturday, a motion was made and carried to change the fiscal year to be the calendar year.  The constitution was amended so that the past president would remain a voting member of the board and his predecessors would be advisory members of the Board.  This passed by a 2/3 vote.

After the Saturday evening banquet, the "Fiddlers Three" presented a sensational program of varied music, followed by the Uvdal Norwegian Folk Dancers from Numedal who added much to the evening.  For the finale, those wearing bunads were called to the stage. Each told something about the costume and the district it represented.

  As reported in the  August 1992 BRUA       

Hadeland Lag was well represented this year at the Seven-Lag Stevne, "Passage to the Prairie" in Wahpeton ND.  Thanks go to the overall chairperson, Dean Sorum, for a great job.  The stevne was well-planned and we hard many good comments from those who attended.  Thanks, too, to Leslie Rogne, for representing the Hadeland Lag in the genealogy session on Thursday, for his talk at the meeting Saturday morning, and to Paul Grainger for his Tour of Norway slides.

The formal part of the Seven-Lag Stevne began Friday afternoon with greetings by college and city officials.  This was followed by a sing-along with David Rokke, a historical lecture entitled "Immigration, When, Who and Why?" by Verlyn Anderson and remarks by Tom Skattum and Olaf Nelson.

We were entertained very well on Friday evening by Jadde Johnson, the young violinist who played for the 1992 stevne, and by the Buskerud Oldtime Orchestra.  later we enjoyed dancing and listening to the oldtime music of Harold and Vonnie Anderson of Fargo.

The Hadeland meeting got off to a good start Saturday morning with Olaf Nelson, vice president, presiding.  Tom Skattum was appointed to take minutes in the absence of a secretary.  Ellef Erlien led the group in a sing-along.  Dean Sorum gave the treasurer's report. He has been representing the Hadeland Lag in planning the Seven-Lag stevne.  Because of liability issues, they have had to incorporate and this caused some problems and frustrations.  After discussion, it was voted that we add another member to the board to represent the Hadeland Lag at the corporation meetings.

Tom Skattum showed his "Hadeland Pris" at the meeting and brought greetings from Ole and Helga Gamme and brought knives which had been made by Arvid Rostad.  They are unique because they are designed to fit sideways on a belt. 

Hadeland Lag continued the day with a catered picnic at Chahinkapa Park, followed by a tour at the Bagg Farm, one of the original bonanza farms in the area.  Guides there showed the group the old bunkhouse and some of the other buildings and told a little about life on a bonanza farm.  The Bagg Bonanza Farm was named to the National Register of Historic Places on Nov. 14, 1985, and to the State Historic Sites Registry on May 2, 1986.  It was opened to tourists in the fall of 1990.

There was a little time for relaxing before the banquet and the showing of Act II of "Per (Immigrant and Pioneer)" based on the book by Palmer Rockswold.  He narrated the play which was directed by Charles Sorum, nephew of Dean Sorum.

The play was followed with piano selections by Paul Sorum, son of Dean and Carol Sorum, and by comedienne and vocalist Lori Peterson from Clara City MN.  The evening's program ended with a bunad parade.  Most of the bunads were from Hadeland, but many other areas of Norway were represented as well.

   As reported in the August 1993 Brua  by Evonne Anderson       

"Land of Milk and Honey" was the theme for this year's 7-Lag Stevne. It began Thursday, July 14, with members getting together in genealogy sessions.  The opening program included welcomes from the mayor of LaCrosse, an official from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosses and the presidents of the seven lags.  There were presentations by James Nestingen on Norskedalen and on Koshkonong by Michael Bovre.

Friday evening we were pleasantly entertained with music by LeRoy Larson and the Minnesota Scandinavian Ensemble Band.  Darrel Henning, Director of Vesterheim Museum, showed slides and told about the collection he is working with the Decorah IA.  After the program we all enjoyed dancing to the music of LeRoy Larson and his band.

Saturday morning, Hadeland and Land Lags met at the beautiful site of Norskedalen, a half-hour drive from LaCrosse.  Members car-pooled to get out there and enjoyed a cup of coffee before the business meeting.

During the Saturday evening banquet we were entertained by the Norskedalen Trio.  The program featured special music by violinist Pat LaRue and pianist Ellen Bronson, the Wegeland Dancers directed by Sandra Kawatski, and a visit by Ole and Lena (Don and Phyllis Jacobson) who sang some very interesting World War II songs and told Ole and Lena stories.

   From the August 1994 Brua