First Nations and Pufferbilly Days

The program started with Dennis Hart's summary of news from local papers followed by a report from Susan Franzen, who joined the First Nation-Farmer Climate Unity March on its stop in Ames on Day 3 of the 8-day march.  As the gear trucks arrived ahead of the marchers,  she was welcomed by one of the organizers, Sarah Spain, and "Veggie Thumper," the cook from the colorful food truck. Since the issues surrounding Eminent Domain and the upcoming landowners' lawsuit were well-covered on KHOI last week, she turned her attention to the significant First Nations presence in the march.  We heard from Donielle Wanatee, Foxy Jackson, Jimmie Tidwell, Christine Nobiss, and Lakasha, as well farmer-marcher Sarah Byrnes.  As they marched the fourteen miles from Ames to the Boone County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, Boone was preparing for it's biggest annual festival -- Pufferbilly Days.  Alyssa Knudsen, of the Boone Chamber of Commerce, was on hand to tell us about it.  The program ended with Points to Ponder by Maggie Westvold recalling her most influential teacher.