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AdvertisementMentors for youth neededIt's that unique time of the year when, despite what your school colors are, a dominant color can be found in rural America--hunter orange. I know for a fact that this occurs throughout the nation but for anyone who has experienced the barrage of hunters in the fall, to me nothing quite compares to what takes place in the Dakotas this time of year in the quest for pheasant. I take back that statement because on a much smaller scale but huge in mission and accomplishment was an event I attended in my hometown of Litchfield, Neb., that would rival any hunting excursion you were ever a part of it. It is called the Dads, Lads and Lassie's Hunt and it has been happening for 35 consecutive years. In 1975, a group of local hunting enthusiasts thought about establishing a fun hunt comprised of teams of four. Each team consists of two adults and two youth. In addition, each team in assigned a dog handler and a guide. I believe you must really acknowledge the dedication of the individuals in this region who continually volunteer their time and efforts to provide this tremendous opportunity to future hunters. I found in their history books sentiments of the first chairman of Dads, Lads and Lassies and I think it hits the nail on the head. Hal Thompson was promoting the third hunt in 1977 when he wrote: "We feel that this hunt will become one of the most unique hunts in the nation, due to the fact that we are incorporating the youth of today. We are all aware it is today's youth who will make it possible for tomorrow's generation to enjoy the comradeship and benefit of the great outdoors." Honestly, that goes right to the heart of what hunting and living in rural America are all about--enjoying and learning from nature. The most important component that the non-hunter misses is the respect you as a hunter develop for the habitat and the life of the animal you are hunting. It is not simply a killing contest without regard for what it takes to continue the game species from one generation to the next. While some are quick to brag about the $20 billion-plus industry and the economic benefits derived from hunting but that pales in comparison to what you learn about life. Yes, without question people who hunt have more respect for the animals they harvest than those naysayers who live off in the land of concrete, condos and consumers. I must share with you a bit of good news about initiatives to get youth into hunting called Families Afield. The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, National Shooting Sports Foundation and National Wild Turkey Federation have teamed up to pass legislation on a state by state basis to increase youth hunting. The program urges states to review and eliminate unnecessary hunting age and other restrictions that often keep new hunters from ever entering the field. The partnership has worked across the country. Twenty-nine states have passed similar legislation, putting over 220,000 new hunters into the field. The number of hunters across the nation has been dropping for the past twenty years. It is reported today that nationally we have about 12 million hunters, down over 7% since 1990. The importance of people hunting is parallel to people understanding nature. You simply cannot get the same level of education and appreciation for nature by taking a walk in the park. Furthermore, when it comes to hunting, research indicates that 90% of today's youth hunters were introduced to the sport before the age of 20. I know it gets tougher every year to find ways and time to spend with grandpas around the country. As a kid I didn't spend time with my grandfathers hunting but we sure did spend more than our fare share of time sitting around a pond waiting for the catfish to bite. In fact, a couple of years ago a batch of catfish showed up at my house and without even thinking about it I grabbed a knife and cleaned the fish. I had not cleaned a catfish for 30 years yet I remembered what my Grandpa Daniel Chapman had taught me as a kid. Those memories and that time spent together may be one of the only things you absolutely will have with you forever. As a father of three daughters I would also be remiss if I didn't remind you that the visionaries behind this Dads, Lads and Lassies Hunt in Litchfield had the foresight to include young ladies. I might also mention that the winning team this year included the only Lassie in the contest. Sydney Kucera, the 13-year-old daughter of Jake Kucera, was that young lady and that surprised no one locally because it widely known that her grandfather Mike Kucera rarely misses. Mentoring young people in any endeavor is more important now than ever before whether it be in the field, on a tractor or in the house. I take my hat off to all of the volunteers across the country that grasp the importance of this and donate their time, efforts and passion to improving the lives of young people and benefiting the future of our country. Editor's note: Immediately before press time, High Plains Journal received word that Mike Kucera, mentioned in this article, lost his battle with cancer and passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Trent will write a follow up article about Mike next week. Trent Loos is a sixth generation United States farmer, host of the daily radio show, Loos Tales, and founder of Faces of Agriculture, a non-profit organization putting the human element back into the production of food. Get more information at www.FacesOfAg.com, or e-mail Trent at trent@loostales.com. Advertisement
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