Bridges run both ways. One-way policy is a roadblock to true progress.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology ...

Pacific Wrens are tiny brown wrens with a song much larger than themselves.

One researcher deemed them a “pinnacle of song complexity.”

Purpose

WREN is organized to promote robust discussion of the trade-offs required by public policy decisions affecting the health and resilience on the rural environment. We seek decisions balancing the triple bottom line of ‘people, planet and profits’ in connection with the following principles:

People: Flourishing rural communities

Planet: Healthy habitat and ecosystems

Profits: Sustainable rural economies with diverse sources of income and opportunities

Directors

Sue Lani Madsen
President & Founder

Sue Lani operates a unique ag business with her husband Craig based out of Edwall, WA offering vegetation management services statewide with the healing hooves of their herd of goats. A graduate of Washington’s Ag Forestry Leadership program, Madsen also has a degree in architecture from Washington State University. She is a licensed architect, although no longer actively practicing. Currently, Sue Lani serves as Chairman of the Lincoln County Planning Commission grappling with difficult community conversations over industrial wind and residential development pressures in a rural Lincoln County. She wrote a weekly column for The Spokesman-Review from 2015 -2024, maintains a Substack writing and podcast page, “Forthright,” and is a contributing freelance writer to The Center Square and [un]Divided.

Hon. Brian Blake

Brian served in the WA Legislature 2002-2020, including as Chair of the House Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee. He lives in Aberdeen, WA with deep family roots in Grays Harbor County. Started out in logging, Brian diverted to natural resources. He ran unsuccessfully for Grays Harbor County Commissioner in 2024, and remains committed to the future of his county. Brian works for Ocean Gold Seafood and is actively involved in educating citizens about impacts of offshore wind development on West Coast fisheries.

Hon. Joel Kretz

Joel is a lifelong Washingtonian who grew up on Mercer Island and now makes his home in Wauconda, in Okanogan County where he raises horses and cattle. In 2025, he happily retired to the Promised Land Ranch after serving in the WA Legislature from 2004 to 2024

Joel attended Green River Community College and Olympic Community College before moving to Eastern Washington to live and work off the land. He has been involved with the Okanogan Farm Bureau, National Rifle Association and Coalition for Property Rights.

His legislative priorities were private-sector job creation and responsible land management. Northeast Washington continues to lag behind other counties with high unemployment rates. He believes the best way to get people back to work is to get government out of the way of job creators, which will boost individual and family incomes, providing adequate resources for the core functions of government.

People working on the land have always been true conservationists, since their livelihoods depend on healthy animals and the environment. Joel wants to see the state be responsible with its resources, focused on maintaining current resources of state land and being responsive to citizens who live, work and recreate in and near state lands.

Joel’s experience as the long-time former Deputy Minority Leader allowed him to be involved in budget and high-level policy negotiations across the aisle. He continues to advocate for the unique needs and values of rural Washington and to fight for a smaller, smarter government.

Rick Perleberg

Secretary/Treasurer

Rick is an agriculture education teacher who also serves as Future Farmers of America (FFA) advisor at Reardan High School.  He serves on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Wolf Advisory Group (WAG), and as a legacy Board Member of the community-based nonprofit Jenson Memorial Youth Ranch. Rick earned a B.S. ‘95 and M.S. ‘99 from Montana State University.

During the summer, Rick works as a commercial fisherman in Alaska. He has coached successful FFA teams at state and national levels in the Ag Issues Forum competition. The format requires team members to thoroughly research all sides of contentious and complex rural environmental issues, then present both sides to audiences encouraged to ask tough questions. FFA Ag Issues Forum is one of the inspirations behind the WREN.

Advisory
Committees

We are in the process of forming advisory committees that will inform and shape our efforts. Advisory Committees will include, but not be limited to:

  • Rural Energy Workforce

  • Rural Recreation & Tourism

  • Tribal Interests

  • Rural Housing & Development

  • Rural Youth Programming & Education

  • Rural Veterans