9 things you didn’t know about Mel

One

I’m a Colorado native and grew up in Castle Rock.

Two

I used to work in the animal industry as a Kennel Technician for a pet boarding facility. Although working with animals was fun, I was looking for more of a challenge and joined the team at the Marijuana Enforcement Division.

Three

I own two Ancona chickens, Honey and Pumpkin. They are very naughty chickens! Growing up, my sister and I would spend most summers on my grandpa’s farm in Grand Junction. To keep my sister and I busy, my grandpa offered us $20 for every chicken we could catch. My main motive wasn’t to earn $20 but to convert one of his angry hens into a cuddle hen. I would spend nearly the entire day trying to catch at least one hen but never had any luck. Since then, I’ve dreamed of having chickens that I could actually cuddle.

I also have a Lab mix named Sydney and a Border Collie named Dally (see number Eight below), and an orange tabby cat named Mr. Momo.

Four

I’m an avid fly fisher and tie flies as a hobby. I was inspired to learn fly fishing for the challenge and have found it to be more rewarding than spin casting. I also learned how to tie flies because not only do you lose so many while fishing but it’s fun getting creative with patterns and seeing what the fish like.

Five

Recently, I took my first trip out of the country to Iceland. Some important things I learned there is to not open your car door in the wind and they LOVE hamburgers.

Six

My boyfriend and I recently bought a cabin that was built in 1939 that we are slowly working on restoring.

Seven

I love tea, coffee and snacks. Any snacks.

Eight

In the summer, my boyfriend Gavin and I spend most of our weekends canyoneering, fishing and backpacking.

Nine

Growing up I attended a religious school that practiced vegetarianism, but recently I converted to a pescatarian.