The 2024 Disabled Veteran Deer Hunt is quickly approaching. I was introduced to positive effects an event like this for our veterans, just over 7 years ago. The impact of nature in my own life is beyond description. When you are able to see the physical and psychological impact of bringing a veteran outdoors for the first time, to return them to nature after mental health and physical challenges, or to help them return to the timber with a buddy; it changes you. The complete rehabilitative effects of nature and camaraderie are immeasurable. I have always held our soldiers and veterans in the highest regard.
Let's begin with a little about our family.
Our family has a small farm in extreme Northeast Missouri. As a family, we have built this farm into a functioning and operational sheep and hay farm. We live where we host this event. My husband, Richard, handles maintaining connections with the landowners, in Iowa and Missouri, that donate their farms for use. He is also the master smoker and griller. Our Son Joey and his wife Laura, have their own cattle operation as well as helping on the family farm. Joey helps with the Missouri hunters, Laura helps with food, photography, and farm needs during the hunt. Our daughter Chloe, is my side kick in every aspect of organizing, planning, fundraising, and every other management function. Our bonus son Marcus and his girlfriend Aaron, help every where they can. I am Salli...I have been a stay-at-home mom for 20 years, home schooled my children, and found my passion in helping our nations veterans.
While we do not hold to a strict schedule, we do have guide to make sure our Veteran guests continue to have a premiere, top-tiered weekend. Our veteran hunt, is centered around our veteran guests. This veteran hunt has grown, that has now required interested veterans to enter into a raffle. To allow this hunt to remain personable, we limit the attendees to 8-10 veterans, based on lodging availability. We have been fortunate to have local lodging just 4 miles from our farm. Each lodge room contains 2 queen beds, a bathroom and a kitchenette. The entire lodge only offers 6 rooms, which we book every one of them each year, for this hunt. The rooms are clean and well maintained, and are handicap accessible.
This event begins on Thursday, September 26th. This is the kickoff. All the veterans arrive, lodge check in is at 3 pm. To allow time for getting tags, we try to get everyone to their respective state by 4:30. Thursday evening is pizza night. We get several different flavors to try to cover everyone's taste. We try to eat by 6 pm. 7 pm, there will be a mandatory safety, regulation and rules meeting, that will also include determining who will be fishing on Friday morning. As with every portion of the weekend, if you want to sleep in, hang out, fish or hunt...it's your weekend.
Friday, September 27th - I will have breakfast ready by 7am. This year we will have breakfast burritos, sausage biscuits and cinnamon rolls, coffee, milk and juice. Lunch menu will be vegetable soup, sandwiches, chips, and a dessert. This is also the evening of the meet & greet. This is opened to our community members and sponsors. We encourage all to attend, even if they choose not to, we welcome them. Our favorite DJ, P.T. Woods, Outlaw DJ, will be spinning music for us. The evening menu - pulled pork, lasagna(donated by Jim & Heather Sheets), green beans with bacon, lettuce salad, cheesy potatoes, pasta salad, dessert(donated by Janet Meek & Kody's Creation). We will have water, soda, and sweet tea readily available all day. The meet & greet, will begin with the playing of God Bless the USA, the National Anthem, and prayer. We try to begin by 7 pm.
Saturday, September 28th - Breakfast will be ready by 7am. Breakfast menu will be the same as Friday. Lunch menu will also be chili soup, sandwiches, chips and a dessert. The bonfire will be going in the afternoon and into the evening. The evening menu - Burgers and brats (donated by Kahoka Meat Processing), baked beans, macaroni & cheese(donated by Jim & Heather Sheets), pea salad and dessert(donated by Janet Meek & Kody's Creation).
Sunday, September 29th - Breakfast will be ready around 7 am. Breakfast menu will be sausage gravy & biscuits, coffee, milk and juice. Lodge check out is 11 am. We will have a lunch of left overs; soup, sandwiches, chips and dessert. Many of our veterans have to leave early on Sunday to head back home, but those that want to stay, are welcome to hunt the afternoon too.
As I have previously stated, we do not keep to a strict schedule. We encourage our veteran guests to relax, enjoy their weekend, and they determine how best to achieve that. Each of our veteran guests become an extension of our family, even beyond the veteran hunt. We have been honored to have some of our guests return - as hunters and volunteers. Chloe and I work hard all year to make this event the best possible. We have some amazing helpers - Richard, Joey, Laura, Marcus, Aaron, Janet, Slate, and Jerry; all have shared their strengths to help with this event. We have been fortunate to work with 2 separate 501 C3 groups over the years - Wake Foundation and True Impact Outdoors. Our landowners that have donated their land - Nick & Nancy Orphan, Lee & David Shultz, Junior & Linda Bertram, Andy Shilt, and Mark Sieb. We strive to shop and utilize local businesses whenever possible.
It takes the strength and efforts of everyone involved to make sure we are able to keep this event moving forward. We are excited to welcome our 2024 Veterans & Guests. Be sure to watch our Bowen Family Farm Facebook page, as we spotlight each of this year's Veterans.
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