Today, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) announced that Pacific County shellfish grower Marilyn Sheldon will be her guest at the State of the Union address.

Marilyn Sheldon lives in Nahcotta, Washington and operates Northern Oyster Co. with her husband Brian. They raise bottom cultured pacific oysters and manila clams solely in Willapa Bay, and their son recently came into the business, making them a fourth-generation shellfish farm.

Sheldon serves as the governor-appointed Coastal Shellfish Grower on the Marine Resources Advisory Council, as the chair of the Twin Harbors – Lewis County FSA County Committee, and on the Executive Committee of the Willapa-Grays Harbor Oyster Growers Association.

Marilyn picking oysters (Courtesy of Marilyn Sheldon).

Outside of her involvement in local and regional shellfish trade organizations, Marilyn is also active in her community through her church, local cemetery board, and school committees.

“As a third-generation shellfish grower, Marilyn exemplifies the skill, hard work, and stewardship that powers Southwest Washington’s aquaculture economy. For family farms like hers to be passed down for generations to come, it’s critical that we cut burdensome regulations, protect the way of life of local growers, and maintain a healthy habitat for their products to thrive,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “I’m honored to have Marilyn join me for the State of the Union, and I’ll continue working on the House Ag and Small Business Committees to support rural small business owners and these meaningful family-wage careers.”

“As a small business owner, and specifically a shellfish farmer, I greatly appreciate Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez’s approach to serving as a legislator. She makes great efforts to learn about the barriers small business owners face and doesn’t just accept that overregulation is just how it’s going to be,” said Sheldon. “When she talks about our natural resource-based economy and all the trades that can thrive in SW Washington I can hear pride in her voice. It is so encouraging to hear a legislator who is proud of all the hard working people in their district.”