There are a lot of people that think hunting is a dying
sport. They feel that the next generation doesn’t love the outdoors the way
their parents do. I’m sure in some cases that’s true, but in one case, I know
it’s not.
Let me tell you about Buddy. Buddy got his nickname because he’s
head and shoulders taller than anyone else his age. Thus, the nickname. Buddy
as in Buddy the Elf.
Anyhow, Buddy loves to hunt and fish. So much so that if you
tell him you’re leaving at 5am, he’ll be up by 4. Fully packed, clothed and
ready to go.
Buddy took part in this year’s youth hunt. Having passed
hunter safety, he understands guns. He knows how to use them and he knows how
dangerous they are. He knows how to put a life jacket on and how to take a fish
off. All of this taught to him by people that care.
Those things
matter
. Having a person that shows you
how to do it matters. It has to be a person they respect and hopefully look up
to. In the end, it’ll be someone they always remember for being there first.
In Buddy’s case, it was his father. In my case, it was his grandfather. Two people that took the time to watch the mistakes and point them
out. All that with the patience to have a smile.
All the while teaching something that would last.
And it
has
.
Good riding with you.
(Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on Twitter @JoelKFGO.)
