Following is a brief history of how we became known as the 7+Lag (seven plus lag).
1976 – Hadeland and Landingslag became the initial combination with the Stevne held at Mayville, North Dakota on July 9-10.
1980 – This “3 Lag Stevne” now included the addition of Totenlag. They met at Southwest State University in Marshall, Minnesota on July 11-12.
1981 – Telelaget joins the group and they became known as the “4 Lag Stevne”. Seventy-five entertainers from Telemark came for the Stevne held July 26-27, 1981. They met at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.
1984 – Sigdalslag would be the newest lag to join the group, and they would be known as the “5 Lag Stevne”. They met at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota on July 29-30 of 1984.
1985 – The lags continue to restructure and Numedalslag joins the group to become the “6 Lag Stevne”. The Stevne site was Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and they met July 28-29 of 1985.
1986 – The more familiar name of “7 Lag Stevne” was now completed by the addition of RDD (Ringerike – Drammen Districts). Luther College in Decorah, Iowa was the site for the Stevne on July 11-12, 1986.
2019 – This is the year that the newly formed Agderlag attended the Stevne in Fargo, North Dakota and requested to join the group. After approval from the Norwegian Stevner Inc Board (NSI), it was decided the name of the group also needed to be changed as we had eight lags. The name “7+Lag Stevne” was chosen by the NSI Board.
A Stevne is held each year, and the lag committees join forces to create a successful event for the members. In addition to the focus of genealogy and culture, members also enjoy entertainment, food, classes, and fellowship. Many members reflect that the yearly Stevne reminds them of a family reunion.
A President from each lag makes up the structure of the NSI Board (Norwegian Stevner Inc). Meetings are held two or three times per year or additionally if needed to discuss the ongoing business of the 7+Lag.
The 7+Lag is also a part of a much larger group known as the Fellesraad (Norwegian-American Bygdelagenes Fellesraad or NABF). The Fellesraad, founded in 1916, is the umbrella organization over the twenty-nine (active currently) Norwegian-American Bygdelags. The Bygdelags or “lags” are groups that are comprised of descendants of emigrants from Norway to North America. Each lag strives to preserve and strengthen the ties with its home area in Norway. To learn more, go to https://www.fellesraad.com