40 States Visited & Midwest Nice
Here's the latest dispatch.
Good evening,
For you newbies out there, welcome to Outsider on the Inside. I hope this dispatch from in and around the nation’s capital on underreported topics finds you well.
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UWRF Speech + 40 States Checked Off
I’ve just returned from speaking gig in the Midwest and wanted to share what I was up to.
I spent 24 hours in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota and nearby River Falls, Wisconsin—meaning I’ve checked off 40 of 50 U.S. states. I’ve only had layovers at MSP Airport. Nary a visit or trip to either state. But that changed this week.
First on the itinerary: seeing the Twin Cities.
Turning Point USA Wisconsin Field Represent Maddie Lemonds and I ventured to St. Paul - Minnesota’s capital - to meet with my friend and State Senator Julia Coleman (R-Waconia). It was a balmy 70 degrees and not a rain drop in sight. From the state capital grounds, one can see downtown St. Paul and Cathedral of Saint Paul.
Julia previously served as one of my field representatives at Leadership Institute during fall 2014. She shared a startling story with me for Townhall and YouTube in 2021 and discussed her tenure in the state legislature thus far.
Yesterday, Senator Coleman’s bill to rename a portion of Minnesota Highway 5 in Chanhassen in honor of Prince Rodgers Nelson. Julia has been working on this since her time on Chanhassen City Council. From the Star Tribune:
After the vote, Prince friend Mark Webster stood in the Capitol hallway with Sen. Julia Coleman, R-Waconia and a sponsor of the bill to rename the road in her district. Webster, who lives in Richfield, was pivotal in kick-starting the memorial idea for the artist who died in April 2016.
While quoting a few Prince lyrics, such as "Dearly beloved" and "Let's go crazy," Coleman said it was also "hard not to feel a sense of sadness for all the music and art left unfinished" because of the musician's sudden death at 57 from an accidental fentanyl overdose.
Here are some pictures from Senator Coleman’s speech floor and press conference.
After having some lunch at the Pigs Unlimited food truck, Julia and her House colleague, Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Dan Wolgamott, gave us an insider’s look at the House and Senate floors.
And of course, I couldn’t leave St. Paul without a photo with my rockstar former staffer in front of her workplace.
Next up: St. Croix County, Wisconsin, to University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
River Falls is home to the Kinnickinnic River. It’s situated on the northeastern side of the Driftless Region of Wisconsin - conditions that make it a sought after spot for fly anglers. Wild Water Fly Fishing describes the area as follows:
The Driftless Region near River Falls is filled with small, spring-fed streams as well as a few decent sized rivers. The water temperatures are cold and the aquatic plant life creates some highly oxygenated water that’s perfect for trout. Throughout the year, the water temperatures stay between 35 and 65 degrees. The streams are filled with deep pools and riffles as well as large eddies and the occasional section of pocket water.
I didn’t have an opportunity to fish, but admired the trout mural and spotted the local fly shop in town.
After some exploring, we headed to campus for my talk. My lecture was entitled, Farmers and Ranchers: Not Strange Conservation Bedfellows.” It centered around agriculture not being at odds with true conservation practices.
Although it was the last week of the spring semester, 35 students and community members—including my friend Justin and his wife, Abby — were in attendance.
Not a bad way to end my spring 2023 speaking tour!
ICYMI
Articles/ commentary/media appearances from the past week.
MEDIA MENTIONS
I appeared on KTVU’s Power the Future Show to chat Alaska energy and my upcoming trip up there. And I spoke to Fox News Digital about Biden’s War on Hunting.
ARTICLES/BLOGS
IWF: Two Truths And A Lie: Small Business Week
Washington Times: Don’t let ESG sully our environmental achievements
Townhall: DOL Nominee Julie Su Is Bad News for Freelancers
Podcasts You May Have Missed
Catch up on District of Conservation episodes below.
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—Gabriella