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4 | EAST - March 2012

MARCH 2012

THE SPORTSMAN Burt Hairgrove

HUNTING Youth Hunt

OUTDOORS the Bounds

THE FAIR Todd Kassaw & Codie Jenkins

SPORTS Jonathan Fletcher

Photo by Lisa Crow Photography FAMILY

Man of the House

Stephanie Oliver President

Crystal Capps Sales Assistant

Stephanie Johnson Administrative Assistant

Macy Haffey Layout and Design

Lisa Crow Staff Photographer

CONTRIBUTORS Jeff Awtrey Edwin Quarles

DISTRIBUTORS

Lisa Crow Janet Glover Jared Thompson

CONTACT US: MAILING: P O B ox 1 5 0 5 37 L u f k i n , Texa s 759 1 5 P H YS I CA L : 1 1 5 E . S h e p h e rd L u f k i n , Texa s 759 0 1 936-634-7188 editor@eastmensmagazine.com

NEXT LEVEL Brandon Belt

AWARDS Youth Fair

TROPHY ROOM Trophy Hunts

BY EDWIN QUARLES; PHOTOGRAPHY BY LISA CROW

BURTHAIRGROVE

ast Texas native Burt Hairgrove has been all over the world, almost literally, and the Timpson-raised boy has now been back close to home for a little more than a year as director of Lufkin’s George H. Henderson Jr. Exposition Center. The trick roper, who learned the skill from his dad, saw his talents take him all over the United States and even to Euro Disney in Paris, France. He is excited to be back home. He says his exploits fit almost perfectly with the duties of running the Expo Center, a regional gathering place for events such as the Texas State Forest Festival and the Angelina County Benefit Rodeo. “My background and this job dovetail nicely,” Hairgrove said. “I’ve performed in a lot of arenas and been an event manager and that experience and this job just fit. I couldn’t think about having a better job.” Hairgrove competed in rodeo events in high school and in college at Stephen F. Austin. Due to his trickroping skills, he got a break with Mrs. Baird’s Bread as a corporate entertainer.

BURT HAIRGROVE /// THE SPORTSMAN “My dad competed in calf roping and team roping, and as a kid, I was fascinated with how people could handle a rope. By the time I got to college, I’d gotten pretty good at it, plus I was a little bit of a showoff,” Hairgrove said. Hairgrove has performed in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show at Euro Disney in Paris, France, at the White House in 2002 at the Congressional Picnic on the South Lawn (during George W. Bush’s presidency), at Wild West shows in upstate New York, in Vegas, and at New York’s Madison Square Garden on MTV. He had a job trick roping for tourists in Red River, New Mexico when his opportunity to work with Mrs. Baird’s Bread as a corporate entertainer came about. “We shot one commercial for Mrs. Baird’s on the same set used for The Dukes of Hazzard,” Hairgrove said. Hairgrove also met his wife of 11 years, Melissa, while working at a Wild West show at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. Hairgrove spent time working for an advertising agency in Little Rock, Arkansas and also spent time selling advertising for local ABC affiliate, KTRE-TV, before landing the job as director of the Expo Center. “I was tired of traveling and the irregularity of working for myself,” Hairgrove said. “This is an equine, livestock and entertainment venue, and I’ve been around this kind of stuff all my life.” Hairgrove has been director of the Expo Center for just more than a year now, and says there’s been a lot of renovations take place with more yet to come. “We’re remodeling top to bottom and getting a total makeover,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of capital improvements with the help of grants from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation, the Lion’s Club, the Kurth Foundation and the Angelina Benefit Rodeo Association. “We’ve painted throughout, including all the barns and pavilions. Our special events room is being reconfigured into a two-tier level room, and the capacity of it has been increased. Our deadline for completion of the renovations is the rodeo, April 25-28,” he said. “We’ve also been pretty aggressive getting things off the property, doing basic housekeeping and getting things orderly. Anytime there’s change, you get some resistance but we’ve gotten a lot of support from our board.” Hairgrove said the Expo Center’s location is good for attracting people and events from all over the region. “We’ve got a ton of opportunities for this facility, and it can accommodate all types of events from the Youth Fair, to the Forest Festival, to the rodeo and Bull Bash.” The seating capacity for the rodeo is about 6,800, but capacity for a concert is close to 9,000, according to Hairgrove. Country singer Willie Nelson will be in concert at the Expo Center on April 19, and getting a big name like Nelson is just what Hairgrove is trying to do. “I’ve been on the phone a lot in the past six to eight months, actively seeking out national touring acts that will justify the number of seats we have here at the facility,” Hairgrove said. “I got hold of Larry Shaeffer, a promoter in Tulsa that has booked Willie Nelson for several years now. I let him know that we have a great venue and

available dates. He called back a few weeks later and we started working out the details. I’m confident we’ll continue to attract big names in the future. As we keep making improvements to the Expo and letting the right people that we are open for business, we will become an excellent entertainment destination. “We’ve got several more concerts booked, including Robert Earl Keen performing at SummerFest, May 19,” he said. Willie Nelson is scheduled to perform April 19, and Fred Andrews and Honeybrowne will visit the Expo Center on June 23. Hairgrove said the Expo Center should continue to grow as an event host, and he hopes people have the feeling of “getting to go to the Expo Center” because something good is going to happen. “We want people to have fun and enjoy themselves here,” he said. “How we get there is to get good people hired, be personable and be good stewards of what’s been given to us. Whatever event is going on is kind of incidental, because whatever it is should be a good experience. Everyone always has good stories about time spent here. I’ve been coming here since it was built, and the fact that I got this job is a little too good to be true.” For more information on events at the Expo Center visit the website at www.angelinaexpocenter.com or add Angelina Expo on Facebook.

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HUNTING /// YOUTH HUNT

3RD ANNUAL JASPER COUNTY

YOUTH HUNT

8 | EAST - March 2012

hen Morgan Inman and his partner, Chris Fried, came out of the academy, they received the southern part of Jasper County for their territory. They both knew there would be work to do. “Any person of authority, especially Game Wardens, unfortunately has a lot to overcome and prove to the community. Our name is like mud in these parts of the woods.” In order to make a positive impact on their community, as well as trying to give game wardens a “good” name, they wanted to create a youth hunt.

The first year it began, the each of the two game wardens took on a youth for the inaugural year. “We wanted to show youth that there is a way to have good, clean fun without drugs or alcohol.” The following year, they had a few more game wardens come on board, so they were able to mentor five youth. “We had a year under our belt, so we figured out a little more. We were able to add a few more activities, teach skeet shoot, and have lunch.” This year was the third year for this group of game wardens to offer a youth hunt to area Jasper County residents. After three years, the hunt was opened up to ten youth. The game wardens go around and talk to local schools, coaches, teachers and principals to find out what youth would make good candidates for the hunt. Brett Willis, from Evadale, was one of the youth this year. This was his first time to shoot a gun. For this group, it is usually a day filled with firsts. A lot have never shot a gun or skeet. Needless to say, the day is full of excitement! Morgan Inman says, “We want these youth to experience the good side of law enforcement, too. We do not want their only experience to be, “they arrested my dad last night.’” Since word has spread around the county, there is a lot of support. According to Inman, “Everyone is more than happy to help or get involved. The locals, land owners, and individuals come to me to say they have 300 acres with stands ready to go, you are happy to use it anytime.” Inman is thrilled with the support and looks forward to the 4th annual Youth Hunt next fall.

eastmensmagazine.com | 9

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THE BOUNDS /// OUTDOORS

DALE & KITTY

BOUNDS

ale and Kitty Bounds, of Lufkin, Texas, were honored with the C.B. McCleod Award during the NWTF’s National Convention and Sport Show in Nashville, Tenn. The C.B. McCleod Award is given each year to an NWTF volunteer who has dedicated his or her life to wildlife conservation. This year, a husband-wife team was the recipient. Dale joined the NWTF in 1987. He was a videographer for the U.S. Forest Service and tasked with documenting the first effort to reintroduce Eastern wild turkeys to east Texas, in the Davy Crockett National Forest. “It was my first exposure to the NWTF,” Dale said of the experience. “James Earl Kennamer [NWTF chief conservation officer] brought the turkeys from South Carolina via Delta Airlines. After that, I was hooked.” Dale returned home that day and played a role in chartering the Pineywoods Chapter, which has become a stalwart NWTF chapter for Texas, according to Shawn Roberts, NWTF field supervisor for the western United States which includes the Lone Star State. “The Pineywoods Chapter has been a trend setter and bar raiser for the many local NWTF chapters in the state in the country even,” said Roberts. “They were the first chapter to raise $1 million for conservation. They were the first to recruit 100 NWTF sponsor members at a single fund-raising banquet. They are a model chapter that stays involved year-round, hosting outdoors events for women, children and people with disabilities. They also participate in the NWTF’s Turkey Hunters Care program, providing frozen turkeys to area needy families around the holidays.” Most of the chapter’s involvement was initiated under the leadership of Dale, and when he married Kitty 15 years ago, she couldn’t help but get involved. Dale serves as president of the Pineywoods Chapter and led the Texas State NWTF Chapter as President for eight years. During his tenure, he and Kitty attended an information workshop on the NWTF’s Women in the Outdoors program, which introduces women ages 14 and older to various outside activities. Kitty organized the first Women in the Outdoors event in Texas and coordinated it for four years before handing off the torch. The event is still going strong. PHOTO COURTESY OF NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION, INC.

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OUTDOORS /// CONTINUED Dale serves as president of the Pineywoods Chapter and led the Texas State NWTF Chapter as President for eight years. During his tenure, he and Kitty attended an information workshop on the NWTF’s Women in the Outdoors program, which introduces women ages 14 and older to various outside activities. Kitty organized the first Women in the Outdoors event in Texas and coordinated it for four years before handing off the torch. The event is still going strong. But the passion that drives Pineywoods Chapter volunteers and Dale is wild turkey conservation and preserving our country’s hunting heritage. “I never had the opportunity to hunt wild turkeys until the NWTF brought them to east Texas,” said Dale. “Now I can hunt them in my home county.” According to Dale, hunting turkeys in spring is like a renewal of the spirit something he hoped one day his grandchildren would experience. “That came to pass sooner than I expected,” he said. “I have seen with my own eyes the return of the Eastern wild turkey to Texas. Because of the NWTF, I have been a part of this conservation success story. And now I’m being honored for taking part in something that has meant so much to me already.” Dale continues to serve Texas on its state board and is the editor of the state’s NWTF newsletter with help and support from Kitty. “Dale told me when I first became involved in the NWTF, ‘I will never have enough money to make a difference in conservation, but I will commit the time. Money can be replaced, but time is a precious thing to give up. You can never get time back,’” said Roberts. “The NWTF would not be the success it is today without the efforts of this man. He’s an inspiration and a model of grassroots conservation.” For his time, and that of his biggest supporter, Kitty, the NWTF gives its thanks.

Pineywoods Chapter Dominates Texas NWTF Awards Event

By Dale and Kitty Bounds The Pineywoods Chapter dominated the State NWTF Chapter Banquet Awards for the 2011 year. Due to the support, dedication and hard work of our local chapter members, our awards were plentiful. These awards were based on our August 20, 2010 event which grossed $87,000.00 but this year’s event held on August 21, 2011, raised $135,000.00 dollars for conservation. Most of you may not realize how much of the money we raise comes back to Texas to support our mission and conservation projects that protect our lands and the wildlife on them. But, it is one of the greatest accomplishments of our organization. At the State event, Aubrey Luce, Pinewoods Hunting Heritage Banquet Chairman, received the “Volunteer of the Year” award for the Eastern Region of Texas for his outstanding service to the Pineywoods Chapter and for his commitment in making the last two years more successful than ever. Our chapter has achieved the “Million Dollar Chapter” level for contributing monies to improving wildlife habitat. Our contribution to improving wildlife resources, improving habitat and working to preserve our hunting heritage helps not only turkeys but all other wildlife species in Texas. Texas is a great State and being part of the Pineywoods Chapter we work to stay vigilant because we see the results of our work all over Texas. By taking care of our land, we commit to conservation and to preserving the hunting heritage we so greatly enjoy. I am proud to say that the Pineywoods Chapter is engaged and fighting to pass the hunting tradition on to future generations and we need your help. NWTF Mission: HUNT,CONSERVE,SHARE….

Pinewoods Chapter 2011, State Awards:

Net Income, 1st Place Gross Income, 2nd Place - $87,000.00 (2010) Net to Gross, 2nd Place Best Overall in Texas, 2nd Place Best Wheelin’ Sportsman Event, 1st Place Best JAKES Event, 3rd Place Best WITO Event, 3rd Place Aubrey Luce, Volunteer of the Year/Eastern TX Region Dale Bounds, Texas Volunteer of the Year PHOTO COURTESY OF NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION, INC. 12 | EAST - March 2012

TODD KASSAW & CODIE JENKINS /// THE FAIR

Leading the Fair

ver eleven hundred youth participated in the 63rd annual Angelina County Youth Fair that took place February 13-17 at the George H. Henderson Expo Center. This exciting event is able to come to fruition only because of the many volunteers that make it possible. The yearlong project of the youth is what it is all about. The excitement of each one deciding on what they will raise for next year’s youth fair. All that anticipation and hard work is why and how there are so many volunteers who put in the hours of work and mentorship with the youth. But then again, the fair would not be a fair, if the business community did not turn out to open their checkbooks and support the youth. It is a win/win all around. Judge Wilson and Todd Kassaw have been long known as the face of the Angelina County Youth Fair. Judge Wilson chaired the event for many, many years. In 1991 Todd Kassaw got involved and began to

volunteer. That year he was the Steer Superintendent. A few years into Todd Kassaw volunteering with the program, Judge Wilson stepped down as chair. In 1994-95, Todd Kassaw became the chair and held that position until this past year. That is when long time committee volunteer, Codie Jenkins, took the chairman reins. Codie has been a volunteer since 2000, helping work the gates at the steer show. Regardless of who you talk to, the response is unanimous. People come out to help because, “It is such a worthwhile cause.” Since 1991, Todd Kassaw has seen the program run for over twenty years. “Not a lot has changed with the actual event. It is a lot bigger now. There are more events and more shows.” But the one thing that always gets the volunteers excited is the sale. “For sure the sale is larger now. The sales were always well attended and always drew an impressive number, even back then. The support from the community has grown and so have the dollars.” eastmensmagazine.com | 13

THE FAIR /// CONTINUED 2012 VOLUNTEERS Allen Riddle Horse Superintendent Andy Gardner Broiler Superintendent

This year’s event brought in a record breaking amount of $313,000. Kassaw says, “It is important for the community to know you do not have to have a farm or animals to be a buyer. If you bid on an animal, you do not have to load it on a trailer and take it home. Anyone can buy a goat, steer, lamb—whatever is up for auction. There is a resale buyer with a trailer that will purchase the animal from you and they will take it home.” This year, Kassaw passed the chairman position to Codie Jenkins. “My wife and I grew up showing animals. So this is something we both have a passion for.” Just like everything else in the economy, Jenkins says one thing that has changed for the program is the rising cost for projects. “It is more expensive to raise and feed the animals or to make a wood project and buy all the lumber and materials. The good news is that the sale has grown at the same time.” Kassaw agrees, “Chickens were historically the cheapest animals to raise. This year the cost was $18 per pound for chicken feed.” Both Kassaw and Jenkins are blown away at the amount that is given to by the community at the sale. “The hard work is so rewarding for the kids. If the volunteers can create and continue a love and appreciation for agriculture in these kids and keep them involved, then that is the reward,” states Jenkins. Currently the committee is working on a long range plan to develop the youth fair into a true county fair—carnival, music, and BBQ. The bigger event would only mean more money brought in, which would mean more money for the youth of Angelina County. Polk Oil has been a key sponsor and key buyer for many years. “It is partnerships like these that enable the committee to give scholarships. This year an anonymous committee were able to chose eleven seniors to receive scholarships,” said Kassaw and Jenkins. With numbers like 1,100 and $313,000 it goes without saying this program is worthwhile. It is by far teaching life lessons to the youth, and the community wants to give back for their hard work. There is always room for more volunteers,

Anita Caraway 4-H Rep Cary Sims Public Relation Contact Christie King 4-H Rep Codie Jenkins ACYF Chairman Craig Smith Zavalla School Rep Curt Havard 4-H Rep David Berry Ag Mech Superintendent George Wing Hog Superintendent James Young Rabbit Superintendent Jerry Perritte Huntington School Rep Josh Lowe Steer Superintendent Justin Risner Central School Rep Kevin Swor Diboll School Rep Kody Jenkins ACYF Secretary Lisa Ford 4-H Rep Melissa Wheeler Chamber Rep Mike Whiteman Goat Superintendent Peggy Albritton FCS Superintendent Jennifer Cumbie FCS Superintendent Perry Fenley Hudson School Rep Ryan Merrel 4-H Rep Sarah Vier 4-H Rep Saundra Renfro Beef & Commercial Heifer Superintendent Sophie Havard Arts & Crafts Superintendent Stephen Peikert Central School Rep Stephen Shockley Lamb Superintendent Steve Garner Lufkin School Rep Ted Eddins Hudson School Rep Todd Kassaw Fair Board Chairman

14 | EAST - March 2012

JONATHAN FLETCHER /// SPORTS

jonathanfletcher

onathan Fletcher is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin. Growing up, he always enjoyed athletics of all types. “I loved to play any sport growing up. Baseball and Basketball were my main two sports. I loved playing them as soon as I started playing them at 4 or 5 years old. When I got to high school, I was forced to choose one sport, so I choose baseball.” After graduating from Lufkin High School, he on to UT and still loved the game of baseball. Not long after being there, he found out about Texas club baseball. “It was always a dream of mine to take baseball as far as I could.” He missed the tryouts his freshman year, so he joined the team his junior and senior year. According to the University of Texas at Austin’s, The Daily Texan, “Club baseball is different than the NCAA sanctioned baseball team. For starters, the NCAA does not endorse it. Club players don’t play in the same conference, and they don’t play for a scholarship. This is purely played for fun, but there is still an extremely high level of competition played on the club baseball diamond. Senior center fielder Jonathan Fletcher, who had a scorching hot fall season at the plate hitting an eye-popping .467, can attest.” The NCAA are the teams that most people follow and know about, but a lot of people aren’t familiar with club teams. Fletcher explains,

“The club team is an actual league (NCBA), and we play teams from all over the country. There are currently 220 D1 and D2 club baseball teams from all over the nation. The way it is set up is very similar to the way they play at the D1 NCAA level. At UT, we play in a 4 team conference with Texas A&M, University of Texas at San Antonio and San Antonio College. We play each team 6 times (two 3 game series each). If we win our conference, we will play in the regional tournament: a 4 team tournament along with the 3 other conference winners in our region.(teams like Texas Tech, Baylor, and TCU are in these other conferences). If we win the 4 team regional tournament, we make it to the World Series, along with 7 other teams (8 total). These teams are the winners from each region. If we win the World Series, we win it all” Jonathan Fletcher’s final season began the last weekend of February. They took two of the three games from UTSA. The final scheduled games will be the last weekend of April. Fletcher says that what he loves most about the game is how it teaches you to overcome adversity. “With the best players only succeeding 3 or 4 times out of 10, it really makes you very mentally tough. They say the game is 90% mental, and I have to agree. If you are not mentally tough, you probably won’t be a very good player.” For more information on Club Baseball visit, www.clubbaseball.org.

Jonathan Fletcher University of Texas In 2 games, Jonathan was 4 -9, with a 3B, a HR , 7 RBI, had 5 runs scored, and 5 SB for a n incredible weekend against non conference foe UTSA. eastmensmagazine.com | 15

FAMILY /// MAN OF THE HOUSE

on parenting

here’s been plenty of times, especially the last eight to ten years or so, that I’ve felt old, but none more so than when my oldest daughter turned thirteen this past fall. For me, turning thirty-six and being on the back side of my thirties seems like nothing now. Turning 40 wasn’t bad, even turning 41 and being “in” my 40s wasn’t so bad. It didn’t even bother me when I turned 45 last year. However, becoming the father of a teenager is not so easy. The thought of it makes me feel old, but not as old as I feel when actually dealing with a teenager in the house. It’s not easy. It wasn’t always easy when she was 11 or 12, especially with the homework, which I can’t remember how to do. It wasn’t the birthday, it was a couple days after when three of her friends were over for the night, but not before they all went to see that vampire movie (Twilight: Breaking Dawn) everyone was so crazy about. Especially females. even almost middleaged females, well, at least the one I live with.

I’m sure she hears what we say, and I hope that she listens to our advice. There have already been times that she’s said, “I know what’s best for me.” Then I go off on a rant about how she doesn’t. They usually last a while, and somewhere in the middle of them it hits me that I sure do sound a lot like my parents. At least at this stage of my life, I realize my parents knew a lot and I know that I’m trying to do my best, just like they were. I’m sure they felt like they were beating their heads against the wall at times. I know I do. But no matter how difficult parenting is, I keep at it. A parent is not something I’m going to ever quit being. I have to keep taking care of these two girls, keep giving them the best advice I can and love them through it all, even when their attitudes aren’t very lovable. And really, that’s all I know to do. Love them. It may not be the best parenting in the world, but I’ll do the best I can. And I owe it to my two beautiful girls to do my best.

My wife, Donna, took my daughter and her friends to eat at Buffalo Wild Wings first, and from what I heard about that, I’m glad I missed out on that part, too. Apparently, the boyfriend of one of the seventh-grade girls was at BWW at the same time, but he didn’t come over and talk to his girlfriend, or my daughter and the other girls. Probably too shy, but it seems like a smart move since he was outnumbered. His mom did come over to find out which one was his girlfriend and most likely thought my wife was the girlfriends’ mom. According to my wife, the girls’ conversation at dinner centered on feminine issues, what each of them weighs, and boys. I’m glad I missed out on that, and was just fine in getting the synopsis of the evening. I was skeptical of my oldest daughter going to Lufkin Middle School and being part of what everyone tells me is the largest middle school in the state, at least numbers-wise. But, other than issues with grades, the rest of the middle school drama has not been too bad. At least not that we know about. I’m fairly blunt with her and run through the same list of rules with her nearly every morning before dropping her off. It’s usually, “Don’t do drugs, don’t smoke, don’t drink alcohol, don’t touch any boys with any part of your body, don’t let any boys touch you with any part of their body, be nice to people, don’t be a mean girl, do the right things.”It’s pretty easy all summed up. Pretty easy to say anyway. 16 | EAST - March 2012

Edwin Quarles is a teacher/coach at Pineywoods Community Academy. He has two daughters, ages 9 and 13, and has been married to his wife, Donna, for 15 years.

BRANDON BELT /// NEXT LEVEL

brandon

belt

n an East interview two years ago, Brandon Belt was heading into spring training with hopes to one day make it to the big leagues. Today, he’s looking to solidify himself as a top star with the San Francisco Giants. The former Hudson Hornet hit the fast track to the big leagues, reaching the top minor league club by the end of the 2010 season. In 2011, he made the Giants’ opening day roster, a very impressive feat for a player just one year removed from college ball. The 2011 season definitely wasn’t a fairytale story for Belt. He had his ups and downs. However, it provided plenty of moments that many major leaguers would love to have. Only 15 major leaguers have hit a home run into McCovey Cove at AT&T Park. Belt is the latest. A quick Google search shows only one major leaguer has had a giraffe named after him. That’s Belt. “It was an up and down year,” Belt said in a phone interview in January. “It was really exciting and a great time. Certainly things didn’t go right for me. I didn’t play well at certain times. But it was really exciting.” Belt surprised most experts in 2011 when he made the opening day roster by basically forcing the issue, hitting three home runs and driving in 13 runs. The

HBO show, “The Franchise,” documented Belt’s overwhelming reaction when Manager, Bruce Bochy, told Belt he had made the team. In his first at-bat, he legged out an infield single. He hit his first major-league homer a couple days later, and the Giants’

faithful were excited about the rookie. In April, Belt was still producing good at-bats and pleasing the coaches, but was forced back down to the minors to make room on the roster for a player returning from injury.

eastmensmagazine.com | 17

NEXT LEVEL /// CONTINUED “I tell people that in the beginning and the end of the year, I didn’t play well,” Belt said.

“I figured it would take forever, but I was able to do it my first year, and that was really cool,” Belt said.

He did play well in the middle. Belt was recalled to the majors shortly after and

Now Belt is looking forward to spring training, and in the Giants organization,

“I know what I’m capable of doing. Now I just have to go out there, do it and fight for another spot.” put together some good stats. He was hit by a pitch in June and suffered a hairline fracture in his hand. The injury turned into another stroke of bad luck. Belt ended up being brought to the main roster four times in 2011. It was in the last stint where he earned a new nickname. Giants’ announcer, Duane Kuiper, compared Belt to a baby giraffe, saying he was tall and awkward. Soon, Giants fans took to the new moniker, and Belt is now commonly known as “Baby Giraffe.” “I’ve been called different animals all my life,” Belt said. “But this one caught on and it was pretty cool.” So cool that when Six Flags Marine World’s mother giraffe gave birth, they decided to name it “Brandon” after Belt. “That was one of the coolest experiences ever,” Belt said. “I got to go there and actually meet the giraffe and it was really awesome.” On August 14, Belt made headlines again, when a monstrous home run hit McCovey Cove, the bay water behind the home run deck in San Francisco. AT&T Park has a counter for every “splash hit” that makes the cove, and now Belt is part of that history.

18 | EAST - March 2012

it doesn’t matter how many splash hits or animal namesakes he has. “They don’t say much about where I’ll be,” Belt said. “So I know I have to go in there and force the issue. I know what I’m capable of doing, so now I just have to go there and do it, and hopefully I can fight for another spot.” Belt picked up some more seasoning in the offseason when the Giants had him play a six-week season in the Dominican Republic. At first he wasn’t so sure about it, but is now thankful for the experience. “I was pretty nervous about it,” he said. “But the fans were great and I was able to fix some things that needed to be worked on.” Many players see the majors as a big chance to move to the big city. Not Belt, who still calls Lufkin his home. “I love calling this place home,” he said. “The baseball season is so busy every day. It really is. I just want to relax. Being in the big city is a fast-paced life and I just love coming back to East Texas and to the slower-paced life.”

BY JEFF AWTREY

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATY FARRELL

livestock

Andrew Polk Grand Champion Steer 4-H Horse Club

Shelby Martin Grand Champion Market Lamb Blue Ribbon 4-H

Colton Boles Reserve Champion Steer Central FFA

Cade Milligan Reserve Champion Market Lamb 4-H Horse Club

Matt Wigley Reserve Champion Pen of Broilers Livestock 4-H

Aaron Loggins Grand Champion Hog Hungtington 4-H

Kaydi Havard Grand Champion Market Goat Diboll 4-H

Melissa James Reserve Champion Market Goat Livestock 4-H

Hunter Linton Grand Champion Pen of Commercial Heifers Diboll 4-H

Preston Loggins Reserve Champion Hog Hungtington 4-H

Cheyenne Swor Grand Champion Pen of Broilers Diboll FFA

Mikayla Young Reserve Champion Pen of Market Rabbits Blue Ribbon 4-H Trace Lucas Grand Champion Pen of Market Rabbits Blue Ribbon 4-H

home economics

Mason Snelson First Place Junior; Dessert Central 4-H

Rachel Albritton First Place Senior; Desserts Huntington FFA

Margaret Harris First Place Pre-Junior; Cheesecake 4-H Horse Club

Sara Kate Harris First Place Junior; Cheesecake 4-H Horse Club

Karli Richardson First Place Senior; Cheesecake 4-H Horse Club

YOUTH FAIR /// AWARDS home economics continued

Amber Kirkland First Place Pre-Junior; Pies Huntington Middle FCCLA

Camille Cumbie First Place Junior; Pies 4-H Horse Club

Bridget Chandler First Place Senior; Pies Diboll FFA

Kendall Jackson First Place Pre-Junior; Cookies 4-H Horse Club

Emma Cherry First Place Junior; Cookies Zavalla 4-H

Chandler Merrell First Place Senior; Cookies Hudson FCCLA

Mekayla Dover First Place Pre-Junior; Bar Cookie Diboll 4-H

Caroline Deaton First Place Junior Bar; Cookie 4-H Horse Club

Kobie Johnson First Place Pre-Junior; Frosted Cakes Huntington Middle FCCLA

Jeffrey Dover First Place Junior; Frosted Cakes Diboll 4-H

Lauren Lindsay First Place Senior; Frosted Cakes Central FFA

Kyler Duren First Place Pre-Junior; Glaze Cake Blue Ribbon 4-H

Jadyn Holt First Place Junior; Glaze Cake Blue Ribbon 4-H

Benjamin Penn First Place Pre-Junior; Quick Bread Blue Ribbon 4-H

Laura Long First Place Junior; Quick Breads Blue Ribbon 4-H

Kimberlin Arnold First Place Pre-Junior; Yeast Bread 4-H Horse Club

Kara Piekert First Place Junior; Yeast Breads Blue Ribbon 4-H

Kari Rosser First Place Senior; Yeast Breads Hudson FFA

eastmensmagazine.com | 21

AWARDS /// CONTINUED

arts & crafts

Colby Payne Pre-Junior Best of Show Woodworking Blue Ribbon 4-H

Grace Grandgeorge Senior Best of Show Woodworking 4-H Horse Club

Emily Hamilton Pre-Junior Best of Show Other Huntington All-Around 4-H

Hannah Grandgeorge Junior Best of Show Other 4-H Horse Club

Kevin Hutto Senior Best of Show Other Hudson FFA

Adriana Guy Pre-Junior Best of Show Fine Arts Lone Star 4-H

Ramsey Campell Junior Best of Show Fine Arts Livestock 4-H

Alaira Smoczky Senior Best of Show Fine Arts Lufkin Art Club

Cade Lankford Pre-Junior Best of Show Photography Blue Ribbon 4-H

Laura Long Junior Best of Show Photography Blue Ribbon 4-H

Cooper Thornton Pre-Junior Best of Show Wood/Metal Combo Blue Ribbon 4-H

Ethan Thornton Junior Best of Show Wood/Metal Combo Blue Ribbon 4-H

Karli Richardson Senior Best of Show Wood/Metal Combo 4-H Horse Club

Rhett Parmer Junior Best of Show Metal Central FFA

Callie Jo Davis Senior Best of Show Metal Hudson FFA

not pictured Cheyenne Swor: Reserve Champion Pen of Commercial Heifers, Diboll FFA Danesha Hardiman: First Place: Senior, Bar Cookies, Lufkin FCCLA Saushia Lewis: First Place: Senior, With or Without Glaze Cakes, Lufkin FCCLA Erin Moore: First Place: Senior, Quick Breads, Hudson FCCLA Royce Wilsie: Junior Best of Show, Woodworking, Diboll FFA Alex Dupre: Senior Best of Show, Photography, Lufkin Art Club Weston Reynolds: Pre-Junior Best of Show, Metal, Huntington All-around 4-H

22 | EAST - March 2012

TROPHY HUNTS /// TROPHY ROOM

Garrett Ivin & his 7th gator.

Wade & Rayce Stephens. Missouri. 11/2011. The deer scored 270 bnc and was a 42 point buck.

Garrett Ivin, Troy, & Chance Shumway.

Russell Reid . First Deer.

Bill Tolar. 11/22/2011. Brackettville, TX.

Cooper Hatcher. First doe. Thanksgiving morning, 2011.

Lucy Gabriel, 12 yrs old. Coyote was killed in Overton, TX at the family farm.

Jack Woodford, Chance Shumway, Garrett Ivins, & Tory Woodford

Clayton Corley, age 13. 9 pt. 11-23-11

Tommy Fenley pictured with Gary and Doug Foster at the Foster Ranch in Hudson T on Sept 29, 2011. Axis doe.

Cole Corley, age 6. First duck.

eastmensmagazine.com | 23

Saturday, May 19th 2nd Annual George H. Henderson Jr. Expo Center - Lufkin

Live Music From

Special Thanks To Our Local Sponsors

Robert Earl Keen Dave Fenley & the Good Deal and more!

Plus Backyard Barbeque Cook-Off Sign your team up today!

Buy tickets at any area Brookshire Brothers, OuthouseTickets.com or the Lufkin CVB.

Tickets Just $15

lufkindailynews.com

Volunteers needed!

For more info, visit EastTexasSummerfest.com or call 936-633-0349