Porch + Prairie Fall 2023 Preview

JET CARD PROGRAMS

BLUE: Ideal for Members who plan to consistently fly in one particular aircraft model. Members may purchase 30, 60, or 100 hours in the aircraft type of their choice.

RISE: A deposit based program designed for Members who plan to utilize our entire fleet with the ability to select the aircraft that best suits their travel needs. Occupied hours are deducted based on the associated hourly rate in each aircraft type.

LITE: Designed for Members with more flexible travel plans, offering better hourly rates and many of the same advantages offered by our other Jet Card Programs.

It may seem like just a flight, but it is far more than that. Each journey is the culmination of careful planning, flawless execution, and an unbridled passion to provide the best in world-class customer service. It is in each friendly handshake with the industry’s best pilots and it is in the calm that takes over as you settle into your seat aboard a perfectly appointed aircraft, all Owned and Operated by NICHOLAS AIR.

From the personalized attention to our commitment to providing the highest quality aircraft to the Most Refined Set of Private Flyers, the NICHOLAS AIR team is solely focused on one mission--- yours. Choose from one of our flexible and cost effective Jet Cards programs and leave the rest to us.

Of Your Dreams THE FALL GETAWAY

Crisp weather. Luxury amenities. High-end accommodations.

MAGAZINE

Spring Summer FALL winter

FOUNDER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Peder von Harten

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Todd Malone

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Abby Carlton

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Peder von Harten, Abby Carlton, Rebekah Iliff, Kelsi McKee, Edgar Castillo, Cameron Kirby,

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Matthew Simmons, Jen Judge, Sean Fitzgerald, Lindsay Curry, Edgar Castillo, Austin Dillon, Eric Chen, Shelly Pauls, Peter Robbins, Taylor Wright, Misty Feltner, Paul Einerhand

NATIONAL SALES

Tonie Ellis at tonieellismedia@gmail.com

Chris McIntosh at Chris McIntosh chris@piperranchmedia.com or advertising@porchprairiemag.com

TO SUBSCRIBE visit porchprairiemag.com/subscribe Porch + Prairie is published four times a year by Flying V Media, LLC DBA Piper Ranch Media, Oxford, MS 38655. Subscriptions are for one and two years (5 issues per year), Postmaster: Send address changes to P.O. Box 587 Oxford, MS 38655

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

To offer stories and /or photographs to be considered for publication in Porch + Prairie,email them to todd@porchprairiemag.com. Emails should include full contact information. We reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, brevity and print quality.

Porch + Prairie may not be reproduced or photocopied without permission of the publisher Flying V Media, LLC or Piper Ranch Media © Flying V Media, LLC 2021.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Peder von Harten - Editor-in-Chief

Dear Friends,

Many of our readers have been with us since the very first issue, going all the way back to Fall of 2020 and what seemed like a strange time to start a new title that talked mostly about getting out into the world more. Over the years, I’ve gotten a good number of notes and emails from readers who have shared their own experiences about the places we’ve featured, gotten countless tips on what we should feature next, and others that are just happy that we share stories that speak to them.

While the notes most often come to me directly, they should really be directed at the great team of contributors, photographers, editorialists, and designers that make each issue of Porch + Prairie a must read. As an editor, I let each of our contributors tell their story and with only few slight nudges or changes, what you see on paper is largely untouched. The result is that the pieces are varied in their composition and their subject, which forms a literary melting pot from cover to cover. As time has marched on, our most astute readers have noticed a slight shift in our pages to include more emotive writing, for lack of a better term. In each of the past four or five issues, our writers have explored their horizons a bit and have written about what they feel, not just about what something is. If you’ve smiled uncontrollably at some of the dry humor within, I’m glad. If they have drawn a tear from your eye, it would be hard to get an apology from me. As a literature junkie, it is that style of writing that I want in our magazine and one I connect most to because its real. Nothing about Porch + Prairie is contrived, and I hope that authenticity shines through and will for a long time to come.

Of course, to make sure that each story emits its due effect, photos and style can never be an oversight and we have incredible photographers that add their bit of magic and a fantastic designer to put it all together. I know he (yes, you Todd!) loves when the last-minute additions come through the door (sarcasm intended), but I think he’d admit it’s all worth it in the end and those finishing touches help each issue shine.

In short, it takes a village, and our village is a dedicated, creative, and forward thinking one that I couldn’t do this without. They push the boundaries and yes, test my resolve at times, but the result proves its always for the best. Our magazine is still young but thanks to the dedicated team here in our offices and our ever-growing list of readers, followers, advertisers, and supporters, our magazine is an established part of many homes across the country. We remain humbled, and thankful, that you allow us to be a part of your family and as we enter year four of this ride, we aim to push the envelope even further.

With great appreciation, PvH

MORE PELLETS ON TARGET.

ISN’T THAT REALLY WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT?

TM

EXPERIENCE YOUR BEST

SHOT.

At 18.1 g/cc density, APEX TSS loads really pack a punch. The APEX difference is the amount of tungsten in each pellet - 95% to be exact. Along with 2.5% nickel and 2.5% iron. Pair this with our tungsten grade TPS wad delivering the tightest pattern possible, and you’ll experience more pellets on target than you ever thought possible. At APEX, we take our name and our mission seriously. We meticulously hand load every TSS shell to the industry’s most exacting standards. It’s time to experience wingshooting ammunition that outperforms and out-patterns anything else available today. Shop now at APEXammunition.com

Comes in 12ga, 20ga, 28ga, 16ga*, and 410 bore*

CONTRIBUTORS

Abby Carlton was born and raised in Alexandria, Louisiana, where her and her family never shied away from a road trip or flight to a new city. She loves exploring new places she’s never been before and creating traditions around spots worth returning back to. Whether it’s making someone smile or laugh, or spending a little time out of her day helping others out, Abby is always appreciating the little things that help her choose joy each day. Abby currently lives in Oxford, Mississippi and enjoys traveling to visit her family on the Mississippi Coast and back in Louisiana, which will always be home.

Kevin Martone balances a busy professional life with his passion for the outdoors. A nationally recognized expert in mental health and the Executive Director of a national non-profit, Kevin’s business travels enable him to enjoy the local culture and landscape in states throughout America. From Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, to New England and across the South, Kevin creates opportunities in the outdoors whenever and wherever he can. Kevin spends his personal time hunting, fishing, trail running, and enjoying sunsets with his wife, Sasha, on the dock of their family pond.

Kelsi McKee has been writing poetry and stories since she was old enough to scratch words on paper. She completed her first novel when she was 18 and continues to write while balancing a full-time job in the news industry. Originally from Northwest and a graduate of Texas A&M, Kelsi has enjoyed adventuring across the country and making her way to her current home in South Carolina. Away from pen and paper, Kelsi enjoys her time on the golf course and of course, cheering on her Aggies.

Rebekah Iliff is an award-winning humor writer, author, and entrepreneur raised in the midwest living in the south. She has a knack for turning difficult topics into digestible stories and loves giving people the unexpected laugh. Her work has been featured in publications ranging from Fast Company and Forbes to Weekly Humorist and the Erma Bombeck Blog. She released her first book, Champagne for One, in February 2022. Rebekah’s favorite part of the day is sitting on the back stoop, watching the sunset with her husband and pup.

Personal website: rebekahiliff.com

IG: @rebekahiliffweaver

Book website: ChampageforOne.com

Robin Young is a senior pre-law student at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, MS, majoring in Criminal Justice with minors in Psychology and Intelligence and Security Studies. She is an adventure-lover at heart with a passion for the outdoors and wildlife of all shapes and sizes. In her free time, you can find Robin spending time with her dogs or her two horses named Izak and Too, hiking in a new city, playing the acoustic guitar, or at the gym. Robin is an active member of the Chi Chapter of Delta Delta Delta and the Ole Miss Equestrian Team.

Cameron Kirby, a Northwest native, has always had an affinity for the uninterrupted stretches of wilderness calling to those who seek out the unknown. He enjoys time spent hunting, fishing, caving, sailing, and anything else that can be a vehicle to enjoy the outdoors. Cameron has been married for 17 years and as a family man, he knows it’s his responsibility to pass on his respect and deep admiration for nature to his two boys. In addition to the pursuits of a naturalist, he enjoys vintage cars, firearms, a good book, and an even better scotch. You can follow his exploits on Instagram at @tradekraft

Edgar Castillo is a recently retired law enforcement officer for a large Kansas City metropolitan agency. He also served in the United States Marine Corps for twelve years. Edgar was born in Guatemala, and when his family came to the U.S., his father, a new bird hunter himself, would take Edgar afield in search of roosters and bobs. Edgar’s passion lies in the uplands as he self-documents his travels across public lands throughout Kansas and the U.S., hunting open fields and prairies, walking treelines, & bustin’ through plum thickets, in a never-ending chase to hunt wild birds in wild places.

You can follow his adventures on Instagram at @hunt_birdz

CATTLE KINGDOM

THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF THE COWBOY WEST

by Christopher Knowlton

The open range cattle era lasted barely a quarter-century, but it left America irrevocably changed. These few decades following the Civil War brought America its greatest boom-and-bust cycle until the Depression, the invention of the assembly line, and the dawn of the conservation movement. It inspired legends, such as that icon of rugged individualism, the cowboy. Yet this extraordinary time and its import have remained unexamined for decades.

Cattle Kingdom reveals the truth of how the West rose and fell, and how its legacy defines us today. The tale takes us from dust-choked cattle drives to the unlikely splendors of boomtowns like Abilene, Kansas, and Cheyenne, Wyoming. We venture from the Texas Panhandle to the Dakota Badlands to the Chicago stockyards. We meet a diverse array of players—from the expert cowboy Teddy Blue to the failed rancher and future president Teddy Roosevelt. Knowlton shows us how they and others like them could achieve so many outsized feats: killing millions of bison in a decade, building the first opera house on the open range, driving cattle by the thousand, and much more. Cattle Kingdom is a revelatory new view of the Old West.

Eamon Dolan/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

P+P PICK

Fall Reads

HOW TO THINK: A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR A WORLD AT ODDS

by Alan Jacobs

How to Think is a contrarian treatise on why we’re not as good at thinking as we assume—but how recovering this lost art can rescue our inner lives from the chaos of modern life.

As a celebrated cultural critic and a writer for national publications like The Atlantic and Harper’s, Alan Jacobs has spent his adult life belonging to communities that often clash in America’s culture wars. And in his years of confronting the big issues that divide us—political, social, religious—Jacobs has learned that many of our fiercest disputes occur not because we’re doomed to be divided, but because the people involved simply aren’t thinking.

Most of us don’t want to think. Thinking is trouble. Thinking can force us out of familiar, comforting habits, and it can complicate our relationships with like-minded friends. Finally, thinking is slow, and that’s a problem when our habits of consuming information (mostly online) leave us lost in the spin cycle of social media, partisan bickering, and confirmation bias.

In this smart, endlessly entertaining book, Jacobs diagnoses the many forces that act on us to prevent thinking—forces that have only worsened in the age of Twitter, “alternative facts,” and information overload—and he also dispels the many myths we hold about what it means to think well.

(For example: It’s impossible to “think for yourself.”)

Drawing on sources as far-flung as novelist Marilynne Robinson, basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain, British philosopher John Stuart Mill, and Christian theologian C.S. Lewis, Jacobs digs into the nuts and bolts of the cognitive process, offering hope that each of us can reclaim our mental lives from the impediments that plague us all. Because if we can learn to think together, maybe we can learn to live together, too.

Currency

THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF AN ORDINARY MAN: A MEMOIR

by Paul Newman , David Rosenthal Editor

In 1986, Paul Newman and his closest friend, screenwriter Stewart Stern, began an extraordinary project. Stuart was to compile an oral history, to have Newman’s family and friends and those who worked closely with him, talk about the actor’s life. And then Newman would work with Stewart and give his side of the story. The only stipulation was that anyone who spoke on the record had to be completely honest. That same stipulation applied to Newman himself. The project lasted five years.

The result is an extraordinary memoir, culled from thousands of pages of transcripts. The book is insightful, revealing, surprising. Newman’s voice is powerful, sometimes funny, sometimes painful, always meeting that high standard of searing honesty. The additional voices—from childhood friends and Navy buddies, from family members and film and theater collaborators such as Tom Cruise, George Roy Hill, Martin Ritt, and John Huston—that run throughout add richness and color and context to the story Newman is telling.

Newman’s often traumatic childhood is brilliantly detailed. He talks about his teenage insecurities, his early failures with women, his rise to stardom, his early rivals (Marlon Brando and James Dean), his first marriage, his drinking, his philanthropy, the death of his son Scott, his strong desire for his daughters to know and understand the truth about their father. Perhaps the most moving material in the book centers around his relationship with Joanne Woodward—their love for each other, his dependence on her, the way she shaped him intellectually, emotionally and sexually.

The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man is revelatory and introspective, personal and analytical, loving and tender in some places, always complex and profound.

Knopf

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

LEGACYINTHE FASTLANE

The name Richard Childress means a lot of different things to different people. Driver, race team owner, hunter, husband, father, grandfather--- there are a lot to name. I call him my friend, and I am humbled by the fact that he calls me the same. From the first interaction I had with Richard, he has been all class, all the way. We met in a crowded space, and as I waited for him to head in my direction, I was able to watch from a distance how each person interacted with him, but more importantly, how he interacted with them. We all know the scene where the celebrity of the night or the keynote speaker makes their way out of the room. They glad hand a few key folks, the halfheartedly crack a smile, or they pose for a few photos destined for someone’s Instagram feed.

Childress is different.

From across that crowded room, you watch his body language and how he turns and faces each person he’s engaged with. There is actual conversation. There is actual depth to the interaction and from 200 feet away, you can see that each person is acutely aware of the fact that they are getting real time with him, not just some passing by and a single mutter. Richard is just that way, and it’s that kind of connection to people and projects that has made him admired, respected, and well-received no matter the venue. By the time the moment came where he and I were introduced, he must have talked with fifty folks, all far more important than I, yet he turned his body my direction and we spoke like we were old friends. No pretense, no hesitation. Just two guys talking about hunting and trying to hash out some ideas for getting the world a little less screwed up.

Conestoga Comfort

You know the image—trains of wagons heading across the frontier with scores of people eager to expand our American footprint. There was a different makeup to these folks. They were adventurous, they were optimists, and at least on the surface, they were fearless. Crossing large swaths of land in pursuit of something or somewhere to call their home with little knowledge of what they might encounter on the trail is not for the faint of heart. Yet they did it. With family, priceless heirlooms, and few comforts from the life they are leaving behind, they set out on to discover a new future.

The Conestoga wagon won its claim to fame throughout the 19th century as America expanded west, though its origins go back

significantly further to the earlier 18th century. Their ability to hold and most importantly, secure, goods and possessions made them the ideal vessel for crossing land. With an ability to hold weight and subsequently be pulled by horse or oxen, the wagons quickly grew in popularity and took their place in American iconography. In more modern times (read: these past three years), Americans became reintroduced to the wagons through a series of hit TV series that depict the West, the long trail ride to the Pacific, and the movement of early frontier settlers from their large metro areas and into new promising land. Admittedly, those television shows do in fact depict the trail accurately, but at the same time gave rise to a subset of our population that wished to experience what that simpler life might be or to put themselves in the shoes of the early settlers. As a quick sidenote, if you’ve ever been to a place like eastern Wyoming, you

IN DEFENSE OF THE WILD

How Hunting and Conservation Go Hand-In-Hand

What do you think of when you think of hunting? If conservation doesn’t come to mind, it should. Species that once roamed their native land in abundance are now dwindling, with many having been completely eradicated from their original ecosystems thanks to poaching. That’s where hunting properties like Champion Ranch step in.

95% of Texas land is privately owned, and as a privately owned property, Champion Ranch gets to choose what we do with our land. We’ve chosen to protect the great outdoors. Our mission is to conserve wildlife from across the globe, allowing our guests to experience the wild up close and personal. We believe the outdoors is meant to be lived in and conserved for generations to come. That’s why we’ve dedicated our 8,000+ acres of Central Texas land to the preservation of ecosystems and species from around the world.

“The only way and reason that wildlife habitat exists in the state of Texas is because of land stewards like the Champion Ranch, who choose purposely to allocate their resources and money to wildlife conservation,” said Corey Mason, CEO of Dallas Safari Club.

One way we accomplish our mission for conservation? Hunting.

With federal permits and careful stewardship, we seek to enlarge the population of over 65 species, many of which can only be found in conservation habitats like ours. Our hunters are connecting with nature while protecting it, managing our herd sizes, removing animals that hinder herd growth and providing food for their families. In this way, hunting is one of the most sustainable ways to provide food for your family.

There exists a fundamental misunderstanding about hunting, with many believing that the removal of wildlife is a bad thing. While poaching, the unethical and unregulated practice of removing “trophies” from the wild, is indeed corrupting ecosystems, hunting ingrains a deep respect for the land in the community while encouraging herd growth and adherence to the law. Year after year, our herd populations increase because of our careful guardianship and hunting practices. We exercise controlled hunting—we purposefully choose to protect animals that aren’t ready to leave the herd or are still contributing to the survival and success of their species. Poaching,

on the other hand, encourages the unregulated harvest of animals.

As hunters, we work with wildlife biologists and other experts to survey our population status and determine legal and sustainable techniques for each species we manage. To us, hunting is about more than sport. Our hunters walk away from Champion Ranch having forged a deep connection with the land and its creatures. We focus on educating our guests on conservation, so whole families walk away with a deeper appreciation for what hunting can accomplish and how they can incorporate sustainable practices into their own lives.

Champion Ranch is unlike anything you’ll experience in the rest of the world. Relish in luxury accommodations, world-class southern hospitality and five-star dining while you experience the joys of hunting. It doesn’t end with the hunt—we have photo safaris, a resort-style pool, an indoor arcade, an archery range and more, so there is truly something for everyone at the Ranch.

Experience something bigger than yourself. Experience the great outdoors when you stay at Champion Ranch.

Countrypolitan Revival

As cultural norms shift and big cities lose their stronghold, people reimagine their pursuit of the fleeting American dream

Written By: Rebekah Iliff

Photography by: Matthew Simmons

Models: Gowa Peshewa; Colt Walker (AMAX Talent)

ALL PHOTOS WERE SHOT ON LOCATION IN SPRINGFIELD, TENNESSEE: FREE DREAMING FARM, YELLOW DOG STAY, MYSTIC PICNIC, DOWNTOWN SPRINGFIELD

In the early 1960s, Chet Atkins, American musician and head of RCA Records’ country division who helped create the original Nashville Sound of the 1950s, led a movement to pull music out the hands of hillbillies and honky tonks and into the loving arms of a more mainstream, commercial market. Laced with notes of pop and jazz, he smoothed out the plucky country song structures with textured instrumentation. Early representatives of this new, sophisticated crossover style included names like Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves; by the 1970s with the song “He Stopped Loving Her Today”—crooned by George Jones—smooth Nashville Sound had morphed once again into what became affectionately labeled Countrypolitan: a perfect cocktail bridging the gap between past and future.

P+P

FALL LIST

• Till Country Comes Back – Dan Smalley

• He Stopped Loving Her Today – George Jones

• Stand By Your Man – Tammy Wynette

• Rhinestone Cowboy – Glen Campbell

• The Happiest Girl In The Whole U.S.A. – Donna Fargo

• Rainy Night In Georgia – Hank Williams, Kr.

• I Will Always Love You – Dolly Parton

• Coat of Many Colors – Dolly Parton

• Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue – Crystal Gayle

• The Most Beautiful Girl – Charlie Rich

• Golden Ring – Single Version – Tammy Wynette

• Long Hot Summer Day – Turnpike Troubadours

• Handle On You – Parker McCollum

• Born to Fly – Sara Evans

• Note to Self – Randy Houser

• Livin’ The Dream – Drake White

• I Wish Grandpas Never Died – Riley Green

• Different ‘Round Here – Riley Green, Luke Combs

• In Color – Jamey Johnson

• Pick Me Up – Gabby Barrett

• You’re Gonna Miss This – Trace Adkins

• Ladies Love Country Boys – Trace Adkins

• Next Thing You Know – Jordan Davis

• Angels – Thomas Rhett

• She Had Me At Heads Carolina – Cole Swindell

• Paint Me a Birmingham – Acoustic – Tracy Lawrence

• One Man Band – Old Dominion

• Memory Lane – Old Dominion

• Things A Man Oughta Know – Lainey Wilson

• Come Back Song – Darius Rucker

• drink one for me – HARDY

• i in country – HARDY

• red (feat. Morgan Wallen) – HARDY, Morgan Wallen

• Maggie’s Song – Chris Stapelton

• Love Without End, Amen – George Strait

• Forever and Ever, Amen

CONCERTS

August:

10th and 11th: Turnpike Troubadours – Nashville

12th: Parker McCollum – Southaven, MS

17th: Sara Evans – Nashville

28th: Drake White, Randy Houser, Riley Green, and Jamey Johnson – Nashville

September:

1st: Gabby Barrett, Jordan Davis, and Jameson Rodgers – Nashville

8th: Trace Adkins – Nashville

16th: Jordan Davis – Kansas City, MO

29th and 30th: Thomas Rhett and Cole Swindell – Nashville

October:

3rd: Tracy Lawrence – Nashville

7th: Old Dominion – Atlanta, GA

11th: John Mayer and JP Saxe – Nashville

12th: Lainey Wilson – Jonesboro, AR

14th: Darius Rucker – Nashville

26th-28th: HARDY, Lainey Wilson, and Dylan Marlowe –Nashville

From West Point to the Western Life

Magic in New Mexico: The Vistas of Vermejo

photo by Jen Judge

Q&A

A member of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), DSC is a mission-focused conservation organization, funded by hunters from around the world. With an administrative staff of less than 15 and a volunteer army of 500, DSC hosts an annual Convention that raises funds for grants in conservation, education and advocacy. In the past couple years, millions of dollars have been directed to qualified projects, organizations and programs in support of that mission.

A s one of the world’s most respected conservation organizations, Dallas Safari Club is directly tied to the success of proper game management programs globally as well as a thought leader on outdoor education, restoration programs, and hunting ethics. Through its vast network of ardent supporters, the many chapters of DSC provide the resources to ensure that current and future generations of hunters are able to pursue their passions. With an eye toward the Fall hunting season and setting the stage for their annual convention, we caught up with the leadership at DSC to share some thoughts about their current and future efforts, as well as their overall mission.

Where the Sporting Life Lives

As America’s premier sporting community, Brays Island embodies a shared passion for the outdoors. Deepen your connection to friends, family and your own adventuresome spirit exploring 5,500 pristine acres of waterways, fields and woodlands.

Brands in the Corr Ventures portfolio are able to capitalize on the expertise and structure of the firm by leveraging over 100 years of experience across a variety of verticals—manufacturing, aerospace, luxury goods, media, natural resources, energy, and land, to name a few.

PRIVATE EQUITY

Working capital continues to be one of the biggest factors in creating a sustainable growth plan for most brands, regardless of size. Corr Ventures specializes in assessing the value of those growth programs and performing and completing capital raises, be it for outside investment in non-held ventures, or to infuse financing into wholly owned or majority owned ventures.

BUSINESS ADVISORY BUSINESS ADVOCACY

Corr Ventures recognizes that not all brands are seeking investment capital, but that intellectual capital holds a significant value for brands interesting in retaining their equity, but have a desire to seek outside resources to advise on structure, strategy, or exit options.

Sometimes you just need a voice. A voice that has been there before. A voice that has weight. A voice that has built successful businesses. And a voice that will stand up for you and fight in the interest of fair business. Our strength, and our weight, matters. And when you need it, we’ll be there for you.

97,200 SECONDS

Time in the Montana uplands measured.

by Edgar Castillo

“Are we there yet?” I wanted to say from the backseat of Kyle’s truck. But decided against it, as I didn’t want to be the target of empty water bottles, wrappers, and maybe even one or two heavy indestructible Yeti Tumblers. I surely didn’t need or want a concussion on my first visit to the upland Valhalla of the country…Montana. Sage, ruffed, and dusky grouse, Huns, chukar, and sharpies, oh my! We were going on safari for six days.

The four of us felt cramped even though we had plenty of room. But after driving straight from Kansas City, we were ready to plant our feet on the ground and stretch our tired limbs. Our journey was almost coming to an end. A few more miles and we would be at bird camp. I could hear small pebbles of rocks from the gravel road hit the side of the truck. It was a winding path to our campsite along a large hillside. Kyle was taking it slow as we were hauling a twelve-foot utility trailer filled with gear.

“Huns! Right on the side of the road.” exclaimed Kyle with his calm Texan accent. I leaned over “Doc” and I caught a glimpse of about ten scrawny birds that resembled young quail. A good omen. The truck turned slowly, and we all saw the familiar red truck from our fellow Midwest brethren. Dan had arrived to help set up bird camp. He was in Montana too but visiting family nearby. We had arrived. Finally.

The quartet of hounds that had endured the long trip in the metal dog box were let loose. The canine ground troops consisted of Kyle’s two German Shorthair Pointers, “Hutch’s” French Brittany, and “Doc’s” own GSP . First order of business for the dogs…pee. We did the same. Afterwards, quick man hugs were given, and the work commenced quickly as the sun was going to be setting in a couple of hours. The outfitter tent and canopy went up without a hitch. Each of the cots were positioned in the four corners with ample room for everyone’s gear. We got a fire going, cooked dinner and with full bellies we made a plan for the next day’s jaunt. Sleep came easy and within minutes we were all snoring.

Morning came fast. Dogs were exercised and watered. Coffee made, poured, and consumed. Hardly any words were spoken as we each climbed into the truck. And just like that we were back on the road, but this time our drive would be only thirty minutes. What seemed like a short time later, Kyle brought the truck to a creaky halt. I hadn’t noticed, but Dan had been following us. He and his pair of Drahts had opted to hunt with us before returning home in the evening.

An open swath of public land laid before our eyes. We each took turns filling out the required paperwork at the roadside check-in box and filed into the swaying grass. None of us had ever hunted prairie grouse but had been told the area was primo for sharpies. An overcast sky was a blend of pale grays and blues.

Doc and I had split up from the rest of the group. Doc was carrying his Italian Cosmi, a custom-fitted and built 12-gauge break-open action semiauto shotgun. Never heard of Cosmi? Neither had I. But after a brief history lesson, I learned that only 7500 guns had been manufactured since 1930. At one time, Doc was the only Cosmi owner in the country. Doc had no qualms about using the shotgun in the field, where others may be extremely hesitant to even get a speck of dust on such an expensive shotgun.

We were following his dog Sally, who had gone down into a brush-filled coulee as we stayed up on opposite sides of each other. The mostly white and brown splotched GSP worked the bottom of the draw and began systematically moving back up towards the top when she abruptly stopped. Scent. Doc maneuvered along the side towards the green bush. His bright orange bird vest stood out against the backdrop of tans, greens, and browns. It reminded me of a painting. It brought me joy and peace with a subtle teaspoon of anticipation.

The image had been perfectly created and put together by our Almighty Creator. I would be thanking God that evening for the

Cave Spiders and Sevylor Rafts

By Cameron J. Kirby

Photo by Peter Robbins

But creating great clothing is not the only piece, and for those who have been welcomed into the Blue Thread Project world, they quickly understand that each garment goes to supporting something bigger than just a suit or a new pair of slacks. For Rios and his boys, BTP is the tip of the spear for a longstanding commitment to serving society and in their own way, they are bringing people together. Today it might be for a suit, tomorrow it might be for fellowship and a study of the Word, but bringing people together is at the core of everything Rios is doing.

We could go on an on about Blue Thread Project suits and sportscoats and we could talk about the meticulous detailing or the full customization process that each person goes through on a garment--- but we won’t. Instead, we will introduce you to the

“why” of Blue Thread Project. Standing on its own, Blue Thread Project goes toe to toe with the fine clothiers across the country, but it’s the “why” that makes it special and it’s the “who” behind the brand that takes it over the top.

Through Blue Thread Project, with such a commitment to fellowship and the community, you’ll understand quickly that Rios is indeed doing that job that means something. He is together with his family, creating something that stands the chance of outlasting them all, and having successfully combined providing for one’s family with the ability to change his community for the better. We all will search for it, but for Pastor Nathaniel Rios, he wakes up and does it each day.

We’re Not in Orange Army Country Anymore

Lessons from the winding back roads of Kentucky

When a puppy pick up turns into an opportunity for perspective

By: Rebekah Iliff

SportHunter® 1225x 21 LEVELS I 3/4 MILE I DRYTEK® WATERPROOF EXPANDABLE TO 3 DOGS

Words or Weapons

by Kelsi McKee

If words were regarded as weapons

We would be less likely to strike We would manage them with respect We would clean the particles of gunpowder

From our angry, clouded minds.

Words are born from our thoughts

But there they won’t die Sometimes they won’t stop

Until they reach the heart.

If words were regarded as weapons

We would use them to protect Armor ourselves with and defend. We would think more about giving life

And guarding it

Rather than taking it

And ending it. We would choose to heal More often than we wound.

If words were regarded as weapons

There would be fewer broken hearts.

Photo by Paul Einerhand

The Oliver Hotel

Through Hunting