From My Farmhouse Kitchen

Hunting has been one of His parents, brothers and had to go hunting with his father. Ron asking permission to hunt! those traditions usually passed down from one generation to the next. In earlier days, it was a necessity for families to stay alive. Even as recent as the 1930’s, the squirrels and rabbits young boys hunted provided a portion of the protein needed for healthy living. It was not only for the meat, but also the extra income a tanned hide would bring — especially during the lean years of the 1930’s. A person really can’t call it extra money as there was no such thing as extra money during the Depression. The demand for furs sisters quickly dove into action with one goal: to capture the skunks in any way possible. The only strategy they had? “If you can get them picked up by the tail, they wouldn’t spray you.” As each skunk was captured it was shoved into a cream can. Since I am told that bathing in tomato juice wasn’t an option because of the expense, the family must have gone into isolation until the smell wore off. The smell in the cream cans was still there some 40 years later. It became stronger each time it rained. After a few expeditions, it was he who was strongly urging his father to go hunting — whether there was time or not in his father’s schedule. It was a good way to spend time together. Eventually, the sport of hunting also became something he pursued for its own sake. There is the allure of conquest that is appealing. The senses of sight and hearing are heightened to full alert as the challenge to catch one’s prey is great. The brain is stimulated to outsmart the quarry that has the one goal of staying alive. One misstep, a sudden move, a sneeze at the wrong time, could send a wary animal fleeing. As his father did, Ron took the time to teach his children and grandchildren the fundamentals of hunting. There is a certain bonding which takes place sitting around the campHunting in our little corner of the world may not be as challenging — because we have only to look out the kitchen window to see the wildlife. The distinct call of the pheasant tries to tell us this is his territory. There are plenty of deer that cause damage to my trees each year. The raccoons in the area gave my farmer’s corn field a five-star positive rating this year! Now if only that would translate to a bonus in price at the elevator for the tastiest corn. But if he came here to hunt, Ron would have to leave his home in western Wyoming — which in my mind has to be a hunter’s paradise. He’ll admit the bighorn sheep hunts there have been his most challenging and amongst the rarest he has been privileged to do. provided opportunities for young people to do something to help their families out during any difficult time. One such enterprising young man was my farmer’s uncle Jack Roghair. Perhaps that is why neither my farmer’s parents or mine ever taught us to hunt or fish. Our mothers didn’t want to can enough of the acceptable remedy of tomato juice if we had fire in the great outdoors. Other times, Ron appreciates the solitude of hunting alone. The crisp, cool air of a late autumn day is invigorating. God’s creation is a wonderful place to explore. It’s a sanctuary of God’s own making where worshiping one’s maker comes easily. Sometimes I wish our parents had taken the time to teach us to hunt and fish. Apparently, hunting skills are only one generation away from becoming extinct as my children also do not know how to hunt. The same seems to hold true for going to church. Many people do not enter a He somehow managed to catch enough wild skunks (yes, that mangy ole’ polecat) to raise in captivity. The price for the fur in the 1930’s was quite substantial. Many high society people never knew their highly-prized American sable or Alaskan sable was actually made from skunk fur. It was a well-kept secret for many years. Uncle Jack kept the skunks in a pickup bed. He wanted to sell the pelts in the fall when their fur coats would be in prime condition. His endeavor went well … until the inevitable happened one peaceful morning. misjudged the skunk. More than likely they felt our hands and back were more suitable for a pitchfork. Nevertheless, it’s one of the many skills which didn’t get passed down to us. Many of my farmer husband’s relatives still do hunt and fish for food and pleasure. His cousin, Ron Roghair, is one of them. It was his father, Ted, (who probably had assisted in the great skunk roundup) who taught him to hunt. When Ron was just a young boy growing up in Arizona, he was told he Many hunters have a bucket list of animals and places to hunt. Ron is no different, as he plans to hunt in all 50 states. He’s hunted some exotics in Texas — some that I have never heard of: the aoudad, axis deer and blackbuck. (My computer didn’t even try to autocorrect aoudad. Once again proving the computer is smarter than me.) Perhaps Iowa is one of the 24 states Ron hasn’t been to yet on his quest. One just never knows if some morning, when my farmer answers the knock at the door, it will be Cousin church door because it is not their custom. Who would have wanted to be the generation that set that example? Things can be reversed. The great outdoors is calling me to learn to hunt for many reasons. Church bells are inviting you to come and worship because who wouldn’t want their children to learn the things of God in every way possible? Renae B. Vander Schaaf is an independent writer, author and speaker. Contact her at (605) 530-0017 or agripen@live.com. v His parents were probably enjoying one more cup of coffee before the day’s work began. Their daughters were the first one to go outside that morning. They had barely closed the house door before the parents heard them screaming, “Shunks! Skunks! Skunks everywhere.”

Now my morning breakfast has often gotten cold because the cows were out, but thankfully my brothers never raised skunks.

Of course, the great escape had to happen when Uncle Jack, the famed skunk whisperer, just happened to be away from home.

FROM MY FARMHOUSE KITCHEN

By Renae B. Vander Schaaf Funds available to update livestock operations Minnesota livestock farmers and ments, and acquisition of facilities used Applicants must use the MDA’s online ranchers seeking to improve their oper- to start, improve, or expand livestock application portal (https://www.granation are encouraged to apply for the operations in the state of Minnesota. tinterface.com/Home/ Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation Livestock Investment Grant program. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture anticipates awarding approximately $1.3 million using a competitive review process. Applicants may apply for up to 10 percent of their project’s total expense, with a minimum expense of $4,000 and a maximum expense of $250,000. Grant awards can range in size from $400 to $25,000. Only expenses incurred after Logon?urlkey=statemn ) to apply for the grant. More information about the grant can be found at https://www.mda.state. mn.us/business-dev-loans-grants/agrilivestock-investment-grant. Applications for the grant will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Nov. 15. Grant funds are available for equipment purchases, physical improvethe grant contract has been signed by all parties are eligible for reimbursement. The MDA expects to have contracts to grantees by early 2023. This article was submitted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.v