Had A Great Weekend!

[MikeBjerum]

Started out by working my way to SE Minnesota on Friday, so instead of calling it a day in early afternoon for the drive home I could call it a day late in the afternoon and head to an event that turned out far better than I ever expected.

I am not (yet) a member of Pheasants Forever.  However, because of my membership in other organizations and my push toward metoring, getting new shooters and hunters into the game, and interest in youth I was invited to Pheasants Forever Focus on Forever.  There were several good seminars that have tuned what I am doing, will be added to what I am doing and will be forwarded to others that are better equiped to implement.

It started with the Aldo Leopold Leopold Education Project all day Friday, but work kept me from attending much Friday.  Saturday and Sunday I tolk classes in teaching wingshooting to youth and teaching marksmanship to youth - both of these programs are intended to get a new shooter pulling the trigger within 15-20 minutes.  Continued with starting and growing High School Conservation Clubs, Mentor Training, and training in the FOREVER Shooting Sports Program.  There were a few other courses thrown in, and lots of cribbage and beer (large quantities consumed) in the evening.

Watch for Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever's No Child Left Indoors program coming to your area.  It will be slow, because this was the introductory seminar, and they are focusing on five states for a slow start.  However, they will bring in other areas if a chapter has something that fits.

Also introduced was the FOREVER Shooting Sports & Wildlife Conservation Fund.  This is a fund that will be permenantly endowed to provide funding for programs like No Child Left Indoors.  The goal is $1.5 million  and the Friday evening presentation of these two items brought out the key note speaker and a HUGE surprise ... Larry and Brenda Potterfield flew into Rochester and drove down to be with us.

The Potterfields brought with them a pledge of $400,000 to match the first $400,000 dontated to this fund.  They brought with them a couple that owns automobile dealerships in the Twin Cities, and they brought the first $100,000 dollar check ($200,000 in the account at the introduction).  Later in the evening the Potterfields pulled out another $200,000 for other PF/QF functions!

Mr. Potterfield's speach was great, and usable not only in being a part of PF or a similar program, but wise advice for personal life and any business.  He was every bit as down home as he appears in his commercials and interviews, and he tried to take time to say hello to anyone that wished to shake his hand.  At one point during the dinner one of the top people at PF/QF was trying her best to stay with guns and shooting when thanking the Potterfields for their gift and relaying what it means when Larry stopped her and reminded her that "not every child will want to hunt or shoot!"  I used and exclamation point, but even at the hight of his passion Larry is not a very animated man - just down to earth genuine.  Guess how he ended his speach 

Another stat that Mr. Potterfield pointed out that shocked me was that there are 22,500 high schools and colleges in the United States and only 700 shooting teams associated with them.

There was so much more to the weekend and the Potterfields, but that is all for now except to tell you to watch Midway USA for their next great product - Quick-Shot.  The young man that owns this company and developed this great product was there this weekend.  He is a scientist by trade, but has a sideline business, Peregrine field gear.  This is a small family business, and he appears to be very gifted at this.  The PF staff made sure that Steve's and Larry & Brenda's paths crossed on the trap field  , and we got to see the Potterfields being pitched this new item.  Larry listened and asked several questions, the lovely Mrs. Potterfield was appointed by her loving man to try on and field test the tool - This woman is more than a little familure with shotguns and their use, as demonstrated on the range.  At the banquet every guest received their own Quick-Shot, and more than once I saw Larry approach Steve before they left for the airport with Mrs. Potterfield carrying an arm load of product.

[PegLeg45]

Cool, glad it was a good time and thanks for sharing.

[Badgersmilk]

When my daughter finished hunters safety training at the Michigan Bass Pro (out shot every boy in the class!  ).  Pheasants Forever sponsored a free pheasant hunt at a local club for all the kids.  PRETTY COOL!

[ratcatcher55]

Great post!

[alfsauve]

Thanks for sharing M58.   

I believe the Mrs. P goes on her on safaris/hunts, and tells Larry that he can come if he wants.  She's probably been bird hunting on six continents.

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

Today's local paper had an article about a class for women to learn about waterfowl hunting.
Did not see that sort of thing 20 years ago ! 

[MikeBjerum]

Thanks for sharing M58.   

I believe the Mrs. P goes on her on safaris/hunts, and tells Larry that he can come if he wants.  She's probably been bird hunting on six continents.

Larry shared that their favorite hunts are elephant safaris (note plural!).  He said it is a 21 day safari with miles and miles and miles and days and days and days of walking, spotting and stalking only to say "not big enough," "not old enough," "not ....."  In a recorded interview a year or two ago he talked of getting Brenda into hunting and joked that it was a big and expensive mistake.  She now goes all the time - whether he goes along or not.  In fact, last evening while I was starting this thread I had Jim Shockey on and it was a mother/daughter moose hunt in Alaska I beleive.  The hunters were Brenda and Sara (sp?) Potterfield - sans the Misters in their lives.

[Pathfinder]

Mike - all this and you didn't call me to come along? Heck, man, I'm only - - uh, let's see, . . .  .carry the 3 and . . . - well, a lotta hours away. 

Sounds like a great time tho. Glad you got to go.

[tt11758]

Mike - all this and you didn't call me to come along? Heck, man, I'm only - - uh, let's see, . . .  .carry the 3 and . . . - well, a lotta hours away. 

Sounds like a great time tho. Glad you got to go.

I'm only a couple of hours away, and this is the first I heard, too.  Thanks buddy.