We cannot wait to celebrate with you!

Kaytlin's first encounter with Roger was not incredibly pleasant. Kaytlin worked as a lobbyist at the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. Every year, the farmers that Kaytlin represented would vote on and pass policy resolutions on federal issues that Kaytlin would then bring to the American Farm Bureau Federation to be voted on by all of the states. One December, Kaytlin flew to Washington DC to assist her President, Dan Glessing, on representing Minnesotan farmers in the policy debate. Kaytlin was assigned the dairy subcommittee to sit in and observe. Little did she know, some of the policy that was passed by Minnesota and brought to DC would upset some states and some national staff... that national staff being Roger, and Roger had worked on Dairy policy almost his entire career. When the resolution was brought to the subcommittee, Roger stood up along with some farmers and criticized some of this policy. Kaytlin felt blindsided and a little embarrassed. Who was this guy? Why was he so upset? Kaytlin would go on to remember Roger Cryan as the crabby dairy economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation. Fast forward. Kaytlin drove 9 hours to participate in a conference with other midwest states on agricultural commodity issues. She showed up early, got a work out in, showered and headed to the lobby for registration. The minute Kaytlin walked in the lobby, she saw Roger and thought to herself, "Oh, great." She texted her boss, "Our best friend Roger Cryan is here, I'm going to try to play nice." Thanks to Kaytlin's playful and competitive nature, she waltzed right up to Roger, shook his hand and with a big smile said "Hi! I'm Kaytlin! I'm with the Minnesota Farm Bureau" ... thinking, incorrectly it turned out, that Roger would be upset. She wanted to win him over professionally with a big, kind personality. After registration, they all boarded a bus, and Kaytlin happened to sit in front of Roger and a farmer from the United Kingdom. Kaytlin had turned around to talk to them both the entire 30-minute bus ride and was completely drawn to Roger. She didn't really know what it was, but his eyes were so warm and safe. She spent the entire trip trying to get to know Roger better. They bonded over work things and talked about personal stuff. After the conference was over, Kaytlin couldn't stop thinking about this man she met. She thought about him the entire 9-hour drive back to Minnesota. Oddly enough, Kaytlin happened to fly out to Washington DC the following week. The first thing she did after she stepped off the plane was head to a reception, where Roger spotted her and immediately talked to her. They made plans to get dinner one evening and also watch the Congressional Baseball game together. That week they got to know each other very well and felt comfortable around each other. They had so much in common, almost as if they were the same person. They both knew they had made a lifelong friend in one another. They stayed in contact over the next few months. Kaytlin had been back and forth from DC a few more times for work and they really got to know each other well. They would spend hours on the phone together when they weren't with each other. It was incredible how much they just clicked. Kaytlin had fallen madly in love with Roger but it wasn't all uphill from there. There was a lot to discuss about a potential future. With a significant age gap, living in different locations, etc., both knew they loved each other more than anything but did not know if it was going to work or if it would be worth it in the end for both of them. A lot of discussion was had and a lot of tears were shed because of the uncertainty of what a real relationship would look like. Then, Roger came to Minnesota and surprised Kaytlin by asking her if she would marry him. She said yes yes yes! and the rest is history. Kaytlin and Roger are looking forward to you joining them in June and to living happily ever after.