Labor Day Weekend is the traditional kickoff of the fall campaign season.

Christine Drazan, the Oregon Republican candidate for governor, got a head start on Thursday, Sept. 1 at Smith Rock Ranch, where she spoke to a few hundred attendees and rallied for change in Salem.

Much of the event focused on agriculture, water rights, and pushing back against government control.

Drazan emphasized her support for law enforcement, free markets, low taxes, addressing affordable housing and declaring a state of emergency for the homelessness crisis.

“We cannot turn a blind eye to the homeless crisis in our streets,” she said. “We have to provide compassion and accountability.”

Household names in the Central Oregonian political sphere also showed up to support — including Deschutes County Commissioners Patti Adair and Tony DeBone, along with Redmond city councilor and mayoral candidate Jay Patrick.

Drazan noted the support support she has received from Vikki Breese-Iverson, minority leader of the Oregon house of representatives; Tim Knopp, R-Bend; and Deschutes County Commissioner candidate Phil Henderson.

The November election will be a three-way battle for the open governor’s seat between Democrat Tina Kotek, independent Betsy Johnson and Republican Christine Drazan.

“Look at the people on your left, look at the people on your right,” Drazan said. “This is the winning team. It’s not people sitting around a coffee shop in Multnomah County. It’s the people here tonight, fighting for the future of our state.”

Some of those in attendance agreed with Drazan on limiting government overreach.

Jim Crouch of Tumalo defined himself as a “conservative, not Republican.” Crouch started a construction business in 1972 and said he received “nasty” letters from the government saying they’d throw him in jail unless he made changes. He was audited six times and disliked the amount of government involvement on his business.

“I didn’t want to rely on the government to provide for me,” he said.

Matt Cyrus, the Deschutes County Farm Bureau president, also spoke. Cyrus said the current Oregon legislature failed to cooperate with the agricultural community to address concerns.

“We need to change the governor to somebody that we can work with and somebody who will support agriculture,” he said.

JoHanna Symons, owner of Symons Beef Company and co-founder of Perfect Balance USA, spoke about water rights. She blamed “radical environmentalists” for strategically abusing the Endangered Species Act and causing irrigation issues for agriculture in the Deschutes Basin.

Symons emphasized that she’s supportive of the Endangered Species Act when enforced properly, but felt that has not been done for the Oregon spotted frog.

Symons, whose ranch is located in the North Unit Irrigation District, said the irrigation district’s general manager and board of directors voluntarily decided to give up water to benefit the frog. Because of those demands, Symons said that means “basically, our reservoir is gone after the wintertime release.”

According to Symons, her operation produces enough beef to feed 300,000 people a year. If operations like hers falter, she is worried about the nation’s ability to feed its citizens.

“The Deschutes Basin seems small, but across the board we have a huge national and international footprint on food,” Symons said.

Drazan also touched on both local and international concerns that tie to Oregon agriculture.

“On day one I will tear up Kate Brown’s executive order on cap and trade,” she said. “I will veto bad bills that are written to advance a progressive global agenda that harm Oregonians.”