by DSU student Hailey Entze
Even if you’ve never watched the TV show Friends you know most of the main characters all either live with each other or across the hall. More importantly, they were all friends. Now, picture that same plot but its 2017 and two college girls decide to get an apartment together. The week before classes start another girl, who happens to be attending the same college, moves in next door. Over the course of a few weeks they realize they have a lot in common, including their love of agriculture. How does this series end? They become best friends. Though, for Carlie Bowditch, Sam Halstengard, and Alyssa Mutschelknaus, the story hasn’t ended. Thanks to Dickinson State University they are still very much best friends.
For Sam, who transferred to DSU as a junior and only knew one other person, seeing Carlie and Alyssa was a ‘friends at first sight’ moment. “I said to myself, ‘Those gals look fun. I want to be their friend,’” explained Sam. Alyssa and Carlie had already gotten to know each other through Collegiate Farm Bureau the previous year which is how they ended up as roommates. At the annual Ag Picnic they were introduced to Sam and, as she put it, they “STRONGLY persuaded” her to join Farm Bureau. “We’ve been chatting and having a ball together ever since,” she said.
Some of those chats include agriculture. Each of them either works, or plans to work in an Ag related field, and they love to advocate for other farmers and ranchers. In fact, they enjoy it so much that they started a collaborative Facebook page named Agriculture Ladies. “We use it to share facts and help our friends and families understand a little more about who farmers are and what they do,” Carlie explained. It’s an open membership page so others can like and follow it to learn more about the agriculture around them.
Besides their shared love of agriculture, something else that makes Sam, Carlie, and Alyssa’s bond so strong is their ability to have fun wherever they are. They all love to sing, dance, and laugh. It doesn’t matter if they’re playing cards, dancing to a live band, or playing pool, they’re bound to have a good time together. It was one of the reasons Sam was drawn to Carlie and Alyssa in the first place. “They are both a hoot,” she said.
While they share common interests, they also play different roles in the friendship. Sam, as Carlie said, has earned the title of “Style Queen”; always only a Snapchat away for fashion advice. Alyssa is the one that looks out for everyone. She’s been known to bring a large bag full of water, snacks, and other essentials for an evening out. Meanwhile, Carlie is the one who helps push them to their fullest potential.
Since DSU brought them together, they did have some advice for students looking to find their own friend group at DSU. They couldn’t stress enough the importance of joining clubs and organizations and actively going to social events. It’s these extracurricular groups that lead to friendships with people who will push you to be the best you can be while also supporting you. “These people will challenge you and support you for years to come. When you look back at your years in college you may not remember the exact moments but you sure will remember the people. Make sure you are spending time with the people worth remembering,” Carlie explained.
Though they may not get to spend time together like before since Carlie and Sam graduated, spring of 2018 and 2019 respectively, they all still manage to stay in touch. They make sure to find time to call, text, Snapchat, and see each other in person as regularly as possible. They also make sure they are there for each other’s big life moments. They were all at Carlie and Sam’s graduations and plan to get together again for Alyssa’s in spring 2020. This past summer, they even threw a surprise engagement party for Sam and her fiancé and met in Bismarck to celebrate Alyssa’s 21st birthday.
The three of them, along with their friend Kayla Bohn, have also nicknamed themselves the Girl Gang. “It’s fun to say the Girl Gang is hitting the dance floor whether it’s at a Christmas party, Cowboys and Candlelight, or anywhere music is playing,” Carlie said. They even have friendship rings with their birthstones and Girl Gang engraved on the inside. The ring signifies that no matter where they are, they always have each other’s backs.
It’s likely that a beautiful friendship like this couldn’t have happened had it not been for their decision to attend Dickinson State University. A fact that wasn’t lost on Carlie. “It is so crazy who your life crosses paths with. We all chose DSU, an agriculture major, and to join Farm Bureau. All during the same years and even lived in the same apartment building. These seemingly small decisions led us to this great friendship,” she said.
While they came to DSU for an education, they’re leaving with something even better: a Girl Gang that will last forever. “They are my shoulder to cry on. My go to for new ideas. My opportunity to let loose and laugh regularly. I am so lucky to have met them,” Carlie said. Sam summed it up best by saying, “I hope to have this relationship for a lifetime.”
