Nearly ten years ago, Evan and Emma first met while working at their local Festival Foods—how Midwestern is that? Despite their early introduction, it wasn’t until a mutual friend secretly tricked them into their first date that their story truly began. Their first date consisted of watching a terrible, locally made film. They spent more time laughing and talking with each other than watching the movie, and were so caught up in conversation that the janitor eventually had to ask them to leave the theater. From that night on, they spent every moment they could together for three months before beginning what would become a five-and-a-half-year long distance relationship. Evan traveled the country playing college baseball, while Emma remained in Appleton, working and earning her nursing degree. Throughout those years, Emma supported Evan as he pursued every opportunity the sport gave him, making countless solo 6½-hour drives for weekend visits in the middle of Iowa. Later, when Evan transferred to North Dakota, long drives turned into flights, new textbooks turned to final exams, and the end of long distance finally came into view. After graduation, the couple started their next chapter together in De Pere. They’ve built a life filled plenty of laughs, many ice cream runs, and two orange cats, Koi and Louie, who make sure life is never too quiet.