Back in 2019, Spotted Lanternfly was taking over Berks County, Pennsylvania. So the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) was tasked with stopping the pesky invader, and they needed some of the finest ecological minds of our time to slow the invader. Brant was fresh out of graduate school from the University of Arkansas when he received the call from the PDA to join in the battle to stop the Spotted Lanternfly. Kristen had already joined the causes 4 months prior, but immediately after getting her degree for Messiah University. Around this time the PDA moved its main efforts for thwarting the Spotted Lanternfly to its new field office in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. It was there that Brant and Kristen worked tirelessly to fight the invader ravishing Pennsylvania's forests and agriculture. From that point their loved bloomed over their shared passion for environment and the outdoors.

We both OBVIOUSLY enjoy the great outdoors, and we have hiked much of Pennsylvania's section of the Appalachian Trail together. Brant was nearing his final section in Pennsylvania, in Michaux State Forest to the Maryland border. This was a good opportunity to mark the literal milestone with a special occasion. A close friend, Clint, was asked to join on the hike and also be a covert photographer, since he would be heading towards his home in Washington, D.C. that day. A wonderful 8 mile hike concluded at the Mason-Dixon Line and the question was asked! Posing for a photo at the trail marker was really just the excuse to propose and get a photo of the occasion. We now know that luckily the answer was yes!