Update from Wadena, MN (7/23/25)
- knyreen
- Jul 23
- 3 min read
55 campaign stops, 34 counties visited
by Erik Osberg on 7/23/25
We believe actions speak louder than words. Here are some stats since our launch on March 11th, 2025.
55 campaign stops
34 counties visited. (Only 4 more till we've been to all 38 in Minnesota's 7th Congressional District.)
1,800+ in-person connections, (we haven't met every person in every single room we've been in, but we've listened & introduced ourselves)
$67,500+ in donations (on our way to 100k)
Thank you for showing up & showing out.
Over the last week and a half, we made 8 campaign stops in 9 days. From Murray County to Red Lake County and points in between. One of my favorite parts about this campaign is the "discovery." I've seen things & been places that are new and familiar at the same time.
"Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt." - John Muir
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with 15 folks who have been gathering once a month to share what is on their hearts & minds. I grew up on a dirt road and felt at home in the hills of southern Otter Tail County.
Our conversation felt very comfortable too. They had lots of great questions for me. Some even played "devils advocate" to test my answers. One gentleman had written a list of questions. He said he wanted to support this campaign, but wanted to get to know me first. He asked that I keep my answers short. Like 1 sentence or less. We had a rapid fire session where he asked my thoughts on what felt like 15 or more topics (don't quote me on that). I must have passed the test as he gladly took a button and posed with the others for a Team Photo.
Once again, the sticking point of our discussion landed on "what can we do?" My only answer is, work. Work harder than you've ever worked before. Keep showing up. Keep speaking out. Keep finding seeds of joy & nurturing. Speaking of which you could literally plant a tree. Run to the grocery store, buy some non-perishable food items and bring em to your local food shelf. The point is our ACTIONS will lead us down a different path to a different outcome. Huge thanks to this crew. Your honesty & hospitality are greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work!
We are gonna roll the dice and have our next fish fry outdoors. It will be at the BEAUTIFUL setting at Phelps Mill Park in Otter Tail County, MN. All are welcome to attend these free will donation event. Please register so we know how much fish to bring. We’d also like folks to bring a non-perishable food item or toiletries to donate to local food shelves.
On July 16th the Polk County & Red Lake County DFL hosted the 2nd "Building Better Communities" event of the summer. It was another great evening of connections, conversation & community. The event was held at the Landing at the Bend in Red Lake Falls, MN. An incredible venue, we would highly recommend you stop if you are in the area. Food was excellent. Kudos to State Rep. Steve Gander (R) for showing up and fielding questions. It was refreshing to hear civility, a call for humanity & the need for guard rails. I was impressed in the way he handled himself.
While making new friends is always a joy, one of the really cool parts for me last night was seeing folks for a 2nd time. 4 months in and it feels like we are already deepening relationships. Huge thanks to all those who made this event happen.
Keep up the good work!
Here is a look at our upcoming schedule.
Upcoming schedule:
July 27th - Murray County Fair
July 28th - Senate District 21 Fundraiser Potluck - Fulda, MN
July 29th - Wadena County Farmers Union - Sebeka, MN
Thank you for all the support & keep up the good work!
Thanks to our generous donors, we are closing in on $70,000 raised. Our campaign relies on donations from folks like you. If you have already donated, THANK YOU! If you have set up a recurring donation, even better. If you would like to host a private party fundraiser, click here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/SKQtMANaY0W8nGqHcpukXA2
