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Students Find Hundreds of Words in 'Thanksgiving Day' Contest
North Dakota WIFE organization sponsors annual competition for students
Jan. 31, 2026 at 9:39am
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Two fifth-graders at Cavalier Public School in North Dakota came out on top in a statewide contest that challenged students to find the most words using the letters in 'Thanksgiving Day'. Winnie Crowston and Sena Kihne found the most words, 149, winning $15 each. Other winners included students from Cavalier and Osnabrock in various grade levels.
Why it matters
The annual contest organized by the North Dakota Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE) group provides an educational and creative opportunity for students across the state. It encourages children to engage in wordplay and problem-solving skills, while also promoting the organization's mission of supporting profitability in U.S. production agriculture.
The details
The contest was open to students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. Winnie Crowston and Sena Kihne, both fifth-graders at Cavalier Public School, found the most words with 149. Other winners included Ken Werner (second place, 122 words) and Paul Gilbertson (third place, 81 words) from Cavalier, as well as Malachi Economy from Osnabrock (first place among sixth-graders with 135 words). The first-place winners received $30, second place $25, and third place $20, with Winnie and Sena each receiving $15 as the overall top finishers.
- The contest was held in 2026.
The players
Winnie Crowston
A fifth-grade student at Cavalier Public School who, along with her classmate Sena Kihne, found the most words in the 'Thanksgiving Day' contest, winning $15 each.
Sena Kihne
A fifth-grade student at Cavalier Public School who, along with her classmate Winnie Crowston, found the most words in the 'Thanksgiving Day' contest, winning $15 each.
Marlene Kouba
The secretary-treasurer of the North Dakota Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE) organization, which sponsored the annual word-finding contest.
Ken Werner
A fifth-grade student at Cavalier Public School who placed second in the contest, finding 122 words.
Paul Gilbertson
A fifth-grade student at Cavalier Public School who placed third in the contest, finding 81 words.
What they’re saying
“It is unusual for two (students) to work together to enter a contest but there was no rule against it.”
— Marlene Kouba, Secretary-Treasurer, North Dakota WIFE
What’s next
The North Dakota WIFE organization plans to continue hosting the annual word-finding contest, focusing on a different topic each year to engage students across the state.
The takeaway
The 'Thanksgiving Day' word contest organized by the North Dakota WIFE group provides a fun and educational opportunity for students to showcase their language skills and problem-solving abilities, while also promoting the organization's mission of supporting agriculture in the state.
