The gathering crowd on Kane Street in downtown Bertrand murmured with excitement as they watched something not seen in some time at the Bertrand Days parade. At the front of the line, preparing to lead the convoy of horseback riders, decorated floats, classic cars, and freshly washed emergency vehicles, stood a group of students clad in the blue, white, and black of the Bertrand Vikings. Instruments in hand, the first Bertrand marching band to walk the parade in years began tuning up.
Music teacher Lindsay Lund understood the significance of the band’s presence at Bertrand Days. She was awake into the wee hours of the morning hemming pants for the students’ first big public appearance.
“Your community needs to see you in uniform,” Lund recalled telling them in the days before the parade. “It will mean so much to them.”
For many in the community, the band is a symbol of Bertrand’s reemergence as a vibrant hometown where people of all ages are empowered to build the Good Life now and for generations to come.
When Lund arrived in January of this year, there were only seven students in the high school band. At the start of the 2025 school year, the band’s roster had grown to more than 60 students. Seeing that incredible growth, the Bertrand Area Community Fund (BACF) and NCF worked together to award $15,000 to Bertrand Community School for the purchase of more instruments for the wildly popular extracurricular. The school also received $4,000 from other community organizations eager to lend their support.
“That is amazing,” Lund said. “I’m blown away. The kids were awestruck.”
The grant to the band is one example of the many ways BACF encourages belonging and growth in their place. In the last 14 years, BACF has reinvested more than $320,000 into the community with the goal of making the Phelps County town magnetic. The Fund Advisory Committee has awarded grants to a variety of projects: new bleachers for the rodeo, air conditioning at the nursing home, new radios for the rescue department, the aquatic center, and many more.
“I feel we’re making a huge difference,” said FAC member Jake Gregg. “We are here to better the community and give back in the best way we can. We’re leading in the right direction.”
Encouraging youth to take ownership of the community is a big part of BACF’s work. Three years ago, volunteers matched a $10,000 NCF People Attraction Grant to create a hometown career mentorship program that connects young people with local businesses.
A challenge from a beloved couple is poised to massively impact BACF’s ability to make meaningful grants. Marlene and the late Gary Dahlgren pledged $100,000 to the Fund if volunteers could raise $300,000. Combined with a $50,000 match from NCF, the campaign could grow BACF’s endowment by $450,000.
There’s momentum mounting in Bertrand. As volunteers and residents look ahead to the future and co-create their biggest dreams, Lund’s approach to building a world-class marching band may offer inspiration.
“I don’t speak in terms of ‘if,’” she said. “I speak in terms of ‘when.’”
