We have been blessed with some great sponsors in our five year history. Last January at The Archery Trade Association Show, good friend Aaron Ritter came running into our booth, eager to introduce us to the crew at Dead End Game Calls. While owner Mitchell Johnston wasn't able to make it to Indianapolis, we met the rest of his team and became fast friends.Recently retiring after more than two decades in the firefighting profession, the world champion caller can now focus all of his time of his business and ministry.  In what was another fantastic episode that at times felt more like a Sunday morning church service, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the story behind DHGC and hearing Mitchell's heart for serving a higher purpose.Without folks like Johnston and Dead End, HHAUSA isn't able to do the work we do. Not only the tangible items that they send to our events, these sponsors spread the word about our mission and many times, start one of their own if they don't already have one. It's companies like these that I want to support as a consumer and also lock arms with in an effort to make our world a better place by bringing positive change in the lives of those who cross our path.And if the opportunity to share The Gospel presents itself, both Mitchell and I are always obedient to that call. I was honored to share a message on The Wednesday Word, a video devotional that Dead End puts out on their social media each week, and plan to make a return to it in the near future.Thank you for your service brother! You are a light in the darkness and while you may have hung up your helmet, the fire is still burning.You can follow find both Mitchell and Dead End Game Calls on Facebook and Instagram and check out all their offerings at www.deadendgamecalls.comFor more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

I am a firm believer in divine appointments and six or seven years after our meeting, Seth Baranowski is too. From the first conversation I had with Seth at a fundraising shoot for the Never Forgotten Honor Flight in Weston Wisconsin, I knew that I had a new friend. Now one of the men in my inner circle, thankful is an understatement in describing how I feel about God bringing him and his family into my life.  He has been a blessing to me, to the archery community and to HHAUSA in so many ways.Fresh off his second trip to the ATA Show, we chat about our week in St. Louis, the Target The Heart Prayer Breakfast, his involvement with HHAUSA and his heart for serving others.The entire Baranowski family, Emmy, Landon, Melissa and Seth, all enjoy archery and the outdoors and it's not uncommon to see all four of them at our events during the summer. They've also added another member to their crew in a young man who lost his father. Seth's servant heart wanted to step up and after asking the boy's mother, he put a bow in his hand. Stories like these are what make our HHAUSA family so special. We all have busy lives but make the time to impact the lives of others. Seth has aspirations to one day start his own nonprofit to come alongside children who have lost a parent and to introduce them to the outdoors. When he does go down that road, I know that he will be successful and lives will be changed in the same way that my good friend has changed mine.His passion for the outdoors, involvement with Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, S3DA, HHAUSA and others make it pretty clear that he's not just here as a spectator. With an infectious smile, talk to anyone demeanor and a heart of gold, every organization needs a Seth Baranowski on their team and we are thankful to have him in ours.You can find Seth on Facebook and Instagram and more than likely at most, if not all, of our 2024 HHAUSA events here in Wisconsin.For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Approaching my brother over a decade about about getting a couple of our youth sights for his kids, who knew how close Nathan Mathwig and I would be today? No, that's not a rhetorical question. God did.Now one of the core volunteers of our growing nonprofit, Mathwig has become much more than a friend to me, he's a brother. Seeing each other a half dozen times a year at our events across the state of Wisconsin, we have spent plenty of time with one another to form a bond that will last beyond this lifetime. Rooming with him five years ago at DeerFest in August of 2019, that weekend was the beginning of something so much bigger than archery. A shared love of the Veteran community, the outdoors, and eventually our faith in God, I look forward to any opportunity I can get to spend time with my friend.Such an opportunity presented itself a few weeks back as he made the trip with me and our close friend Seth Baranowski to the 2024 Archery Trade Association Show in St. Louis. To say that it was a life changing weekend for all of us would not do it justice. God showed up in a big way and lives were changed as the three of us sat back and marveled at how awesome our Creator is and that He enlisted three sinners like us to do His work together.This was a great podcast and editor Logan Chartrand remarked to me when he sent the episode over how passionate and spirited the conversation was. I've said it before and I'll say it again, HHAUSA would not be in existence today if it were not for men like Nathan Mathwig answering the call to serve those who serve our country. It is a blessing to be in the trenches with him each weekend and seeing lives transformed through the sport of archery. Thank you for all that you do my friend, you are a blessing to me and so many others!You can find Nathan on Facebook and Instagram and track him down at one of our 3D shoots here in The Badger State in 2024.For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

It was a pleasure to have HHAUSA Podcast Alumni Amanda Hoenes back on the show this week. After meeting her at our Vortex Event last April, I had an instant friend and ally for the work that we do here.Reading her book "Digging Deeper" about her solo paddling journey down the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, my level of respect for the GWOT Marine Veteran spiked even higher than the first impression I got from her in Wisconsin.Solidifying her place in the HHAUSA family and feeling inspired, Hoenes left The Badger State and headed back to Missouri to press into her own nonprofit, True Path Adventures. Designed to get teens and now adults off their devices and into the outdoors, Amanda is impacting others by sharing her passion for the outdoors.We surprised Amanda this fall through our partnerships with Bernatello Foods, Outdoor Bound TV and Vortex Optics. Hoenes headed to Saskatchewan on a dream mule deer hunt and harvested a great buck. Thanks to Kurt Walbeck and his crew, Gerhard Potgieter and Canada Outdoor Adventures, the Missouri native experienced some great comradery and was blessed to have another Marine Veteran in camp with her who quickly became a new friend.This was an amazing episode and I strongly encourage you to get a copy of Amanda's book, check out True Path Adventures, contact her for a speaking engagement, do anything to get her involved with your mission if it aligns with hers. She may have taken off the uniform a few years ago but this woman will be serving others until the Lord calls her home and we will be right there in the trenches with her!You can find Amanda  Hoenes on Facebook and Instagram and visit her website at https://www.truepathadventures.com/For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Thanks to the powers of modern technology, we are able to connect with anyone, anywhere, without leaving our house. Little did I know that a blog review of an archery sight 15 years ago would lead me to one of my best friends on the planet. Al Quackenbush and I communicate every day, through the You Version Bible App and our daily devotionals. We text frequently, hop on Zoom calls when we can work it into our schedules and see each other once a year in person. While I wish that we lived closer to have more face time, our friendship runs deep and I am eternally grateful that God brought us together.2023 was a big year for Al and his family. After many conversations with his wife and daughter and a lot of prayer, they relocated from Southern California to Nashville in June. It was a major move for the family but one that they have all embraced and they are loving life in The Volunteer State.With a network of friends already in place, Al has access to some private land which has made deer hunting opportunities a little easier than being on the west coast. He also headed back to New York to hunt with his family and it's been a successful fall even though he has yet to punch his tag.The move also brought about a rebranding for The SoCal Bowhunter. Wanting to share his faith more and appeal to a broader audience, Faithful Sportsman will be his new moniker, thanks to his wife Kymberli.Starting off 2024 at the ATA Show in St. Louis and SHOT in Vegas, there's no grass growing under Al's feet. At the same time, he and I both plan to try and eliminate the word busy from our schedule in the new year and be more intentional about keeping the first things first. I am excited about what the future holds for my dear friend and look forward to walking with him into this new season. You can follow Al on Facebook and Instagram, visit his web page at https://socalbowhunter.com/homepage and tune into the Sprocket and Chubbs Podcast, cohosted by Al and Navy Veteran Aaron Ritter.For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

I want to thank Adam Miller of Bowhunter Chronicles Podcast for the introduction to our guest on this week's episode. Shortly after meeting Marine Veteran Andrew Comtois, Miller thought he should connect him with me and the work that HHAUSA is doing. While we have yet to meet in person, a handful of conversations later and we have become fast friends.Coming from a long line of service in his family, the Michigan native joined the Marines in 2005. Seven deployments and a traumatic brain injury later found him honorably discharged and at rock bottom in 2018. It was there that he would find a road to recovery through archery and the outdoors after picking up a bow for the first time in years.Words simply do not do this podcast justice and I guarantee that this conversation will save at least one life. Starting Outdoor Driven in January of 2023, Comtois is now using his experiences and passion for the outdoors to bring healing to others in need. His life took a a more substantial and eternal turn in July when he and his wife recommitted their lives to Christ in Alaska at a marriage retreat through Operation Heal Our Patriots, furthering his desire to put others first and make a difference in the world.I am excited to see what the future holds for Andrew and his organization and look forwward to sharing the range with him in April. God continues to bless me personally and the mission of HHAUSA by bringing amazing, like minded people like Andrew into my path. We are all in this together and will continue to change lives until the good Lord calls us home.You can find Andrew and Outdoor Driven on Facebook and Instagram and visit their website at https://outdoordriven.org/For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

While I don't like to disappoint our listeners who have been waiting for us to travel outside of Wisconsin, we will be staying home once again in 2024. That said, we have seven 3D shoots on the schedule for archers across the country to attend and help support the cause that is HHAUSA.You really need to listen to this episode to get the full impact of how special the upcoming year is setting up to be. We look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones as we continue to change lives one arrow at a time in the Veteran, First Responder and Law Enforcement communities.So start making plans to get to one or more of our events in 2024. April will be here before you know it!Wisconsin Open Season Expo Wisconsin Dells                               March 22-24Oregon Sportsman’s Club Weekend (Mission 28) Oregon       April 20-21Waushara Archers  (Mission 29) Wautoma                                        May 18-19Blackhawk Archers (Mission 30) Custer                                              June 1-2Racine Instinctive Bowmen (Mission 31) Sturtevant                   June 22-23Tomah Warrens Sportsman’s (Mission 32) Warrens                    July 13-14Rib Mountain Bowmen  (Mission 33) Brokaw                                  July 27-28De Pere Sportsmen’s Club (Mission 34) De Pere                            August 17-18Our website should be updated by the 1st of the year at which point registration will be open for all 2024 shoots. Visit hhausa.org for more details.You can also follow HHAUSA on Facebook and Instagram.For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

It's crazy how quickly time passes by the older we get. Closer to 50 than 40, I'm making more of an effort to cherish every conversation, every trip to the field and every sunset as we never know when it will be our last.Speaking of time flying, it's been nearly two years since I was introduced to Aaron Ritter of Limb-Itless Outdoors but the depth of our friendship makes it feel like twenty. A fellow nonprofit leader, Ritter has successfully navigated year two of his A3G Grant Initiative and what a year it was!If you've listened to the previous couple of episodes, you're already familiar with 2023 grant recipient Chris Norton as well as Christopher Dunlap and the role that he played in making the fall one to remember for these three amigos.It's been fun from my chair to see how the grant program has grown in a short time but I have a hard time taking the credit Ritter wants to give me for inspiring him to start it after our first conversation. Regardless, he is doing great things for the Veteran, archery, and amputee communities and I'm honored to be a small part of that.Aaron and I discuss all the happenings of 2023, including the emotional trip to Texas with Chris and Christopher, his fall hunting season, what the future of the grant holds, and so much more on the episode.There's not many Aaron Ritter's in this world but it's a better place because of him and the work he's doing. I'm inspired each time we talk or have the luxury of seeing each other in person. Aaron is a breath of fresh air and as I referred to him on here, an energy drink that leaves me feeling refreshed each time we converse.He's also one of my dearest friends and has been a blessing in my life in more ways than one. Thank you for everything that you do Aaron, and keep burnin' those ships!You can follow Aaron on Facebook and Instagram. You can also learn more about Limb-Itless Outdoors and the A3G Grant Initiative at:https://www.limbitlessoutdoors.comFor more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

People with a heart to serve never lose it, even when they hang up the uniform. Chris Dunlap is yet another example of a service member that continues to give back to the Veteran community through archery and the outdoors.The Virginia native grew up hunting and fishing so it's a big part of who he is. Also in his DNA, serving our country runs deep in Chris's family, going all the way back to the Civil War. Finding himself at Fort Benning Georgia three days after graduating high school for basic training, Dunlap served in the Army for sixteen years before medically retiring in 2012 and moving to Texas.Chris is always on the go as a husband, father, archer, and serving others any way that he can to make a difference. In addition to helping with his wife's ministry on their ranch, he's also a guide on several properties in The Lone Star State and reached out to Aaron Ritter over social media on New Year's Eve a couple years back to invite him down on a whitetail hunt. An instant friendship was born and Ritter returned in September with Chris Norton, his 2023 A3G Grant Recipient. If you listened to Norton's podcast, you know the end of the story but we now get to hear it from Dunlap's perspective.The bond these three men formed over a few short days is something that will last a lifetime. Finding the level of comradery that they experienced in the military is hard to replicate but they found it in the outdoors, just as other Veterans have.  HHAUSA is honored to be a small part of connections like this and we look forward to more success stories that put the healing power of archery on full display.Thank you for your service Chris, and thank you for your heart for putting others above yourself.You can find Christopher Dunlap on Facebook and Instagram.For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

HHAUSA continues to be blessed with some amazing additions to our family and this guy fit right in from day one. US Army Veteran Chris Norton was selected as the 2023 A3G Initiative Grant Winner in a story that could only have been written by our Creator.When Aaron Ritter of Limb-Itless Outdoors enthusiastically told me about Norton, it confirmed once again why we do what we do at HHAUSA to impact the lives of others. Losing his lower leg in a motorcycle accident, Chris's life would be changed forever being an amputee and some dark days lay head for the Freehold New Jersey native.In those pivotal moments of our story, they can go one of two ways. Thankfully, Norton pulled himself out of the darkness, going onto become a firefighter and is now just months away from being an EMT as well. He’s also found healing, community and new life in archery.During his time recovering, he purchased an entry level compound bow, knowing that he could use a new hobby to get his mind off his injury and get him outdoors. While he had hunted as a kid, archery was new to him and he was hooked. After a discussion with Ritter about saddle hunting, Chris applied for the grant and was unanimously selected by Aaron and his board, all picking Norton without discussing the candidates with each other.After an emotional and overwhelming presentation of the nearly $15,000 in gear at his fire station by Ritter, Chris now had his sights set on a Texas whitetail hunt in late September.I'll let him tell the rest of the story but suffice it to say, we will be seeing a lot more of Chris Norton in the years ahead and I look forward to meeting him face to face and sharing the 3D range with him soon.You can find Chris on Facebook and Instagram and learn more about the A3G Initiative at https://www.limbitlessoutdoors.com/a3g-initiativeFor more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

It's safe to say that nearly twenty years ago when Mark and Jane Neumann founded the Hunt4Life Foundation, they had little idea of the impact their Wisconsin based ministry would have.Now working with Operation Heal Our Patriots and seeing marriages resurrected and people making life altering decisions about their faith, Mark and Jane truly are doing the Lord's work. Coupled with serving young boys who have lost their fathers in the line of duty or to suicide, LifeCamp USA has grown astronomically in less than three years and will no doubt see its benefits felt for generations to come. I can't say enough good things about this ministry and it's one that we will continue to support as long as we are around. This was a great conversation and I look forward to hearing many more of the success stories from the Neumanns for years to come as they continue to transform the Military, First Responder and Law Enforcement Community.To learn more, visit hunt4lifefoundation.org and follow Hunt4Life and LifeCamp USA on Facebook and Instagram.For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

After founding HHAUSA in 2019 our first big fundraising goal was to raise enough money to sponsor an entire Honor Flight to Washington DC for our Veterans here in Central Wisconsin. Thousands of arrows, dozens of archery shoots and $70,000 later, that dream became a reality on October 16th of this year.One of the perks of sponsoring a flight was getting to choose two guardians to fly and accompany Veterans on this day to remember. Mari Austin, an employee at HHA Sports, was one of those guardians. Her parents both served in World War II, were married for 68 years, and passed away within three days of one another. Sadly, neither was able to go on their Honor Flight. However, Mari was able to honor them both in a very special ceremony at the World War II Memorial in October. She shares that experience, more about her trip and the life of her parents on this very special episode.On this Veteran's Day weekend, we want to thank all those who have served our country and continue to make it the land of the free, because of the brave. Let us never forget all those who have served to protect our freedoms. We cannot ever take that for granted.For more information about The Honor Flight Network, visit honorflight.orgFor more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

HHAUSA is not alone in what we are doing to help combat post traumatic stress in the Veteran and First Responder communities. There are many organizations across the country doing great work in this field, including others in the archery space. The Michigan based Shoot For Life is definitely one of them.I was blessed to meet Tom Spisz through the outdoor industry a few years back and we instantly struck up a friendship. Also a man of faith, the avid archer felt led towards a greater purpose as a 23 year old college student back in 2013 in what would lay the groundwork for Shoot For Life. A nonprofit organization promoting the physical and mental health benefits of the sport of archery, they are transforming lives one event, one arrow at a time.Running similar archery shoots as we do here at HHAUSA, Spisz and his dedicated team of volunteers have built an ever growing community of support, comradery and lifelong friendships around the bow and arrow.Having endured some of the same struggles in his personal life as I did a decade ago, Tom and I both can attest to how truly life changing archery can be, even for someone who may not suffer from PTSD. Together, our respective organizations are making a difference in spite both of us having busy schedules with our day jobs.Also donating full archery setups to Veterans with their Bows For Vets Program, Shoot For Life is doing God's work in The Great Lakes State and we are excited to collaborate more with them in the near future. Thank you for your service Tom, and may God bless you and your team!To learn more, you can follow them on Facebook and Instagram and visit their website at www.shootforlife.orgFor more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

2023 has been a big growth year at HHAUSA and we have been blessed to continue crossing paths with some amazing individuals. I met Rick Young at the Archery Trade Association Show in Indianapolis back in January and we instantly hit if off. We would see each other again a month later in Florida at what will now be the venue for our first ever, out of state, HHAUSA shoot in 2024. Travelling for Centershot Blue, an archery ministry that is introducing the sport in cities across the country through the world of law enforcement, Young and I became fast friends. We connected for a third time at our Vortex event in April and it's safe to say the Wisconsin native is officially part of the HHAUSA family.Growing up in The Badger State, Rick picked up a love for the outdoors well before he could drive a car and loves spending time hunting and fishing with friends and family.  Firefighting and EMS work ran in his family and so it was a natural career path for Young when he finished school. One of those early jobs also required a law enforcement background and Rick soon found himself wearing all three of those hats and serving his community.A near fatal accident where he was sideswiped in his squad by an 18-wheeler and a bout with cancer just months later would help to bring Rick out of a dark place and closer to his faith. With a clean bill of health and new outlook on life, Young now wants to help others by sharing his story and love of the outdoors with the help of the Centershot Blue program.  We are excited to partner with them in 2024 and meet more folks like Rick who have overcome adversity thanks to a bow and arrow.Stay tuned as well for an upcoming film early next year with Young, HHAUSA Podcast alumni Aaron Scheer and Chad Stillman and others as we chronicle their September 2023 Colorado elk hunt.To learn more about Centershot Blue, visit their website at www.centershotblue.orgFor more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

It's hard to believe that we are at the end of our 2023 HHAUSA season already but it's a reality and I continue to be humbled at the ever growing support that our mission is receiving. While I will miss seeing the HHAUSA family for a few months, I am excited for some time off to reflect, recharge and prep for what is lining up to be the biggest year in our history in 2024.With return trips to Tomah Warrens Sportsman's Alliance and Antler Archers and a maiden voyage to Racine Instinctive Bowmen, we were blessed with three amazing weekends of archery.A lot of familiar faces hit the 3D ranges here in Wisconsin and we met a bunch of new friends as well that are now part of our band of brothers and sisters. Young and old, beginners to seasoned archers, I can't say enough about the depth of community that has developed in just four short years.The 2nd Annual HHAUSA Banquet with Whitetails Unlimited was also a hit on Friday, August 18th, as our attendees were treated to the next HHAUSA film featuring our good friend Kyle Mindiola and his Veterans organization Archery Origins.The behind the scenes work has been underway for months to make 2024 our most ambitious and impactful year yet and we cannot wait to start sharing more details as we head into the fall.We want to thank everyone that makes HHAUSA a success. To our listeners, clubs, shoot attendees, volunteers, and sponsors, we say thank you. Without you, we could not serve those who have and continue to serve us.For all the outdoorsman, we pray for a safe and successful hunting season and look forward to seeing everyone again next year. May God bless you and God bless America!For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Little did I know that volunteering for the Never Forgotten Honor Flight seven years ago would lead me to starting HHAUSA. Such are the plans of God that are so much higher than anything we could ever dream up on our own.For those not familiar with the Honor Flight, it is a nonprofit organization that sends World War II, Korea and Vietnam Veterans on an all expense paid trip to Washington DC to visit the memorials erected in their honor. Having been on the flight six times as a  guardian, I can say that it is one of the best days of my life and I cannot imagine the emotions felt by our Veterans.I am blessed and honored to have Earl Morse, Veteran and Physician Assistant and Co-Founder of the Honor Flight Network joining me on this very special 100th episode of The HHAUSA Podcast.Starting to see an influx of World War II Veterans during his practice in the early to mid 2000's, Morse would ask all of them if they had plans to visit the newly constructed World War II Memorial in Washington DC that was built in their honor. Getting far more nos than yeses, Earl felt compelled to take matters into his own hands and the rest, as they say, is history.I'd like the conversation to speak for itself so won't dive much further into the details of a podcast I have looked forward to for the better part of two years. Suffice it to say, with over 130 chapters across the United States and now in access of 250,000 Veterans flown to our nation's capital to see the memorials, the Honor Flight Network has changed countless lives and will continue to do so for decades to come.Earl, thank you for your service and for being a light to so many. I look forward to the day that we can break bread together, swap stories and give thanks for the many blessings that we have been given by the God we serve.To learn more about the Honor Flight, visit www.honorflight.orgYou can also find Earl Morse on Facebook or email him at founder@honorflight.orgFor more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

My connection with the Tennessee based outdoor apparel company BowAdx dates back to 2017. Meeting one of their staffers, Rick Devericks, at the Department of Defense Warrior Games in Chicago has been life changing. A Veteran and avid archer, Rick should be familiar with fans of The HHAUSA Podcast, having been on twice and as recently as last month.This week's guest and I have been playing a game of cat and mouse for the better part of a year and finally aligned schedules to record an episode. A busy family man, archer, corrections officer and staff manager for BowAdx, Tracy Rogers knows a thing or two about being busy.A recent surgery had him laid up long enough to slow down for an hour and I wish we used video on here. The pink backdrop of his daughter's bedroom was a sight to see but you'll have to take my word for it. Sorry Tracy!Growing up in Arkansas, he started hunting at a young age and like many of us in our late 40's, engineered a thing or two from what was around the house to try and get a leg up on the game. I won't spoil the story but let's just say that I will never look at a swing set again without thinking of Mr. Rogers!On a serious note, the Razorback has spent more than two decades inside the walls of a prison and has stared evil straight in the face on more than one occasion. Crediting his strong faith for keeping him going, Tracy has also had the chance to share that faith through his work and have a positive impact in a place that needs it the most.Good friends and hunting partners with BowAdx owner Chad Davis, I look forward to one day sharing the 3D range, deer camp or dinner with Tracy and we thank him for his service.On a personal note, I get a handful of uplifting messages from Rogers each week on Instagram and can't tell you how many times they arrive just when I need them. God has a way of placing people in our lives and I am thankful that He put Tracy in mine.You can add Tracy on Facebook or follow him on Instagram at t.rogers35Last but not least, don't forget to checkout BowAdx on social media or visit their website at www.bowadx.comFor more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Anyone that knows me is aware of the fact that I am a big NASCAR fan. I've been blessed to have crossed paths with a few folks in the garage area from drivers to crewmen to the pastors from Motor Racing Outreach. A few years back I was introduced to Wisconsin native and car chief for Kevin Harvick, Robert "Cheddar" Smith. With a shared love of racing and the outdoors, we hit it off instantly and became fast friends.Our faith and support of the military also in common, Cheddar and I are in the planning stages of an HHAUSA event with NASCAR that we are excited about it. Until then, we catch up a few times a year over the phone or at the track and finally sat down to have him on the podcast.Growing up in southeastern Wisconsin, he started working on cars and the idea of moving to Charlotte and a possible career in racing was born. With a few hundred dollars in his pocket, Smith set out for North Carolina and the rest, as they say, is history. Nearly a decade into his tenure at the famed Stewart Haas Racing, Cheddar won a Cup Series title with Harvick in 2014 and a whole lotta races.About as down to earth as you are going to get, Robert is passionate about spending time in the outdoors fishing, hunting and enjoying God's creation in his downtime with his girlfriend. After a divorce and a difficult season of life, Smith was reintroduced to his faith by Cliff Daniels from Hendrick Motorsports, giving him a new lease on life.There are certain people in life that you just feel better after spending time with and Cheddar is definitely one of those people in mine. Enjoy the podcast and make sure to give him and his Stewart Haas Racing teammates a follow on the socials!For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

I first crossed paths with my close friend Bob Barteck over a quarter century ago. My earliest memories of Bob were of a man who always had a smile on his face, an encouraging word to offer and a heart for serving others.Those trademark characteristics are alive and well today but nearly came to an abrupt end last summer on a mountaintop out West. Suffering a massive heart attack while on vacation with his wife Kris, the Wisconsin native details the harrowing story of how he had to put years of training as a firefighter/paramedic to use to keep he and his wife calm and get him safely to a hospital from the remote location.A man of strong faith, Barteck credits the Lord with saving his life that day and putting complete strangers in his path to make that happen. It was a life changing event that caused him to rethink his priorities, so much so that he has turned in his retirement papers early and will be stepping down as the Fire Chief in Wausau by the end of 2023.With his first grandchild on the way, Bob is excited to start a new season of life, enjoy his family and friends more, build a new home with Kris and continue to serve wherever God calls him to. I am not alone in sharing in the excitement of this next chapter for Bob and am anxious to see it unfold.A passionate outdoorsman, I have no doubt in my mind that we will be seeing more of him on the HHAUSA circuit, using his gifts, talents and life experiences to come alongside others in need of assistance. While the uniform may be coming off for good this year, Bob Barteck will continue to live his life doing what he does best: serving others with a contagious joy that this world needs more of.I've been blessed with some amazing friends in my forty eight years and Bob is surely one of them. A wealth of knowledge and always eager to pay it forward, share his story, or a hunting story or two, you can connect with him on Instagram and Facebook.For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com

Tyler Geiger is a warrior and was put on this earth to make a difference. For the past half decade, he was doing just that on the streets of Nashville and Billings, doing the hard and often underappreciated work of a law enforcement officer. As the job continued to take it's toll on the passionate outdoorsman and ultrarunner, he and his wife Morgan had the "what if" conversation one night this past April. Less than 24 hours later, Geiger stood in the ER, watching his colleague get his guts checked for bullet fragments after a shooting. It was in that moment that the 30 year old knew it was time for a career change. In one of the most open and raw conversations ever on this podcast, Tyler pulls no punches, telling it like it is and goes in depth on his exit from the world of police work. I have a ton of respect for my friend and anyone that puts on the badge day after day to keep us safe. Fortunately, he made it home that night and it's safe to say that the self-improvement guru has a bright future in front of him. Combining his love of fitness and the outdoors, we'll be seeing plenty of Geiger in the months and years to come and I am excited to see him succeed in this new season.God spared Tyler for a reason and he will continue impacting people through his work, his story and making a difference in a world that needs a whole lot more folks like him.You can keep up with Tyler on Instagram and check out his Nock Performance podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nock-performance/id1589739377For more information about HHAUSA and how you can support our mission, visit www.hhausa.orgTo purchases HHAUSA hats, shirts, challenge coins and tumblers, visit www.hhasports.com