WAHPETON (North Dakota) DAILY NEWS

July 4, 2009

Migrant program having unusual year

by Erin C. Hevern • Daily News

Southern migrant families gathered Thursday at Hughes Shelter, Wahpeton, for a fiesta garnished with an authentic Mexican meal and lawn games.

Maribell Molina, outreach worker for Tri-Valley Opportunity Council — organizers of the Breckenridge Migrant Program — said it's a big way to show appreciation for the families who have traveled from as far away as Texas to work agricultural jobs.

Although in the past, families have only got involved in the program if they were guaranteed work for the full six weeks, this year program staff has seen a different trend.  Approximately 50-60 families have arrived to work, even more families than last year Molina said, but, three families have already left for home due to their farming boss having no more work.

When rock picking ceases, a task that has already been extended due to March flooding, even more families could be out of work.

"Some, very few, will have beet hauling, but other than that men will be doing cultivating and waiting for the wheat," Molina said.

Yet another new occurrence for the migrant program this year is families who have participated before coming to the area, without knowing for sure they'll have work. Three additional families are expected to arrive this weekend.

"That's odd to us," Molina said. "Why are they still coming? This is a year when everything is uncertain."

Molina instructed the families to check with the farmer they typically work for to guarantee there is work, before beginning the trip to Minnesota.

Whether the program continues next year depends on if the enrollment numbers are adequate.

"I still believe we will because the numbers are here, regardless if there's the work or not," Molina, solidifying her faith in the program. "We know there'll always be rock picking."