The four-year-old mayor of Dorset, Minnesota--a champion of ice cream and his unincorporation hamlet's restaurants--is running for re-election by urging voters to stuff the ballot box. The Associated Press investigates here in a story that's as viral as it is adorable.
He's not alone in the youth takeover of political news today. The Mankato Free Press reports in Madelia girl lunches with Obamas that the nine-year-old, whose recipe for garden stir-fry earned her lunch at the White House, favored one host over the other:
Kaitlyn Kirchner didn't miss a beat — didn't hesitate even a second — when asked who was cooler: Barack Obama or Michelle Obama.
“Michelle,” she said, then let go of a giggle that gave away her age.
The 9-year-old from Madelia got the chance to meet them both Tuesday in the White House. Mom went along, too, but it was Kaitlyn who got them there. Her recipe for garden stir-fry was among the winners of a national contest. . . .
For Kaitlyn, the highlight was meeting the first lady (she met both Obamas). She got to meet Michelle Obama face to face when they arrived, as each junior gourmet got to shake the first lady's hand and ask her a few questions. . . .
It didn't surprise [Lea Kirchner] that her daughter thought Michelle was the cool one in the Obama house.
“She has thought that from day one when he was inaugurated and she was in preschool,” Kirchner said.
Out of the mouth of babes, as they say. Huffington Post also reports that the too-cool First Lady Michelle Obama Dances During Kids' State Dinner:
Dancing after gathering recipes beats collecting metadata any day, so Bluestem concurs with Kaitlyn.
Here's the Madelia girl's recipe for Garden Stir-Fry. Kaitlyn writes:
"This is my favorite recipe because it tastes great and it is fun to make! My mom, sisters, and I grow all the vegetables in our garden," says Kaitlyn. "We pick the vegetables in the morning, wash and cut them, and have them ready for our dad to stir-fry when he arrives home for lunch. We serve the recipe with cooked quinoa and a glass of soy milk."
Dad is a chiropractor in Madelia. Here's a charming video from the University of Minnesota's Institute of Advanced Study featuring, Kaitlyn's mom and Bryce Wolle, talking about gardening together on Wolle's property. Kirchner talks about her ambition as a mother trying to introduce more locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables into children's diets, while Wolle shares his joy in supplying fresh watermelons and other produce to senior citizens.
A small city of 2,308 in Watonwan County, Madelia is situated beside the Watonwan River.
Photo: Kaitlyn Kirchner.
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