Finding a date in rural America is tough

PLAZA, N.D. -- Keith Hegney hadn't had much luck finding love over the past five years, so the 27-year-old slipped on a cowboy hat and went to try his luck bidding on a date.

He attended the annual singles auction at the Wabek Bar, which for rural residents of communities like Plaza can become a vital way for unmarried people to mingle and perhaps even meet that special someone.

"The guys stay home. The women leave for Fargo or other big cities," said Hegney, one of fewer than 200 people in this town about 70 miles from the Canadian border. "So the best hope we have is Canadian women coming down."

The promise of a chance to woo someone brought about 100 people to the auction earlier this month. The singles crowded into the one-room bar when a downpour hit, sipping beer and making small talk.

Some men bid more than $100 for dinner and a movie with one of the bachelorettes, and one shelled out $425 for a skydiving date. April Helwig, 23, drew a bid of $125.

"In small towns, it's hard because you don't have a lot of options. But at something like this, you can meet quite a few people," she said. "If I don't find the love of my life, hopefully I'll find a good friend."

The exodus of young people is putting the biggest strain on marriage rates in North Dakota, said Richard Rathge, director of the state data center at North Dakota State University. During the past decade, the number of adults in North Dakota between ages 20 and 34 fell 16 percent. Nationally, the age group was down 8 percent.

One national group, Singles in Agriculture, is trying to help pair up single men and women who have a background in agriculture. Morris Bilskie, the organization's president, said the group's events give members that extra nudge they might need to find a significant other.

At the Wabek Bar, owners Kim and Angie Letvin said they saw plenty of eligible bachelors, but no single women for the guys to take out on a Friday night. So they started a charity auction for singles.

"There's always been a lack of women," Kim Letvin said. "And it's not getting any better."