Jessica Karjala @ Footloose Montana

WILDERNESS & WILDLIFE

Jay talks to Jessica Karjala about Footloose Montana and her efforts to end trapping in Montana. Mrs. Karjala served in the Montana Legislature in the House of Representatives for 8 years. The first bill she sponsored defined capture, spay/neuter, return programs from trapping, and Footloose Montana supported the bill. She fought alongside other Democrats against legislation to increase wolf quotas, bills to allow silencers on rifles when hunting, spotlight hunting, hound hunting, to name a few. At the end of her first term, Jessica was selected by House leadership to represent Montana at the National Conference of State Legislatures at a National Summit. In her 3rd session, Jessica passed legislation to appropriate millions of dollars to provide grant funding for suicide prevention for which she was honored alongside Senator Tester with the Impact Award by the Montana Conference on Suicide Prevention. Jessica was also selected as one of 20 lawmakers nationwide to participate in a fellowship with The Lawmaker Network. Prior to serving in the Legislature Jessica worked in the finance and investment industry, as a small business owner, and in the nonprofit sector. Jessica has a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Montana with minor studies in Spanish and Nonprofit Administration. She resides in the Bitterroot Valley with her husband and 2 dogs who all hope to live within the city of Missoula within the next year. Jessica enjoys spending time with her daughters, stepsons, and grandson and enjoys hiking, camping, floating and skiing.

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