Lianna & Dan met at the "Sheep Show" in Reno, Nevada in February of 2019. Lianna had just started working for the Wild Sheep Foundation, and Dan was attending from British Columbia.
Taking a leap of faith, Dan moved to BC from the Blue Mountains of NSW years prior, to pursue a career in the hunting industry. While Lianna, had moved to Montana also years earlier. Both pursuing a life focused around wild places & wild things, this commonality immediately become apparent between them.
Before the convention began, Lianna's co-workers had hinted that there was this guy that they thought would be perfect for her...
From the very first meeting, the connection was undeniable. The last night of the show, Lianna and Dan stayed up till the early hours of the morning talking, both knew that night, that this was the real thing.
How did you first meet?
Lianna: We met in Reno, Nevada during the Wild Sheep Foundations Annual Convention. A weekend wasn't enough, so after I got back to Bozeman, I jumped back in the car with my pup and drove to Salt Lake City to spend just a few more days with Dan before he headed north on a winter mountain goat hunt!
Who made the first move? How?
Lianna: I did!! I interrupted Dan while he was having a convo with a friend at one of the evening banquets at the show. I walked up to him and proceeded to mimic his Australian accent (I may have had a few glasses of wine..and may have known that he was the guy my friends were talking about).
Dan: Yeah, once she was sure she had insulted me enough she turned and walked away! She definitely made a lasting impact and I kept thinking I had to find her again.
Lianna: My mom can attest, every day we spoke I kept mentioning this Aussie guy more and more...and more :)
What's your favorite activity together?
We love to get outdoors (surprise, surprise). Getting to explore wild, remote places, anything with the dogs, and enjoying a good meal together whether that's outside around the campfire or a nice restaurant. Dan loves to cook (I'm a lucky girl!).
We’re on the same page about
What's important to us, and what our life goals are. Spending time with the people we love most is top of the list!
How did he propose?
Lianna: We finally were able to get back over to AUS after the pandemic. Dan organized a day canyoning in the Blue Mountains. Dans's mum, his brother Joel, and his best mate Jason and his wife May were able to join us. We started off driving into the bush way off the beaten path, parked the car and hiked down to the start of Rocky Creek. We got suited up in wetsuits, helmets and waterproofed our packs. Within the first 45 minutes, dans mate, Jason jumped in and ended up bashing his foot on a rock. He insisted on carrying on, and we later found out he had broken his heel! There was this moment between them where Dan asked him if he could keep going and Jason replied with " I got this man" which in hindsight was a littleee bit strange. But apparently he knew this trip was much more than just a day canyoning.
It was a gorgeous day with lush vegetation, beautiful scenery, wildlife sightings and the best company! The canyon opened up enough where the sun could shine through and there was this gorgeous beach. With his brother Joel filming, Jason was able to get the ring out from his pack discretely and dan popped the question! For someone who always has something to say, it was minutes before I even answered Dan!
It was so special we were able to share it with some of our friends and family! And we certainly will never live down the fact that Jason broke his heel in the process!