In a number of days, the dream job of a Central Lee Excessive College senior on the Capitol in Des Moines will formally conclude and he is not going to return subsequent time period.

However the shut of Iowa’s 2022 legislative session will not be the top of the political dream for Trey Wellman of rural Donnellson, who has been busy this semester working alongside Home Speaker Pat Grassley, serving as the highest web page within the Iowa Home of Representatives.

“Trey is my right-hand man each time I am sitting within the speaker’s chair,” Grassley stated.

The farm boy is as snug roaming the halls of the Iowa Home as he’s on the Lee County Truthful exhibiting cattle. That’s the place you’ll discover Wellman this summer time when he’ll present two heifers. With him might be his twin sister, Maddie.

However Wellman took a break from the farm this previous winter to develop into a common fixture on the Capitol all through the 89th Basic Meeting till April 19, the a centesimal calendar day of the session, when per diem bills ended and pages have been despatched dwelling.

His father, Dustan Wellman, stated Trey is again dwelling on the farm, going to highschool and serving to with the cattle.

“They’re nonetheless wrangling up there,” Dustan stated of the legislators in Des Moines, noting Trey could possibly be known as again to the Capitol any time to assist with formally ending the session.

And that fits Trey simply positive, for it’s in politics that he plans to make his mark sooner or later.

Turning into a legislative web page

In 2019, Trey went on a Future Farmers of America journey to the Capitol and it sparked his curiosity in serving as a web page within the Capitol.

“That was after I determined I wished to be a web page and find out how our authorities works,” Wellman stated.

Trey informed The Hawk Eye throughout an interview on the Capitol that he has been all for politics for fairly some time and watches the information day by day to see what’s going on and pays shut consideration to present occasions.

To pursue his dream of changing into a web page, Trey bought a letter of advice from Rep. Joe Mitchell (R-Mount Nice) and from his highschool historical past instructor, Charles Banks. Then he utilized for this system within the first week of October 2021. The applying interval for the scholar pages begins in September and closes in early October.

Trey then bought an electronic mail the primary week of November to go to the Capitol for an interview. He attended that course of along with his dad and mom. Then he bought one other electronic mail that stated he was accepted.

“He was extraordinarily excited and completely satisfied about it,” his father stated.

After Trey was chosen, he needed to apply to work with the bulk or minority events and return to Des Moines for one more interview course of in December. He then was chosen to be the speaker’s web page.

“It was fairly thrilling,” Wellman stated.

With the job safe, his subsequent process was to search out housing. He was in a position to get a authorities charge at a lodge inside strolling distance to the Capitol. He can be dwelling part-time on his personal for the primary time in his life.

“He’s extra mature than most 18-year-olds,” Dustan stated of his son. “It was somewhat tough for my spouse (Deborah) but it surely’s been an incredible expertise.”

As soon as he settled in Des Moines, the group of 18 pages (10 within the Home and eight within the Senate) meet on Jan. 7 earlier than the 89th Basic Meeting 2022 Iowa Legislative Session started on Jan. 10.

A day within the lifetime of a web page

That Monday, it was time to go to work. Trey’s day by day routine had him slated to reach at 7:45 a.m. to get issues so as earlier than the day by day session begins at 8:30 a.m. He stated the hours go by shortly and the day can run nicely into the evening, generally till 9 p.m.

“As a management web page, I assist out throughout debates,” Trey stated. “I run all of the mics and I needed to keep in mind the place everybody sits.”

He sits centerstage subsequent to Speaker Grassley on the entrance of the room, and the motion could be quick and livid.

He admitted at first it was difficult and one time he made a tiny screwup on the finish of the day chopping off a microphone too quickly.

“However everybody understood,” he stated of Home members. “They’re affected person and useful.”

In Grassley’s workplace, Trey works alongside Web page Edyn Blau, who works for Matt Windschitl, the bulk chief for the Home.

“It’s a very good time working with Trey,” Blau stated. “He is aware of loads of stuff and lots about politics.”

Trey stated the perfect half is the prospect to work with the speaker and have a look at debates from totally different views and the way the members give their heartfelt view.

Grassley recommended Trey on his work and stated he stepped into his function as speaker’s web page very nicely this session and that he has taken on huge obligations, notably throughout flooring debate, and helped the workplace with day by day duties that run the gamut.

“Trey is a really brilliant child with a brilliant future,” Grassley stated. “He is dealt with each process like a real skilled and with nice power.”

Trey has relished his function and loved studying extra in regards to the course of every day. He stated the debates helped him study in regards to the legislators and the constituents they symbolize. He stated he finds it fascinating to see each side of the aisle discuss a invoice and the friendships shaped no matter political affiliation.

“I get pleasure from listening to the totally different factors of views, particularly throughout committee conferences,” Trey stated.

Trey identified that legislators’ primary job is to fund the federal government and stated that all through the session, they’ve been busy engaged on budgets.

One debate he thought was “neat” was Home File 2577, a invoice that may require lecturers to add curricula for all to see. 

Extra:Iowa Home OKs invoice requiring faculties to put up curriculum, books on-line for dad or mum overview

“That invoice, from the place I sit, it was a extra political invoice than others,” Trey stated.

He identified he all the time tried to see each side as a result of he believes this is likely one of the most vital components of management.

“What you really see more often than not are bipartisan debate about 99% of the time,” Trey stated. “It’s nice to see concepts occur that may assist Iowa.”

These concepts and experiences are a part of the training course of, and Trey will get partial credit score for his work on the Capitol from his highschool. He additionally nonetheless should preserve a category load and does that work at evening in his lodge room. On the weekends, he returns dwelling. 

Weekends at dwelling

After a busy 4 days in Des Moines every week, Trey’s Thursday evenings have been spent on the highway heading dwelling. 

Most Fridays, he attended highschool like a traditional scholar, however his work load is totally different, taking a web based ag class and two on-line courses at Southeastern Neighborhood School.

He additionally reported to Banks, his Unbiased Civics class instructor, about his work on the Capitol, and the 2 have spoken in regards to the debates Trey has noticed, together with the one about curricula.

Banks informed him his primary concern in regards to the invoice was: “What’s the finest precedence for the scholars?”

“It’s raised his eyebrows in regards to the expertise and we’ve had loads of nice conversations,” Banks stated.

These conversations have been useful for Trey and have added one other layer of studying to the method. Banks stated he believes Trey could discover a future in politics.

Trey is the third web page Banks has helped in his 10 years at Central Lee, and he enjoys the chance to assist his college students advance their beliefs.

“He’s somebody who has supported me lots and I’m grateful for what he has finished for me,” Trey stated of his instructor.

What’s subsequent for Trey?

After graduating highschool, Trey plans to attend Central School in Pella, the place he’ll examine economics and politics with a concentrate on agriculture coverage.

It’s a dream of his to sooner or later run for workplace, however the huge image is to be concerned in politics. It could possibly be by way of a suppose tank, as a legislative assistant or work in a committee.

He sees an incredible avenue within the ag business: to teach, to increase sources and to develop jobs.

He is also fascinated by the examine of commerce routes and laws within the business.

“Ag is likely one of the most various and largest fields,” Trey stated. “And serving to that work by way of coverage is vital.”

The top of a session

The fondest reminiscences about being a web page for Trey was the chance to work alongside the speaker.

“He’s an incredible man and he strives to work with everybody,” Trey stated. “He taught me to verify I’m all the time together with all people.”

Grassley famous that Trey was sitting subsequent to him when the Iowa Home handed a historic tax lower, and he gave Trey a pen he used to signal the invoice as a token of gratitude for the younger web page’s arduous work this session.

Trey extremely recommends the web page program and stated these all for politics ought to apply. He stated even in case you don’t get the place, the interview course of is a superb expertise.

“If you’re , do it,” Trey stated. “It’s a tremendous expertise.” 

And in case you are one of many fortunate few who do get to spend the session strolling the Capitol halls, you’ll cherish the reminiscence the remainder of your life.

“You get to make connections with folks throughout the state and might use them later in life,” Trey stated.

Who is aware of? Perhaps later in life we’ll get an opportunity to forged a poll for Trey Wellman to symbolize us in a Capitol advanced, be it in Iowa or Washington, D.C.