Sheyenne's Main Street gem: Wild Things Taxidermy

It's no secret that our small communities are getting smaller. It's also no secret that North Dakota wants to retain their youth once they've completed their education.

There are some small communities working hard to attract new businesses and bring new families in.

Sheyenne, North Dakota is one of them but stay tuned. In fact, take a look at what's already in place!

One of the gems on Sheyenne's main street is Wild Things Taxidermy run by the Kolstad family, who all happen to be Sheyenne High School alums.

Greg Kolstad, owner and operator, began taxidermy work out on the farm in 1992, and it would be a decade before he moved into the former grocery store building to set up shop in 2002 on U.S. 281 in Sheyenne.

It is now a "Dad and Daughter" business with daughter Brittany Donaldson – Sheyenne class of 2006 – joining him in the fall of 2022.

An accomplished hunter and trapper, Greg also hosts hunters from all over the country and provides guide service for them.

Some of the states these folks have come from include Colorado, New Jersey, Minnesota, Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Louisiana. Someone also ventured down from our northern neighbor, Canada.

When I came in to interview Greg and Brittany, Greg was putting the finishing touches on a sculpture that would become a rock to mount a bear on for a customer and Brittany had needle and thread going, stitching a hide used in mounting deer heads, which is her main job.

While competition isn't an attraction anymore these days for Greg, he's won his share and more of first place ribbons in the professional division for birds, deer heads and mammals over the years.

However, those aren't the only animals he has taxidermied. In addition to a large variety of other animals, he has created a realistic natural setting that serves as habitats in the front of his shop for bears, fish, mountain lions, moose, caribou, river otter, porcupine, weasel, wild turkey and more.

Asked what his busiest season is, Greg replied, "All year round."

He welcomed his daughter's interest and help when she came on board.

Brittany isn't just proficient at mounting deer heads. She is also a hunter with rifle and/or bow, preferring coyotes and deer, but next month has a trip planned out to Idaho for her first bear hunt.

Greg's son Brandon was also an accomplished hunter, traveling all over the country with his dad on a variety of hunting trips. Many of the bears and other animals mounted in the habitats are among his accomplishments.

Unfortunately, Brandon passed away in 2019.

A section of the front display is dedicated to him, with the awards, animals and photographs from his numerous hunts.

There has been an Annual Coyote Hunt held in memory of Brandon since 2019, put on by his two friends, Matt Ystaas and Taylor Koepplin. Local sponsors provide the cash prizes and Brandon's parents, Greg and Darlene, provide door prizes and a hearty meal for the hungry competitors after the hunt is over.

Sheyenne is very proud of the Kolstad family for staying and creating such a unique business, all on main street Sheyenne.