FARGO - Speaking to Republican delegates at the state convention, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer shared some tales of his move to Washington, D.C., and said his new position has made him prouder than ever before to be a Republican.

Schafer, who took over the USDA post in January, said delegates should be proud to be supporting a philosophy that he said represents the beliefs of this nation's founders.

Calling government "too big, too expensive, too powerful and too intrusive," he said the country has moved away from the individualist and can-do spirit of its founding. He said Republicans need to stand up against government intrusion and for opportunity for everybody - something that the North Dakota lifestyle might provide a better view of than other areas.

"We live in these often unrelenting prairies and take the responsibility of providing a better life for our children seriously."

He entertained the crowd with tales of how he's had to adapt to life as an administration big wig. He said he's constantly whisked through kitchens and backrooms by staff and handed documents as he's getting into staff driven cars.

On one trip to California, he had so much set up for him by staff that he didn't know what airline he flew in on, what hotel or room he was staying in. This became a problem when he got lost on a walk and couldn't ask anybody for directions because he didn't know what hotel to ask them directions to.

He used these stories to throw some red meat to the loyal Republican crowd with a dig at the opposing party.

"I'm being led around all the time by government employees and I feel like I'm becoming a ward of the state," he said. "Yikes, I might becoming a Democrat."

(Reach reporter Jonathan Rivoli at 223-8482 or jonathan.rivoli@bismarcktribune.com)