By Angela Gupta, UMN Extension Forester and MNWWN Board member, agupta@umn.edu
This picture, from the Women’s Forest Congress in Minneapolis this past October says it all! Georgia, my “old” Extension Forestry friend from Michigan; Amanda, an “old” only-over-Zoom friend from Women Owning Woodlands, and I were able to meet, have fun, learn, support each other, and be our whole selves. I love that I’m in heels, a skirt, trapper hat and plaid vest and holding a large oak tree cookie while Georgia expresses her wild side and chainsaw confidence and Amanda, wielding a forestry manual and donning a cruising vest, looks on in horror! MNWWN Board members Ginger Kopp and Barb Spears, arranged to bring a forestry cruising vest, vintage forestry equipment, historical documents, and the large tree cookie to use as photo props. They also kept a close eye on the “toothless” chainsaw (used by tish carr from Maine for her chainsaw workshop at the hotel) that was loaned to MNWWN by Tim’s Small Engine in Lonsdale through MNWWN Board member Cheryl Jirik. Jennifer Teegarden, also a MNWWN Board member, helped provide the historic picture from the MN DNR that served as the backdrop.