Reflecting on 20 Years of Dedication to Youth Hunters

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By Marlana Smith

  It all started when Rodney Carr was a young boy. His father brought him hunting in this area because it reminded his father of Kentucky, which is where the family was from.

  “I remember, when we came rabbit hunting in the winter, I was always invited into a house. People were so nice. It had such an impact on me as a young boy that as I grew older and started hunting in the area. I just enjoyed being around the people,” said Carr.

  For the last 20 years, Carr has dedicated his time to the Bethel Colony Youth Hunt Big Buck Contest.

  In the late 80s, deer hunting became a sport Carr took up. He had never deer hunted before. It was always just rabbits and squirrels.

  It all started when a bunch of hunters congregated at the Fest Hall. A contest was started as adults put in $10 and whoever got the biggest buck would get the pot.

  A couple years later, the Missouri Department of Conservation introduced youth hunting.

  “It just dawned on me. This is a way for me to give back,” said Carr.

  Carr spoke with Dee Douglas at the Fest Hall and told her he would like to do something. He wanted to create a Youth Big Buck Contest because the youth were more enthusiastic than the adults.

  “Had it not been for Dee, I could not have done this,” said Carr.

  The first youth contest only had eight entries but continued to grow.

  At the beginning Carr provided everything. After a couple of years, more kids entered, and he started looking for help.

  The late Rusty Gander was very instrumental when the Youth Hunt Contest began. He helped Carr with the contest. He used to have a gun store which goes in line with the hunt. The trophy is named after him ‘Rusty Gander Marksmanship Award.’

  “If anybody needs to be mentioned, Rusty does. He helped in the infancy. He was one of the first ones,” Carr expressed.

  At the beginning, Casey’s General Store sponsored several prizes. Carr then started reaching out to the local merchants, who were very receptive.

  After a while, Carr had enough sponsors and could provide more prizes and had a party for the youth hunters.

  Carr wants to thank his sponsors: Melinda Peacock, Subway, Shelbina; Wes Meeker, Tractor Supply, Shelbina; Alicia Glover, D-Lishs Looks Salon, Shelbina; Merle Miles, Jerry Eber, Judy Mesmer, Clay Lockhard, Whitetail Properties Real Estate; Vince and Zelda at Hobbie Hut Live Bait and Tackle, Perry, Mo.; Danny Kinzle, SCM, Shelbina; Rusty Hammond, Salt River Outdoors, Shelbina; Randy Perrigo, Gone Fishing, Lakenan; Debbie Gibbons, Exchange Bank, Shelbyville; Anthony Peoples, Peoples Land Company, and Jeff Thrasher, Thrasher Tax Service and Michael Kinzle.

  The late Larry Thrasher was one of the very first ones that was a big boost.

  The contest got bigger and bigger. The most entries was 51. It fluctuates between 25-30 because there is an age limit. Some kids age out and some age in.

  Carr noticed once a child would begin, they would continue until they were too old.

  “They were always worried I wasn’t going to do it, but I always had enough energy and funds to continue,” said Carr.

  When the contest began only the first-place winner would get prizes, but in 2008, Carr started giving first, second and third place winners prizes and then everyone who participated received a prize.

  The very first rifle was donated by the Gander Family, Rusty, Thalia and Rusty’s mother, Maxine, in honor of the trophy being named after Rusty.

  Carr has purchased a rifle each year after. It was never about earning money for Carr. He just enjoyed the kids’ smiles.

  “I think the reason I have been successful is because there has been no profit taking,” said Carr.

  Carr reminisced on something that was warm to his heart.

  “At the end of the contest, I always send out letters, with a colony letterhead and a picture of the winner. One of the parents came up to me and thanked me for what I was doing. She said you are never going to believe this, but that was the first time my son had gotten a letter in the mail. He grabbed that letter and went into his room and read it,” Carr explained.

“That to me, was one of the WOW moments. Something as simple as getting a letter in the mail.”

  Carr does remember when things weren’t always the easiest. He was once accused of keeping prize money from two contestants.

  “I was hurt. I put a lot of money in, why would I take two $10 prizes. What happened was, they put the wrong address, and the money came back to me with a return to sender sticker,” Carr explained. “I brought those two letters to the gentleman who accused me and showed him what had really happened. This was one of the low points, but they were few and far between.”

  When asked about the future of the Big Buck Contest, Carr said, “It might be 20. Which is a good number to stop at. I feel good with the work I have done.

“The Bible says, ‘There is a time and place for everything under the sun,’” said Carr.

  “When I think about it, it fills me up. You weren’t a flash in a pan, I’ve done it since 2003. I have good memories,” Carr expressed. “I have no regrets. I can walk away with a smile on my face because I did it for 20 years.”