Area conservatives to gather in Emblem Saturday — and politicians and media will be there

Emblem will be the state’s political hub this Saturday, as the tiny Big Horn County town plays host to Tea Party members and politicians from around Wyoming.

The third annual Big Horn Basin Tea Party Picnic features a lengthy list of conservative speakers and many prominent Wyoming Republicans are expected to attend, including Sen. Mike Enzi and his announced primary challenger, Liz Cheney.

Big Horn Basin Tea Party chairman Rob DiLorenzo said he has been inundated by politicians who want to speak and media outlets that want to cover it, some from as far away as London, England.

“They are all asking me, how did you get Enzi and Cheney both to agree to attend,” DiLorenzo said. “I tell them, ‘I asked.’”

The picnic is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Fallowfield Ranch, located at 3357 Road 14 in Emblem. Tickets are free and the event is open to the public, but attendees are asked to register in advance at http://bhbtp.eventbright.com. Donations are encouraged to help offset the cost of the event.

Event organizers say in addition to Enzi and Cheney, Rep. Cynthia Lummis, State Auditor Cynthia Cloud, State Treasurer Mark Gordon and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill are all scheduled to attend and speak.

“I told them they are all welcome, but they have to behave,” DiLorenzo said with a laugh Tuesday.

The lineup of non-candidate speakers, meanwhile, should include retired U.S. Army Major General and senior Fox News military analyst Paul Vallely, retired U.S. Navy Commander Kirk Lippold (who captained the U.S.S. Cole when it was attacked by terrorists in 2000), Tim Macy of Gun Owners of America, former CIA operative and Fox News security analyst Wayne Simmons and Tom DeWeese of the conservative American Policy Center.

“If you come to this picnic you will not only be able to enjoy good food, friends and fun, but you will walk away with more knowledge than the average citizen,” says a flier for the event. “You will hear about what is happening in our United States legislature, Second Amendment rights, First Amendment rights, Common Core, Agenda 21 and much, much more.”

A special mixer is being held on Sunday where individuals, for $100, can have more direct conservations with the lineup of speakers.

For more information about the weekend’s events, call Powell Tea Party organizer David Kellett at 754-4354.

“This is going to be the most interesting picnic we’ve ever had,” Kellett said.