10 Surefire Signs You Have Strong Roots in North Dakota

North Dakota is one of those places that you just kinda have to experience to “get it.” As a state that all too often flies under the radar, it’s one of those destinations that most folks never even consider – but how tragic is that? After all, North Dakota is filled top-to-bottom with some of the most amazingly beautiful landscapes, friendly folks, amazing traditions, and even some quirky foods and other delights that really just drive it all home (literally). If you’re like me (and I suspect you are!), you might be interested in all the wearable state pride offered up by our friends at Wear Your Roots. And while you’re at it, here are 10 signs you definitely belong here:

Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr

You're probably not even sure when you started saying it. Were they your first words? Maybe. It's hard to say. We wouldn't be shocked, though.

USFWS Mountain-Prairie/Flickr

When it reaches above 32 degrees it's officially too warm. Okay, maybe we're not quite THAT dramatic - but still, you have to laugh when people complain about it being "too cold" for them when it reaches 50-something degrees. Oh, please, honey; we're no stranger to the negatives. 50-something is what we call summer. And all this brings us to our next point:

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Western Area Power/Flickr

What do you MEAN other states cancel everything when it snows a little too much? That's definitely not our style... at all. The show must go on, after all.

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USFWS Mountain-Prairie/Flickr

If you ask anyone from North Dakota to think of an animal, chances are they're gonna think of a buffalo (or a herd of 'em) first. One does not simply think of NoDak without also thinking of bison... which we typically pronounce more like bye-zun than bye-son. Tomato, tomahto.

Giuseppe Milo/Flickr

You've been stargazing for as long as you remember, and if there's anything that says "North Dakota," it's wide-open, incredibly dark skies that let us see for millions of light years. Sometimes, we're even lucky enough to watch the northern lights dance overhead. Amazing.

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Joy/Flickr

We don't make the rules.

Chad Davis/Flickr

Nope, it doesn't mean Fargo. It doesn't mean Bismarck. It means Minneapolis-St. Paul. Don't ask us why, it just is.

Thomas Huston – Flickr

Did you know that North Dakota produces more sunflowers than Kansas does? So why is Kansas "The Sunflower State?" Can we get a re-do on that? If you don't think of bison when thinking of NoDak, you'll probably think of sunflowers instead... and we get it. Our sunflowers are unmatched in their amazingness. Proud enough of our amazing sunflowers - or anything else? - and want to let the world know? You should definitely check out the offerings from our friends at

Wear Your Roots.

Use code NorthDakota10 for 10 percent off!

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Emma Gawen/Flickr

There aren't a lot of people in the United States that can proudly say their eyebrows - or eyelashes - have totally frozen a time or two. We can, though. Might be a little weird, but for some reason, it's a strange point of pride. Yes, it IS that cold, but yes - we CAN endure it, and we do so with a grin (and many layers).

Heather – Flickr

North Dakota's landscape is amazingly diverse. From plains and prairies to mountains and gorges, there's something out here for everyone - even people who like things a little weird (check out the petrified forest... seriously).

Wear Your Roots

So, there you have it – 10 perfectly wonderful signs that you, friend, were born and raised in North Dakota. After all, sometimes you just need to say, “It’s a North Dakota thing,” when folks just don’t get it. If you find you can’t get enough of all the amazingness that is NoDak, be sure to check out the options from Wear Your Roots – use NorthDakota10 for 10 percent off! – and then perhaps you’ll want to check out reasons why the Welcome to North Dakota sign is the most beautiful thing you’ll ever see.