Ben “Benjie” Potter grew up in Casselton, North Dakota. He and his family moved to West Fargo to begin his junior year in high school. He graduated from West Fargo High School in 1976. Ben played basketball and ran cross country for the Packers and played legion baseball for West Fargo during the summer. One of his greatest sports memories is being a member of the 1975 West Fargo Packer basketball team that won the Southeast Region Championship and played in the state tournament. 

Ben graduated from North Dakota State University with a degree in business administration. He was a two-year letter winner for the Bison baseball team. Ben went on to get his accounting degree from Moorhead State University and later passed his CPA exam. 

Ben worked in the accounting and financial analysis field with Michael J. Bullinger LTD, Eide Helmeke and Co, Diagnostic Medical Systems Inc., and for the last 22 years with Bobcat Company. He recently retired. 

Ben has been the ”Voice of the Packers” in some capacity for 25 years. He started his announcing career with fastpitch softball during his niece Nicole Grund Hagman’s ninth grade season. The goal was to make the game environment special and fun for the softball participants. The goal remains the same for all sports 25 years later. Ben is currently the public address announcer for Packer softball, volleyball, and boys’ and girls’ basketball. 

He was presented with the West Fargo Packer Backer Commitment Award in 2006 for his public address work. Over the years he has also announced Packers football and baseball. Ben has announced many regional and state championships in basketball, softball, baseball, and football. 

Ben’s young adult sports passion was fastpitch softball. The sport provided a great opportunity for competition. As important were the many lifelong friendships that were made with people from all over the three-state region. His teams won six state championships and competed annually at the national level. Ben was inducted into the North Dakota Softball Hall of Fame in 2002. 

Ben coached youth sports including baseball and basketball for over 10 years. He enjoys seeing the development, education, and growth of each of the players no matter the skill level. One of his greatest experiences was coaching a travel basketball team with his son Andrew for five years. 

Ben is a high school football official going on 40 years. He has worked in numerous playoff games in both Minnesota and North Dakota. Ben was the referee “white hat” for three state championships in North Dakota. The relationships he built with his fellow crew members and coaches are cherished. 

Ben is a West Fargo Baseball Board member. He has served on the board for over 20 years. He was presented the West Fargo Baseball Distinguished Service Award in 2013. During his tenure the number of players has risen from 200 to over 1,000. The program over the years has achieved tremendous success. Through the dedication of the board the baseball facilities at all levels are considered in the top tier of the state. 

Ben also serves on the Fargo Moorhead Softball Hall of Fame board. 

Ben enjoys time with his three sons Andrew, Nathan and Michael and his sisters Kim Grund and Jill Leier and their families. His current sports participation passion is golf.