By: Erin Hemme Froslie
The third full weekend in June is always the busiest part of the summer at Fort Union Trading Post near Williston, North Dakota.
This is when the National Park Service historic site hosts its Rendezvous, which draws about 3,000 visitors.
This year, however, the event has been in flux as organizers adapt to ever-changing federal funding streams and staffing models. Within the span of a few days, Rendezvous 2025 was canceled and then added back to the summer schedule.
“It’s whiplash for all of us involved,” said Megan Halvorson, executive director of the Fort Union Association, a nonprofit that promotes and supports the historic site. “There are a lot of unknowns.”
Rendezvous is Fort Union’s biggest event. Over five days, more than 100 living historians recreate what life was like in the 1800s when trappers and traders gathered at the post to exchange furs and goods.
Rendezvous was canceled in early April because of a shortage of summer staff at the historic site, Halvorson said. But once the cancellation was announced, the regional National Park Service office said the event needed to go on, she said.
The event relies heavily on volunteers but needs National Park Service staff to oversee those volunteers, she said. Historically, Fort Union has hired six rangers to cover the busy season. In addition, rangers from other national park sites have been assigned to help with the Rendezvous weekend.
Because of federal hiring freezes earlier in the year, the park service fell behind in its seasonal hiring and Fort Union was able to secure only one long-term ranger plus three short-term rangers for this summer, Halvorson said.
That’s not enough staff to make sure the event runs smoothly and safely, she said.
The park’s superintendent referred all questions to the National Park Service regional office. Calls to the regional office were not returned.
Fort Union’s experience is not uncommon, said Bill Wade, executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers.
A cycle of firings and reinstatements and buyouts has led to a loss of permanent employees. The total number is unclear, Wade said, because National Park Service employees have been told not to speak about personnel issues.
Still, his association estimates up to 2,500 employees have left the park system. And while the service was eventually authorized to hire more seasonal employees than usual, that permission came late.
“It takes a while to get those people trained and on board,” Wade said. “What we’re seeing is some positions may not be filled early in the season.”
In addition, he said the recent chaos and confusion has led to low morale among those who have stayed.
“There’s anger and fear among employees who are just trying to do their job,” he said. “We’re expecting there will be more disruption and significant impacts on park resources in the future.”
Halvorson says more than 10,000 visitors come through Fort Union each year. She and other members of the Fort Union Association provide as much support to the historic site as they can. The association runs a park store and members are organizing a fundraiser to help hire additional staff.
Still, Halvorson said people who value National Park Service sites need to contact their local congressional representatives. That’s the best way to support them, she said.
In the meantime, the association will recruit even more volunteers to make sure Rendezvous goes smoothly.
“We’ll find people to fill gopher holes and set up awnings. We’ll ask our local civic organizations for help in setting up picnic tables and garbage cans,” she said. “We’ll do what we can to make sure it goes on.”
Those who visit Fort Union for the big June event will see blacksmiths crafting nails and horseshoes. They’ll watch demonstrators spin wool into yarn and learn how traders used Plains Indian Hand Talk to speak with each other. They’ll see a keel boat, which was the primary way of transporting goods up and down the river.
“It will feel alive out there,” Halvorson said.
