By Laura Evans, Clarion County
I know you have one perspective on Clarion County Youth Field Days as I saw a number of PSP shirts and hats present at the event, and even Kyle running around with a video camera. I wanted to give you a mom’s perspective. Let me explain a little. Our oldest child, Arianna was born with spina bifida and is on record as having one of the highest lesions of a living person (not sure a record that we really wanted to break) Two years ago she was also dealt the hand of being in renal failure and needing a kidney transplant. In April of this year, they attempted a kidney transplant, but due to complications the transplant failed and we wait again.
Waiting To Register
The family with Tim Bradly
In February of this year Arianna turned 14, the oldest you are allowed to participate in Youth Field Days. This would be her last year. She has been participating since she was 6 years old. Youth Field days for Arianna is like Christmas in July (better than Christmas in December!!!) The first year she participated I had concerns. Would they let her, would they ignore her? The entire staff opened their arms and welcomed her at every event. She did not shoot the shotgun her first year since she was to small at less than 30 pounds. She did shoot it her second year, even though she was not much bigger and she hit a stationary clay target! Talk about WOW! Anyway on to this, her last year. When getting her ready for the day I remarked to her: “Remember kiddo it’s your last year make it count!”
Fishing
She started with fishing, but due to mom’s inability to help her set the tiny hook, she was unable to catch a fish (that’s why its called fishing not catching I told her. No matter, it was still my fault!!) On to archery, where she shot a recurve bow while perched on daddy’s lap (her wheel chair does not allow for much twisting) and low and behold she hit the turkey, dead on, WOOOO HOOOO!!! There were cheers all around; I think the loudest coming from the Pro staff from Hoyt and from Tony Tazza, one of the staffers who has formed a great bond with Arianna.
Shooting a bow with Dad
I HIT IT!!!!
Things slowed down as we enjoyed a wonderful trapping demonstration and then on to skeet and the big guns. She shot a .410 and was able to hit one of the stationary targets this year, WOOO HOOO!! (But it hurt and she was not happy, lol) But a hug from Daryl Emings always makes it better. He has helped her with the shot guns at least seven of the nine years she has participated.
Arianna with Daryl Emmings from skeet shooting
On to canoeing: Arianna is an experienced canoer but it is still fun, especially when she knows the AmeriCorps Members that are helping out. She knows they won’t tip over the canoe. Game tasting is one event that Arianna wishes was not there, but she braved through a small bite of elk (She did not like it). We then enjoyed a great presentation from Quaker Boy Turkey calls. At times through out the day you could hear a whole flock of turkeys coming from the dining hall!! We then sat through a very nice presentation from Summit tree stands, we have not yet figured out how to get Arianna into a tree stand, but the wheels are always turning on that.
We next made our way to the .22 shoot, which is one of Arianna’s favorite events because the guns do not kick as hard. She was able to shoot down a mean looking balloon. New this year was the Horton crossbows and the kids were given the opportunity to shoot them. Arianna thought this was the coolest; she loved shooting the crossbow and was able to hit the target on the second try. Do I sense a crossbow under the Christmas tree this year?? Mom and Dad were able to shoot them also and we both thought they were pretty neat! (I must apologize at some point; my pictures will not reflect the events as the camera died, even though it was on the charger all night. I was able to snap some pictures with my cell phone but they are small!)
The Turkey Call from Quaker Boy
Cross bow shooting
After lunch there was another new activity for Youth Field Days. Tim Bradely, Benelli world class exhibition shooter treated all to an amazing exhibition. Arianna was amazed, as were all who watched at this man’s abilities. More amazing to Bill and I was that Tim stayed and signed every single item that was presented to him for an autograph. He stayed at least another hour and half to do this for the kids. We were not able to see the taxidermy presentation given by Clem’s Taxidermy, but Clem always puts on a great show for the kids and even gives them a piece of hide from different animals to keep. We also missed the Game Commission’s fun run, but that is the one activity that Arianna is not really able to participate in as the ground at Camp Coffmen is to uneven to push her wheelchair in a running fashion. (She does have the preference to stay upright in her chair, even though she has tipped it many times!)
Their hats signed by Tim Bradley
As the day wound to an end, we assembled for the door prize giveaway and a much needed rest!!!!(At this point we are all exhausted, but its one of those good exhaustions!!) At about 3:20 I decided to purchase two tickets for the gun drawing being held at 3:30, I put Arianna’s name on one and Tanner’s name on the other (Tanner is our second child, 11 years old, more to come as he matures into Youth Field Days). I never put my name on these tickets as I am not the luckiest person in the world! There were ten guns to be raffled off and wouldn’t you know it #8 A Savage Stevens 200 7mm-08 bolt action rifle----Arianna Evans, this kid has all the luck, she has won more guns than her daddy and owns more then her mom and may even own more than her dad! I was glad I was sitting near the front so no one could see tears in my eyes as the crowd clapped for her, it was not a clap because she won a gun, it was a clap for her. (Need I say, everyone knows Arianna!!!!?) The prize ceremony wound down with Tanner winning a nice compound bow and Arianna winning a nice turkey call presented by Quaker boy. A chapter closes for Arianna as this young lady (I type young lady my heart says my little girl) moves from participant to volunteer and share her excitement for Youth Field Days with others.
Arianna with Tony Tazza from Hoyt
Waiting for group assingment
Arianna and Tanner with their prizes
Thanks for the great story and photos Laura. You can send us your hunting or fishing story and if we use it on our web site we will send you a Pennsylvania Sportsmen Portal T-Shirt. The Pennsylvania Sportsmen Portal is all about folks who hunt and fish in PA and we love to feature our site visitors. Only criteria is, you must be a Pennsylvania resident. Stories can be from out of state adventures also, but we are really looking for stories that feature hunting and fishing in PA. Click Here For More Information.
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