High praise for a nee rookie, Group Three’s “Sponge Bobber” Branstad:
Dear Ron,
I am writing to thank you and Kathy for your wonderful hospitality. It was a real pleasure to get to know you, your family, and the rest of Da Threes. Kathy deserves an award for opening up her house and making it feel like home to us. She, with her cohort and Cowboy Jeff, served some awesome dinners, which combined with the camaraderie of the boat report and social hour made for truly memorable evenings. Personally it was also great to see Kers, and my other sailing buddies on dry land where I have the upper hand!
The 2013 Montana Extravaganza was not only one of my best fishing experiences ever, it was also one of the all time great threefers. (A threefer is like a twofer only its three way). My best memories growing up, and my best memories of my father were the trips that we took together and as a family. For years we fished the streams of the Rocky Mountains, British Columbia, and Alaska in search of perfect trout fishing. Last week on the Blackfoot I found it. Other than the family trips that are rich in sentimental value, the E13 was perfection.
A threefer? You have created a great thing with the Montana Extravaganza; you have exposed folks who wouldn’t normally be inclined towards fishing, a wilderness experience, and preservation to that way of life. At the same time you have tastefully turned this connection around to help support the wildlife and preservation movements that you value, and that will enable this life style to remain sustainable. Finally you have done a masterful job of turning what would normal be a xenophobic situation (those Californians) into a positive and welcome economic presence. Normally folks are quiet happy to have you visit for a week, and then go home, you have made it so that you are part of their community, and a very positive part. Congratulations, it works on many levels, and I am happy to show my appreciation by contributing to Montana Matters and the Montana Wildlife and Parks Foundation.
Thank you very much for sharing this with me, I look forward to fishing with you again.
Sincerely,
Bob Branstad
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