Stewart “Brandy” Brandborg of Hamilton, one of the founders of the 1964 Wilderness Act which is 50 years old this year, addressed a standing-room-only audience in Hamilton last week at the screening of the U.S. Forest Service film about his years of public service in getting the Wilderness Act approved by Congress. The film, entitled “Brandy,” features Brandborg relating the details of the work that went into passage of the Act and the importance of the legislation in preserving wild lands across the country. Today, America boasts 758 wilderness areas covering almost 110 million acres. The Forest Service alone manages 440 wilderness areas. They mak
e up a third of the entire National Forest System. “We want to learn from the past,” said U.S. Forest Service Northern Regional Forester Faye Krueger who was on hand to introduce Brandborg (who received a standing ovation) and the film. “As our population grows, our appreciation for wilderness grows as well.” She thanked Brandborg for what he did, saying, “My children and my grandchildren will appreciate it.” Michael Howell photo.