The Sporting Life When I asked how he ended up at The Fork, he replied, “I was living down in the low country of South Carolina at Brays Island. Now, I’ve got nothing against the low country, but the alligators never go to sleep down there. Plus it’s so hot in the summer, our bird dogs had a time dodging the snakes. So I made up my mind to hunt for a place closer to a temperate zone where we would have the best of all seasons, and after a couple years, I found The Fork. If you noticed coming in, the farm is shouldered right up against the Uwharries, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the country; and located as it is between two rivers, the weather here is always conducive to outdoor sports. I imagine Bernadette told you about our equestrian facilities.” “She did a great job with that. I understand that y’all are heading to the Outer Banks to celebrate your anniversary.” “Yep, we’re leaving this afternoon right after you and I finish our conversation. Did you get to ride around the farm?” he asked. “I did. It’s beautiful and really looks as if it’s a working farm.” “We’re trying to do it all here, Tom. Everything a shotgun enthusiast would want, including a 12-station large gauge course, a 7-station small gauge course, a covered five stand and a four per-
42 O.Henry
August 2012
son twelve trap, 65-foot tower/flurry. Oh, by the way, the British designer John Higgins designed our shooting courses. “There are fifteen weeks of quail hunting with birds that you can’t distinguish from wild ones and eleven weeks of duck hunting using our blinds on the Pee Dee in a river setting like you’ve never seen before. “A visitor has over 1,600 acres and 38 miles of trails, great for bird watchers or anyone who wants to visit our bed and breakfast and just have a restful stroll around the property. Or better yet, you can ride a horse here for six hours and still see only a third of the property. Last year, we were awarded Conservationist of the Year by the Soil and Water Board.” It was easy to tell that this farm was Jim’s life. His eyes lit up as he was talking. “It’s the kids I’m excited about,” he said. “We have student shooting out here, and we teach wildlife habitat to all the youngsters. We’re trying to get kids away from all the television and video games and show them what really counts, and that’s the beauty of nature. And it’s working. I’m on the board of the Wildlife Federation, working with Gordon Meyers, the executive director.” I mentioned Nat Harris, an old friend of mine, who I knew was active with the Wildlife Resources
Commission, and Jim smiled. “He is one fine gentleman,” he said. “He and I have been able to really make a difference where youngsters and wildlife are concerned. “Well, Tom, I’m going to have to leave. We have a long drive this evening. Bernadette is packing now. Come back this winter and do some duck hunting. I guarantee you a great time.” The next day, as I was working on this story, I called Gordon Myers at the Wildlife Resources Commission to see what he had to say about Cogdell. “Jim has been a commissioner for a relatively short time but has added so much to our organization,” he said. I then called my friend Nat Harris. “Tom, I’ve served as a commissioner for ten years, and Jim is one of the most dedicated members I’ve had the opportunity to work with.” All in all, it seems as if the folks at The Fork Farm are doing everything right. I can certainly understand Jim Cogdell’s parting comment as he was walking me to my car. “Tom,” he said, “this is my last walkabout, the end of the rainbow for me.” OH Tom Bryant, who graduated from Elon and lived in Alamance County for decades, is a lifelong outdoorsman and O.Henry’s Sporting Life columnist.
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