Two Beers: Jørgen Bonden
Two beers with Jørgen Bonden
I sat down with UKEleader Jørgen Bonden in the Bodega. The original plan was to talk in Klubben, but since the bar-building was well under way, the Bodega became the better alternative. Looking back, I see that this was the perfect place to get to learn more about Jørgen Bonden, and not just his role in UKA i Ås 2022.Despite the pressure of the upcoming festival, Jørgen seems relaxed and honoured to be chosen for Two Beers.
Journalist: Mathias Tupinier og Kristin Gilboe
Photographer: Synne Louise Stromme og Margreta Brunborg
The university oath: a call to experience
Like every good fairy-tale, it all started with an oath. An oath a shy boy gave himself when he arrived at NMBU for the first time, that has shaped his last four years. “I told myself: you need to be a part of this, be a part of the students’ lives. You are going to do anything you can, and join as much as you can”, Jørgen says. When his buddy proposed that he should become a “funkis” at the UKEgrill in 2018, his response was, naturally, yes. “This is one of the things I am truly happy I did”. Jørgen immediately fell in love with UKA’s energy and was amazed by the complex organisation of such a big festival.
The CoronaUKA
Although the pandemic feels far away now, it is important to remember that UKA i Ås 2020 was a big festival at the time. During UKA 2020 Jørgen worked as an event manager. “I was sort of a potato, helping everywhere”, he says about the position.
Jørgen is still amazed and impressed of what they managed to organize despite the pandemic. “It was an amazing feeling to be a part of it”, he describes. When I asked him about his favourite memory, he quickly remembers the time during UKA 2020 when the band Klovner i Kamp thanked them for the opportunity to perform in front of an audience, and the possibility to have a concert. “It felt so good to hear how grateful the band was for all the work we had put into the concert, to actually make it happen”.
Jørgen «Busy Boss» Bonden
When the UKEboard 2022 was to be elected at the Studentsamfunnet’s General Assembly during Spring of 2021, it felt natural for Jørgen to participate in the project. Several positions were considered before the decision fell on running for UKEleader position. “I wanted to challenge myself, and see how I would handle the part”, he explains. From this point, everything accelerated. He ran and was elected the UKEleader of UKA i Ås 2022.
All of the sudden he was in charge of eight people who, along with him, were responsible for organizing Norway’s longest student festival. He explains how it all felt overwhelming at first, with everything that had to be built and everyone that had to be recruited. They hired people who hired more people, who then hired even more people. Things escalated, and at this point UKA has more than a thousand volunteers. Jørgen admits that even if it is over a year since the planning begun, he still feels quite small when he thinks of the enormous machine that is UKA. “I’m so happy but also a bit anxious”, he says. The shy boy who had decided to participate in everything he could is now the respected leader of a huge festival. “No one here thinks of me as shy, but I was. I changed thanks to the people surrounding me.”
The leader’s origin story
Jørgen comes from a small town of 9000 people called Sande, located outside of Drammen. “It was a farmer’s life”, he tells. Jørgen grew up next to a farm which he eventually started working at. He can’t really explain where his love for the farm life came from. It has always been, and always will be, a part of Jørgen. His childhood passed between the forest, the farm and his friends.
Photo: Ylva Fridenberg
At an early age, Jørgen joined an association called 4H. This was where his career in volunteering began. “When you are volunteering, you meet all the nicest people in your community. Everyone is happy and smiling, it’s the best feeling to work in an environment like that”, he says happily. 4H gave Jørgen a sense of belonging, and the opportunity to be part of a new family. The feeling of being part of something bigger is something Jørgen has held on to since and it inspired his oath to participate in everything fun.
A new family closer to the farm life
After a while, Jørgen joined Sande Bygdeungdomslag, a local group of Norway’s Bygdeungdomslag. By participating in the organisation, which focuses on promoting the village’s interests and maintaining the farming communities in the country, Jørgen found a way to combine his love for the countryside with his wish to be part of something bigger. He also experienced the rewarding side of organising various events. Jørgen says that the events were very fun in themselves but knowing that he helped organize them made them a bit better.
The wish for NMBU
When Jørgen finished high school, he had few ideas about what he wanted to study, or where he wanted to work in the future. “I didn’t know what I wanted to study, but I knew where I wanted to study”, he says. Jørgen already knew about Ås, NMBU and its student community, and he was certain that he wanted to be part of it. He started looking at the subjects offered at NMBU, before he eventually settled on Geomatics. He liked both math and physics, and more importantly, he considered it to be quite easy to transfer to another study program if Geomatics turned out to be the wrong choice. That last part quickly became irrelevant: Geomatics was really the perfect choice.
Jørgen explains that studying makes him feel like being part of the future, and part of exciting new technologies that will shape everyone’s tomorrow. But no matter how much we notice Jørgen enjoys the subjects, it becomes clear that the social part of the studies also means a lot. “Almost the best part about Geomatics is the environment, where everyone are friends and like to hang out with each other.”
There and back again, the tale of Jørgen
No matter how fun it might be, UKA won’t last forever. “I am already considering if I, eventually, want to take over the farm”, he admits. His grandparents own a smaller farm, and luckily for Jørgen he has the right to take over (odelsrett). The farm will probably never become his main job, but with a first and last name both meaning “farmer”, it isn’t easy to let the opportunity to run the farm get away. The love he developed for the farm life as young is still alive, and it is very likely to stay alive forever.
Hilsner til Jørgen
Aaaaahhhh!!! Gratulerer med Dagen psamt Pskaal Ambassadeur!! I løpet av tiden som ung Werdensrecord i Stiftelsen ble Bonden kjent for noe som ofte gjentok seg i X-Clusive lag. Hver gang han fikk ordet ble han nemlig så ivrig at regelrett «boblet over» av engasjement. Da spratt han som regel opp fra stolen sin, begynte å trippe rundt på plassen sin og talte rytmisk med hele kroppen, samtidig som han desperat prøvde å komme frem til et eller annet poeng i det han sa. Dette poenget fikk vi så klart aldri høre, da det som regel ebbet ut i mer engasjert dansing enn taling. Heldigvis kom det seg med tiden, men kanskje var det denne mangelen på taletid i begynnelsen på Bondens tid som PB-Mand som gjorde at han sjeldent har sluttet å prate siden. Når du da blander denne pratesjuka med et engasjement som få kan matche og personifikasjonen av begrepet «jovial» så får man en kar som kan gjøgle med absolutt alle. Bonden er altså god til å prate for seg, og ikke minst er han god til å prate med andre. Det er en styrke han har tatt med seg inn flere større ansvarsroller, både internt i Stiftelsen og til glede for den jevne student på Agraren som UKEsjef (Det førstnevnte har selvfølgelig vært det viktigste og mest prestisjefulle for ham). Når du kan kunsten å gjøgle så medfører nemlig det at ting kan bli litt enklere, både for deg selv og for de rundt deg. Ved å være rolig til sinns, fleipe litt og gi deg et bredt smil har Bonden evnen til å ufarliggjøre den største krise og senke skuldrene på folk, og vipps var ikke konflikten så stor eller spørsmålet så vanskelig lengre. For oss som har kjent ham siden han tok sine første steg inn i Den X-Clusive Stiftelse PB ett par uker etter han begynte på Agrarmetropolen så har Bonden først og fremst vært en strålende kamerat, men ikke minst en knakende god PB-Mand.
Det har vært en glede å bivåne din utvikling gjennom årene vi har kjent deg, både i og utenfor Stiftelsen, og vi gleder oss til fortsettelsen. Med X-Clusiv Hilsen Amb. 498 Hals, 499 Sveen, Casseur 500 Bjørnbet og Amb. 501 Thoner
Dear Jørgen, or, rather, Bonden!
Bonden is, for all those who don’t know him, a firework of a person. Few can match the energy level of Ås’ most known jokester. And it is exactly what we like about you so incredibly much, Jørgen!
You have a unique ability to see those around you, not just to get them enthusiastic but also to get them involved. It doesn’t just apply to your position, and the 1000 volunteers you managed to get involved by speaking to random people in Klubben. You make everyone around you feel involved and included, at parties as well as in everyday life. Everyone is included – and Jørgen Bonden has it fixed! This is exactly why Ås has pushed you up and forward, and why you deserve this tribute.
We cannot write this greeting without mentioning you in your role as the UKEleader. We are super lucky to have gotten to know you, not just as a person but also as a leader. You always bring good vibes with you to the board meetings, and it is one of the reasons why Monday is a day we all look forward to. At the same time, you can also be severe and serious, but luckily, we have not seen much of that.
You are always there for us with open arms or listening ears, regardless of what is needed. We are very lucky to have you leading and looking after us, and, most importantly, as a friend.
Thank you for being you,
hugz&kissez from your UKEboard <333
Our dear « yes man » Jørgen Bonden
Stuten from Sande, Væren from Vestfold, Kølla from Kjellaas, We consider oursselves lucky to be able to call Jørgen Bonden our friend. Since the first day at NMBU you made your mark as an unusually friendly guy. You didn’t have anything bad to say about anyone and everything was pretty solid. Through the years you have filled out more postions than there are volunteers at Samfunnet. Despite this you’ve always had time for « the boys ». This is highly appreciated by some tired gematics souls.
Your always have a smile on your face, and a big mac or two in your hand. Even if you’re usually the victim of the group, we still love you and we are just trying to keep you grounded. You’re a true optimist, and you always keep the wheels turning no matter how much you have going on, something we are very impressed by.
We could not imagine Ås without you here. With everything from Catan nights to swing at Samfunnet, it would not be the same without you. We are looking forward to the next grilled chesse afterparty.
Totally « Bønkers » !!!!! Greetings from Rikard, Hågen and Bjørnar !
