 The president's budget proposal eliminates public media funding. Learn how you can help at lptv.org slash action. Well it's the end of an era for one state park employee. Haiti Clotter shows us how one man is retiring after serving the people in Lake Bemidji State Park for 36 years. What's going on the different groups I've worked with? For John Fieldpaw details of his 36 year career are chronicled in the calendar he keeps dating back to 1985. He can tell you about the weather and what else went on that day. I heard gulls rained in the afternoon. Now he's calling it quits. Fieldpaw's career started in southern Minnesota at Miniopa State Park. As a park naturalist he's responsible for working with visitors and getting them familiar with what the park has to offer. When I got up here and settled in there was so much that the community had to offer and got involved with community and the community was real supportive of the park that I just enjoyed it here. As Fieldpaw cleaned out his office he was overcome with emotion. It is bittersweet. There's a lot of memories that I see with things that I'm recycling and going through the the papers. Reality is sinking in for Fieldpaw as he's trying to pack up 36 years of memories in boxes. There are a few moments that stick out to him the most which was working with young kids. They were they were always energetic and any day outside learning is a wonderful way to spend the day and they enjoyed being out here at the park. City Park Manager Peter Harrison worked with Fieldpaw for seven years and says Fieldpaw leaves a strong impact and inspired many to go into the natural field. Well he means a lot he has a lot of institutional knowledge the amount of operational knowledge and and just the historical knowledge of the park and we're we're kind of losing that in a sense. Congratulations John. Well thanks for stopping. We'll see you around again. Take care. As this chapter closes Fieldpaw is looking forward to having summers off going camping and visiting other state parks. In Bemidji, Haiti-Claude, Lakeland News. Fieldpaw says he will no longer be in the office but will of course still come around and visit the park like everyone else. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.