Chad and Angie ere born and raised in Minot, ND. They were high school sweethearts and married in 2004. They have four boys: Oliver, Palmer, Wells, and Ford.
 
Angie previously worked as a dental hygienist and now is a stay-at-home mother. Angie has been on the Our Redeemers School PTO board and has helped with Our Savior Lutheran Church youth program. She currently sits on the board of the Magic City Discovery Center. Angie is the board of director's secretary and the coordinator of the PGAS Annual Banquet and Family Social and PGAS Golf Scramble. Angie also is in charge of all Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports merchandise!

Chad is the president of Norsk Brothers LLC which developed and owns an adaptive reuse property in downtown Minot called the AT Lofts that houses 21 loft apartment units and The Starving Rooster restaurant. Chad is the president of The Starving Rooster LLC. He is president of Dakota Kid LLC which owns/operates four Qdoba Mexican Eats restaurants. He has been involved in commercial real estate for the past 10 years, having his real estate license with 701 Realty. He sits on the Rehab Services Board and the Minot Hockey Booster Board. Chad is the president of the board for Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports.  

Palmer, the Thompson’s second boy, was born with spina bifida and was the inspiration for the vision of Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports. Early on in Palmer’s life, the Thompsons found that sports and recreational opportunities for people with special needs were limited in the Minot area. Angie and Chad value the importance of physical activity, being part of a team, winning, losing, and having goals to strive for. Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports was founded by Chad and Angie Thompson in 2016 with the mission of providing sports and recreational opportunities for children and adults living with physical and developmental disabilities to enhance their quality of life, allowing them to share their passion for sports and recreation with their son and others in the community. In 2017, Angie and Chad began to donate 1% of sales from Qdoba Mexican Eats in Minot, Williston, and Dickinson to PGAS. This ongoing generous donation has allowed the non-profit to hire Krystal Butgereit as the full-time executive director of PGAS.  
 
“This journey has been amazing for our family and the local support in the Minot area has surpassed our expectations. We couldn’t be happier to be a part of Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports. We have big plans in store for PGAS and look forward to the future growth of our programming.”

Krystal graduated from the University of North Dakota with a master’s degree in occupational therapy in 2005. She has mainly practiced in the area of pediatrics and is passionate about helping both children and adults live their lives to the fullest! Therapy services is where Krystal’s connection began with the Thompson family, as Palmer’s occupational therapist.

Krystal has been a part of the Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports board of directors since the beginning and has since become the executive director. Krystal and her husband, John, have two boys, Sully and Boden. The Butgereit family is active in many sports and recreational opportunities and love to share their passion with others.

“Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports brings joy to the Minot area through offering recreational and leisure activities for children and adults with special needs, volunteer experiences, and giving opportunities. Prairie Grit participants and their families have become our family. Thank you for your continued generosity and support — with the communities’ help the possibilities are endless!”

Chad was raised in the Minot area. He graduated from North Dakota State University in 1999 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Corporate and Community Fitness. He was a firefighter for the City of Minot for 12 years. It was during this time that he began volunteering with the Muscular Dystrophy Association as a camp counselor and realized how rewarding it is to work with individuals with physical/mental challenges. 

Chad has been a member of the Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports Board of Directors from the beginning. Chad is also a board member for the Minot Hockey Boosters and a member of the Y’s Men’s Club. He and his wife, Jodee, have two sons, Cole and Luke. His hobbies include sports photography, hunting, fishing, and watching his sons participate in various activities. 

Averi is a 2024 Graduate from Minot State University in Elementary and Special Education and a 2020 graduate from Minot High School. During high school, she was active in golf, basketball, hockey, and fastpitch. Averi was the 2020 Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports Volunteer of the Year for her countless hours spent enthusiastically helping our program grow and making PG events and activities fun and motivating for participants. Averi also serves as Prairie Grit Adaptive Sport's assistant sled hockey coach. "My favorite part about being involved with Prairie Grit is seeing people succeed in things they didn't think they could do."

Chris was born with spina bifida and experienced a further spinal cord injury following surgery at age 11, which impaired the function of his legs from the waist down. Following his injury, he was introduced to sled hockey in 2011. He was a member of the United States gold medal-winning teams in the 2015, IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships and the 2019 World Para Ice Hockey Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Chris provides his expertise and leadership to Prairie Grit's youth and adult sled hockey players.

DJ Randolph has been part of Prairie Grit Outdoors since day one, volunteering on the very first adaptive hunt in 2019. After six years of guiding hunts, mentoring participants, and building strong community ties, he now leads the division full time.

A lifelong outdoorsman, DJ brings deep experience and a passion for sharing the wild with others. As Director, he’s focused on expanding adaptive hunting and fishing opportunities while keeping the close-knit, family feel that defines Prairie Grit Outdoors.

Derek is a storyteller with a sharp eye and a sharper pen. With a background in broadcasting, graphic design, and political science (yes, all three), he brings a strategic and visual approach to every message.

Before joining Prairie Grit, Derek served seven years as the Public Information Officer for the City of Minot, where he made public communication more human—and occasionally humorous. He also earned an Emmy during his time as a reporter and anchor at KX News by telling stories that stuck.

Derek’s style is straightforward, slightly tongue-in-cheek, and always built for real people. Whether it’s video, print, or social media, he knows how to turn complex ideas into clean, compelling content that connects.

At Prairie Grit, Derek leads our brand and content strategy—bringing attention to the incredible stories within adaptive sports and helping more families discover what’s possible.