Kids “Quacking” Up Part I
By Rob Somerville
Anyone who believes that outdoorsmen in the Volunteer State are a bunch of uncaring ‘Bubbas’, need to read this article. It all began on a whim, but turned out to be one of the most gratifying experiences this old grizzled hunter ever had the pleasure of being involved in.
The Beginning
It all began last March. I was in charge of the annual TOWA {Tennessee Outdoor Writer’s Association} convention. We held it at the beautiful Buchanan Resort on Kentucky Lake. The owners were generous hosts. The convention broke all attendance records with over 120 members of Tennessee’s outdoor media there for the weekend. Our folks went on guided turkey hunts and fishing trips for crappie, bluegill and bream. We had seminars on digital photography, a visit from Governor Bredesen and were treated to the expert skeet team of the Scholastic Clay Target Program. TWRA officials gave us reports on their new fish and game programs and we sampled awesome food from the staff at Buchanan’s.
The Awards Banquet
Part of my job was to acquire a quality speaker for the big awards banquet. This supper is where the individual members of the media were recognized by their peers for excellence in craft. I was fortunate to get not just one such speaker, but two of the most renowned outdoor icons in our state to speak. Kelley Powers is the most decorated goose caller in the world and Buck Gardner has won the Champion of Champions in duck calling competition. Then, master predator hunter, George Brint, came to the podium and orated a moving version of the poem, “The Touch of the Master’s Hand.”
The messages these men spoke on touched the hearts of all that were present. There was many a misty eye as all told of the importance of keeping today’s youth involved in the positive lifestyle of the great outdoors. I mention all of this because these emotions carried over into a live auction, in which several outfitters donated hunts and fishing trips. One of these hunts was donated by Jeff Martin, owner and operator of Twin Rivers Guide Service, in Halls Tennessee. The hunt was to be a one day hunt for two adults. John Sloan was the auctioneer and the bid started out at $100.00.
Gradually, the bid was bumped up in ten dollar increments. Then Jeff Martin stood up. For those of you who don’t know Jeff, he is one of the greatest proponents of kids in the outdoors. Every year, he takes over 100 kids duck hunting, many from our West Tennessee Youth Outdoor Jamboree. Jeff said, “Tell you what I will do. Instead of a two person, adult hunt, I will change it to accommodate twelve kids and their chaperones.
Do I hear $400.00?
This got the crowd buzzing. Bids were raised. Buck Gardner stood up and said, “And I will supply a duck call for every kid on the hunt and personally join them.”
Not to be outdone, I chimed in, “And I will see to it that every kid gets a hat, face mask, fleece mask, hunting videos and more calls.”
TWRA staff jumped in and promised to supply shotgun shells and vests. Eyes lit up at the generosity and the bids were raised even higher. Finally, the bids were closed and Marty Allison, who writes a column in the Dickson Herald, in Middle Tennessee, won the hunt.
Teaching Extends Outside the Classroom
Besides being an outdoor writer, Allison is also a teacher at the Charlotte Middle School in Charlotte, Tennessee. As one of our many caring educators, he saw a need for helping and interesting many of the children he taught in things outside of the regular school curriculum. Due to this, he started a turkey calling contest at his school. A core of this group developed a deep interest in the outdoors, and many of these kids did not have the means to explore these interests. From this group, Allison selected a dozen kids, whom he felt needed this exposure.
He told me, “Not only were the kids excited, their parents were also. They told me that it was all the kids could talk about and that there was no way they could ever match this level of excitement with Christmas presents. I was barraged with questions from late March until we left.”
Coming to Bat for the Kids
Word quickly spread about what we were doing and several leading outdoor companies came to our aid. Bass Pro Shops, Buck Gardner Game Calls, Knight & Hale, Drake Waterfowl, the TWRA, Sun-Rise Beverages and West Tennessee Outdoors Magazine all sent products or donations. Each kid was to receive a goody bag full of outdoor treasures.
West Tennessee Restaurant owner, Neil Henry, of Neil’s BBQ in Dyersburg, invited us to have a banquet for these kids and donated the cost of dozens of delicious BBQ plate suppers on the night before the hunt. The number of kids soon grew to twenty!
At the banquet, we got to meet all of the kids and the parents that cared enough to make the overnight trip. I spoke to the kids about the wonders of the great outdoors, continuing their education, negative peer pressure and then recognized the sponsors. Jeff than got up and gave a talk on safety and the world of duck hunting.
Lightening the Load
A few weeks prior to the hunt, I received a phone call from a friend of mine named Matt Powers. He told me about a 13-year old young man by the name of Mackenzie Curvin, from Clarksville, Arkansas.
This young man had been devastated by the tragic death of his step-dad and mentor in the outdoors three months previously. It seems that the only thing that elicited any interest at all to him was duck hunting. When I heard this heart rending story, I told Matt that whatever it would take, we would get Mackenzie on some hunts. A quick call, soon followed to Jeff Martin, who told me bring him on, which sealed the deal.
Motherly Love
I sat down with Mackenzie’s mom, Christine, who also has a seventeen year-old daughter, named Kelsey. She told me that since her husband Jim’s death, on September 13th, it has been extremely tough on the three of them.
She also knew in her heart, that for her son to keep on a constant level, his participation in the outdoor lifestyle was critical. She told me, “When Mackenzie was ten years-old, he and Jim were featured on a hunting TV Show. He and Jim also attended many Ducks Unlimited Banquets, with Jim being a committee member.”
When I asked her what she hoped would come out of this trip, she replied, “I hope it helps him regain some equilibrium and balance in his life. He has kind of been drifting lately. He loves the outdoors and I bought him a 4-wheeler for Christmas. Times have been tough, but God has blessed us with meeting all of you and with this trip. I want him to have solace and peace. He needs closure with what happened, yet I want him to remember the good times with Jim, like trout fishing on The White River in Arkansas and crappie fishing on Lake Fork in Texas.”
With tear-filled eyes she continued, “I told him with an analogy, that he is like a started Lab puppy and that Jim began his training to live life to its fullest by surrounding yourself with good friends, family and the outdoors. Then, when he reaches his finished stage in life he will have quality standards of Christian ethics, fellowship and conservation of our outdoor heritage. His championship stage will be when he is able to mentor others by example.”
His mother beamed with love and concern over her young son and I ask you, our readers, to keep them in your continuous prayers, as I will.
Summary
In part two of this series, we will take you on the actual duck hunt and bring you along for some “in your face action” with our youthful “quacker smackers.”
We will also hear from Jeff Martin of Twin Rivers Guide Service, Lance Rider of the TWRA, and World Champion Duck Caller - Buck Gardner on why they take the time from their busy schedules to participate on hunts such as this one.
Until next time, be safe in the outdoors and always remember that our kids truly are our most precious natural resource. They are our future.
See ya,
Rob.
Anyone who believes that outdoorsmen in the Volunteer State are a bunch of uncaring ‘Bubbas’, need to read this article. It all began on a whim, but turned out to be one of the most gratifying experiences this old grizzled hunter ever had the pleasure of being involved in.
The Beginning
It all began last March. I was in charge of the annual TOWA {Tennessee Outdoor Writer’s Association} convention. We held it at the beautiful Buchanan Resort on Kentucky Lake. The owners were generous hosts. The convention broke all attendance records with over 120 members of Tennessee’s outdoor media there for the weekend. Our folks went on guided turkey hunts and fishing trips for crappie, bluegill and bream. We had seminars on digital photography, a visit from Governor Bredesen and were treated to the expert skeet team of the Scholastic Clay Target Program. TWRA officials gave us reports on their new fish and game programs and we sampled awesome food from the staff at Buchanan’s.
The Awards Banquet
Part of my job was to acquire a quality speaker for the big awards banquet. This supper is where the individual members of the media were recognized by their peers for excellence in craft. I was fortunate to get not just one such speaker, but two of the most renowned outdoor icons in our state to speak. Kelley Powers is the most decorated goose caller in the world and Buck Gardner has won the Champion of Champions in duck calling competition. Then, master predator hunter, George Brint, came to the podium and orated a moving version of the poem, “The Touch of the Master’s Hand.”
The messages these men spoke on touched the hearts of all that were present. There was many a misty eye as all told of the importance of keeping today’s youth involved in the positive lifestyle of the great outdoors. I mention all of this because these emotions carried over into a live auction, in which several outfitters donated hunts and fishing trips. One of these hunts was donated by Jeff Martin, owner and operator of Twin Rivers Guide Service, in Halls Tennessee. The hunt was to be a one day hunt for two adults. John Sloan was the auctioneer and the bid started out at $100.00.
Gradually, the bid was bumped up in ten dollar increments. Then Jeff Martin stood up. For those of you who don’t know Jeff, he is one of the greatest proponents of kids in the outdoors. Every year, he takes over 100 kids duck hunting, many from our West Tennessee Youth Outdoor Jamboree. Jeff said, “Tell you what I will do. Instead of a two person, adult hunt, I will change it to accommodate twelve kids and their chaperones.
Do I hear $400.00?
This got the crowd buzzing. Bids were raised. Buck Gardner stood up and said, “And I will supply a duck call for every kid on the hunt and personally join them.”
Not to be outdone, I chimed in, “And I will see to it that every kid gets a hat, face mask, fleece mask, hunting videos and more calls.”
TWRA staff jumped in and promised to supply shotgun shells and vests. Eyes lit up at the generosity and the bids were raised even higher. Finally, the bids were closed and Marty Allison, who writes a column in the Dickson Herald, in Middle Tennessee, won the hunt.
Teaching Extends Outside the Classroom
Besides being an outdoor writer, Allison is also a teacher at the Charlotte Middle School in Charlotte, Tennessee. As one of our many caring educators, he saw a need for helping and interesting many of the children he taught in things outside of the regular school curriculum. Due to this, he started a turkey calling contest at his school. A core of this group developed a deep interest in the outdoors, and many of these kids did not have the means to explore these interests. From this group, Allison selected a dozen kids, whom he felt needed this exposure.
He told me, “Not only were the kids excited, their parents were also. They told me that it was all the kids could talk about and that there was no way they could ever match this level of excitement with Christmas presents. I was barraged with questions from late March until we left.”
Coming to Bat for the Kids
Word quickly spread about what we were doing and several leading outdoor companies came to our aid. Bass Pro Shops, Buck Gardner Game Calls, Knight & Hale, Drake Waterfowl, the TWRA, Sun-Rise Beverages and West Tennessee Outdoors Magazine all sent products or donations. Each kid was to receive a goody bag full of outdoor treasures.
West Tennessee Restaurant owner, Neil Henry, of Neil’s BBQ in Dyersburg, invited us to have a banquet for these kids and donated the cost of dozens of delicious BBQ plate suppers on the night before the hunt. The number of kids soon grew to twenty!
At the banquet, we got to meet all of the kids and the parents that cared enough to make the overnight trip. I spoke to the kids about the wonders of the great outdoors, continuing their education, negative peer pressure and then recognized the sponsors. Jeff than got up and gave a talk on safety and the world of duck hunting.
Lightening the Load
A few weeks prior to the hunt, I received a phone call from a friend of mine named Matt Powers. He told me about a 13-year old young man by the name of Mackenzie Curvin, from Clarksville, Arkansas.
This young man had been devastated by the tragic death of his step-dad and mentor in the outdoors three months previously. It seems that the only thing that elicited any interest at all to him was duck hunting. When I heard this heart rending story, I told Matt that whatever it would take, we would get Mackenzie on some hunts. A quick call, soon followed to Jeff Martin, who told me bring him on, which sealed the deal.
Motherly Love
I sat down with Mackenzie’s mom, Christine, who also has a seventeen year-old daughter, named Kelsey. She told me that since her husband Jim’s death, on September 13th, it has been extremely tough on the three of them.She also knew in her heart, that for her son to keep on a constant level, his participation in the outdoor lifestyle was critical. She told me, “When Mackenzie was ten years-old, he and Jim were featured on a hunting TV Show. He and Jim also attended many Ducks Unlimited Banquets, with Jim being a committee member.”
When I asked her what she hoped would come out of this trip, she replied, “I hope it helps him regain some equilibrium and balance in his life. He has kind of been drifting lately. He loves the outdoors and I bought him a 4-wheeler for Christmas. Times have been tough, but God has blessed us with meeting all of you and with this trip. I want him to have solace and peace. He needs closure with what happened, yet I want him to remember the good times with Jim, like trout fishing on The White River in Arkansas and crappie fishing on Lake Fork in Texas.”
With tear-filled eyes she continued, “I told him with an analogy, that he is like a started Lab puppy and that Jim began his training to live life to its fullest by surrounding yourself with good friends, family and the outdoors. Then, when he reaches his finished stage in life he will have quality standards of Christian ethics, fellowship and conservation of our outdoor heritage. His championship stage will be when he is able to mentor others by example.”
His mother beamed with love and concern over her young son and I ask you, our readers, to keep them in your continuous prayers, as I will.
Summary
In part two of this series, we will take you on the actual duck hunt and bring you along for some “in your face action” with our youthful “quacker smackers.”
We will also hear from Jeff Martin of Twin Rivers Guide Service, Lance Rider of the TWRA, and World Champion Duck Caller - Buck Gardner on why they take the time from their busy schedules to participate on hunts such as this one.
Until next time, be safe in the outdoors and always remember that our kids truly are our most precious natural resource. They are our future.
See ya,
Rob.
posted by Buck Gardner Calls @ 3:04 PM
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