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Democratic National Convention

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Welcome to the DNC
Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
photo by Sharon O'Toole

Pat and I got to be part of the excitement of the Democratic National Convention this week. Pat is President of the Family Farm Alliance, a group which represents Western irrigators, and the FFA helped sponsor a reception to educate folks about the issues faced by those who produce basic commodities, such as food and fiber. We plan to head to Minnesota later this week to help host a similar event at the Republican National Convention. It will be interesting to see if the R's have a convention as filled with energy, nuttiness and heavy duty security as that presented by the D's. Through sheer luck (my choice of lunch parters at the reception) we were able to score tickets and attend Tuesday night's speeches at the Pepsi Center. We truly had nose-bleed seats, and were there with 20,000 of our closest friends, but the electric atmosphere was something that could not be captured on TV.

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Seamus, Pat & Siobhan with donkey
16th Street Mall
photo by Sharon O'Toole

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Superman the Super Delegate
16th Street Mall
photo by Sharon O'Toole

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Really hot vegetarian
16th Street Mall
photo by Sharon O'Toole

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Crystal Pepsi demonstrators
16th Street Mall
photo by Sharon O'Toole

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Who's flip-flopping now?
16th Street Mall
photo by Sharon O'Toole

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Mounted Patrol
16th Street Mall
photo by Sharon O'Toole

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Sharpshooter keeping watch
near the Pepsi Center
photo by Sharon O'Toole

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Our view of Hillary's speech
Pepsi Center
photo by Sharon O'Toole

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Bridget, at the Pepsi Center
photo by Sharon O'Toole

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Pat & Sharon after the speeches
photo by Bridget O'Toole

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About Pat & Sharon O'Toole

Sharon O'Toole
Pat and Sharon O’Toole are ranchers in the Little Snake River Valley near Savery, Wyoming, right on the Colorado-Wyoming border. They raise cattle, sheep, horses, dogs and children. Pat “immigrated” from Florida in 1970. He attended Colorado State University, where he met Sharon when both worked for the campus newspaper. Sharon grew up on their ranch, where they live and work with her father, their daughter, son and granddaughter (soon to be grandchildren!). Pat is a “water buffalo” and has served in the Wyoming House of Representatives (1986-1992), on the President’s Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission, and is the current President of the Family Farm Alliance, which advocates for farmers, ranchers and irrigators. Sharon is an author, poet and journalist. She writes extensively on Western issues and is a columnist for “The Shepherd” magazine. Pat and Sharon are the parents of three children: Meghan, 27; Bridget, 26; and Eamon, 20.
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