The author of four children’s picture books that celebrate heartwarming, inspirational, and intergenerational stories with rural Minnesota traditions, Packy decided to research and explore another Minnesota resource: its athletes. He discovered many athletes from a variety of sports and eras who have brought pride to the state through their effort, perseverance, achievements, and professions. Convinced that the stories of these remarkable athletes who have enriched our heritage should be preserved, Packy has spent seven years researching sports data, traveling to 85 of Minnesota’s 87 counties, having conversations with more than 100 elite athletes who competed on the world stage, and then writing two books profiling their lives:  Minnesota Gold and More Minnesota Gold. They are 400-page, full-color volumes with more than 200 photographs in each book.  He believes he has discovered true Minnesota Gold!