Youth And Businesses Entertain Washington, DC, At The 'Experience New Hampshire' Reception

By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH

Above, about 600 people attended the event Wednesday at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. PAULA TRACY photo

WASHINGTON, DC — Capitol Hill got a taste and feel for New Hampshire Wednesday as the state's Congressional Delegation hosted its 15th annual “Experience New Hampshire Reception” in the Russell Senate Office Building.

More than 600 people from within the beltway and the 603 responded to the invite and were treated to the culinary works of students from technical schools, beer and ice cream and they got to mingle with the state's entire Congressional Delegation.

Making the trip south, too, was a stuffed, massive moose and a bear that are usually seen at the White Mountain welcome center in North Woodstock.

The event included supporting businesses from the Granite State, including Port City Pretzels, Granite State Candy Shoppe, the New Hampshire Food Bank, the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association, Echo Farm Puddings, Walpole Creamery, The Old Farmer’s Almanac, Feathered Friend Brewing Company and Manchester Distillery, and officials from Ski NH and White Mountain Attractions, among others.

Grace Mariano of Laconia and Emma Everett of Concord, students at Lakes Region Community College, were proudly preparing tasty chicken balls with a tangy sauce in the Kennedy Caucus Room and marveling at the experience of serving some of the most politically powerful individuals in the nation.

The event is a partnership with Granite State Ambassadors and it allows Granite State businesses to showcase their first-class products to legislators and invited guests.

“Small businesses power our state’s local economies with goods, services and experiences that are quintessential to New Hampshire,” said U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH. “Now in its 15th year, the annual Experience New Hampshire event shows folks in Washington all that the Granite State has to offer, and I am so excited to host these local businesses one last time in my final year in the Senate. A special thank you to the Granite State Ambassadors for their commitment to New Hampshire businesses and their partnership in putting on this great event.”

U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-NH, also attended. "New Hampshire’s small businesses are the heart of our state’s economy and help make our state a truly special place to live, work, and visit,” Hassan said.

“Experience New Hampshire is a great opportunity to showcase the Granite State’s unique local businesses and to recognize the people whose hard work helps keep our economy strong.”

Congressman Chris Pappas, D-NH, who earlier this week was in Concord to sign up to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Shaheen, said, “In New Hampshire, small businesses are the fabric of our communities, economy, and way of life. Experience New Hampshire brings Granite State culture to our nation’s capital through our small businesses and their unique products and services...I am once again excited to join our federal delegation in welcoming fellow Granite Staters, small businesses, and guests to this popular event in D.C.”

The freshman U.S. Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander, D-NH, said, “New Hampshire is home to the best small businesses in America...I’m proud to partner with New Hampshire’s federal delegation and the amazing women and men of our Granite State Ambassadors to connect New Hampshire businesses and innovators with legislators and leaders in our nation’s capital and help bring a taste of New Hampshire to Congress.”

Above, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander, D-NH, poses with a stuffed moose at the Experience New Hampshire event Wednesday. PAULA TRACY photo

Hassan said the event is truly a get together for all who love the Granite State and many former staffers of various campaigns who come together to see each other.

"It's a lot like a reunion," she said.

This article first appeared on InDepthNH.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.