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Donald Trump, Jr., Visits Nelsonville, Rocky Brands
By: Susan Tebben
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The son of the Republican presidential nominee visited a local sportsmen group and other supporters at Rocky Brands on Monday, talking game hunting and phone-banking while taking a tour of the facility.
Donald Trump, Jr., was treated to a meal prepared by culinary students from Hocking College as he met with members of Sportsmen for Trump, heads of Rocky Brands, local candidates and officials with Hocking College.
Photo by Susan Tebben / WOUB News
Rocky Brands interim CEO Mike Brooks met the oldest Trump child at the entrance to the facility on Canal Street, along with Sportsmen for Trump leader Mike Budzik.
Trump, Jr., the son of Donald J. Trump and his first wife Ivana, talked about learning how to hunt from his Czechoslovakian grandfather and how much hunting has meant to him, despite being raised by a New York real estate mogul.
His grandfather had his own way of teaching Trump, Jr., about game hunting.
“He took me out into the woods and said..’see you at dark,’ so that was how I learned,” he said.
Budzik appreciated that the son of a presidential candidate was familiar with such a large part of Southeast Ohio’s economy.
“Hunting and fishing is big business in Ohio,” Budzik said. “It’s about a $2 billion industry and we’re glad he thinks it’s important.”
Rocky Brands has seen its ups and downs, with the recent announcement of 20 layoffs at their Nelsonville and Logan facilities due to decreasing sales. The company said in August that the decreases were consistent with other competitors numbers as well.
The company’s stock price has seen a dip from a high of about $23 per share in early 2015 to $10 per share as of Tuesday morning.
After walking through the facility, Trump, Jr., met with college students working a phone bank for the Republican Party. He applauded their abilities, saying it proved election analysts were wrong in saying the Trump campaign was lacking in the millennial vote.
“It’s great to see young people involved and see people who are fed up with D.C. getting involved and actually doing something about it,” Trump, Jr., told the students. “You guys are going to get stuck with the mess that’s being created right now…so we have to fix that.”
Donald Trump lost Athens County by less than one percent to Ohio Governor John Kasich during the March Ohio primary, according to official Board of Elections results. Recent polls show the race between Trump and Hillary Clinton in a near tie in Ohio.
Hocking College President Betty Young welcomed Trump, Jr., to Nelsonville and 94th District House of Representatives candidate Jay Edwards introduced Trump Jr. to his grandfather, businessman Joe Edwards.
Brooks said he was happy to have Trump, Jr., at the facility in Nelsonville, and happy to see an avid sportsmen helping the presidential candidate Brooks felt was best for the job.
Brooks said the visit did not represent an endorsement by Rocky Brands of the Trump/Mike Pence ticket.
“It’s not an endorsement by Rocky Brands, but it’s an endorsement by me,” Brooks said. “He’s the only businessman that’s running this time that’s got a chance to turn Washington around and got a chance to turn this country around, in my opinion.”
Trump called Rocky a “great American brand” and said he hoped to get back to hunting as soon as he has the time. Working on a presidential campaign hasn’t helped opportunities to hunt, he said, adding that he has “been busy saving the free world.”
“My hunting season will start on Nov. 9,” Trump Jr. said.
Editor’s Note: In a previous version of this article, Joe Edwards was inadvertently referred to as Jay Edwards’ father. He is his grandfather. The change has been made in the story.