Page 148 - Erath

Stephenville. “When it was time to leave,” Colby told me, his voice growing quiet, “each one of those kids walked up to me, one at a time, sometimes in pairs. They asked if they could come back next year.” Lifelong friends made the trip home as one.

The ‘Hunt for the Future’ group formed a non-proft organization and decided to make the hunt an annual event, Next January, the heart of Stephenville will follow some more extraordinary kids three hours south. Good people live in Erath County.

Folks who care pulled together. Colby’s group didn’t ask for donations before the trip. When Stephenville got word about the hunt, many swung into action. Food was donated by Bull Nettle Sports Grill & Bar, Fresco’s Cocina Mexicana, Butler’s Smokehouse, Kennedy Sausage, Dublin Dr. Pepper, and Dr. Bill Evans. Other donations were given by Jay Presti’s Blue Collar Adventures (who flmed that weekend), Discount Wheel and Tire, Stephenville City Electric and Watson Insulation. Seven-Day Storage donated shipping crates used as extra deer stands. Six kids dropped every deer they shot. That was no accident. Don’t be misled, those young men and women weren’t the only ones whose lives were changed forever. The heart of this town is a good one. Stephenville loves its children.  ECL

ABOVE Hunting Team - Front Row (L to R): Conrad Welge, Clarissa, Ashley, Christine, James, Cody, Jayce. Back Row (L to R): Jay Presti, Leigh Ann Taylor, Chris Cox, Court Cole, David, Bragg, Colby Pack, Jason Nitschke, Neal Culpepper, Joel Bulla, Chance Pack, Micah Butler, Cody Kinsey, Ricky Caudle, Shane Freels, Jordan Peterson, Sherry Welge, Tommy Pack, Henry Welge, and R.D. Feemster.