During her “AZ01 at Work” tour, the congresswoman has highlighted job creation and veterans’ resources across District 1. She told The Independent that her hope is for a diversified economy throughout Arizona, including tribal lands.

A “huge piece of the economy” in the White Mountains is connected to forest health, she noted.

“It’s not just about fighting horrific wildfires,” Kirkpatrick said, but also about ensuring that businesses continue to benefit from the timber harvested from thinning projects.

She pointed out areas of concern, including the White Mountain Apache Timber Company’s troubles and the temporary closure of Vaagen Mill in Eagar, one of the commercial mills started up to work the 4FRI. The plan is to leave the mill in place for later re-opening.

Kirkpatrick also voiced support for the various sawmills in the area, such as Show Low’s Forest Energy pellet plant and NOVO Power’s biomass plant in Snowflake/Taylor.

While in Navajo County, Kirkpatrick met one-on-one with Lacey Ekberg, executive director of the Show Low Chamber and Crystal O’Donnell, executive director of the Pinetop-Lakeside Chamber to talk about chamber priorities and opportunities, according to Jennifer Johnson, her communications director.

Kirkpatrick also visited Vinnedge Signworks, Show Low’s 2024 Small Business of the Year.

On Saturday, she visited the White Mountain Apache Tribe. The congresswoman has been briefing tribal leaders on the local impact of the recent Veterans Administration Reform legislation, which she sponsored and has been signed into law.

Before heading to the White Mountains, Kirkpatrick participated in a VA Reform Tribal Conference on the Navajo Nation in Flagstaff.

She’s been holding VA reform meetings across her district, which includes 12 Native American tribes, but this was a larger-scale event in which she brought in officials from the VA, Indian Health Service and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee to participate in a question-and-answer session.

“There’s a special place for (veterans) in my heart, especially rural veterans,” Kirkpatrick told The Independent.

The reason is her father fought in World War II and her family has a long history of military service.

The White Mountains native also recalls the Vietnam War “hit this area particularly hard. Lots of lives were lost,” she said.