'Kids Hooked On The Outdoors', September 8th, 2009

The Chipley Kiwanis Club featured a special presentation of "Kids Hooked On the Outdoors." This TV series showcases hunting, fishing and outdoor sports and activities that can be enjoyed by families while emphasizing safety. sportsmanship and gaining an appreciation for our natural resources. "Kids Hooked On The Outdoors" producer Mike Murphy has said "Washington County provides a great environment for OUI features."

Bill Howell and Gary Clark of the 4-H club gave a talk on the rewards of teaching and working with local youth and the many opportunities we have locally to enjoy our great outdoors all year long.

Howell and Clark praised the Senior and intermediate Sure Shots Team who brought home an impressive stack of
championship titles from the 4-H State Shotgun March held in March. Nearly 200 youth in Washington County and surrounding areas are enrolled in this dynamic youth organization.

For information on how to join, contact Julie Pigott Dillard, 4-J-l Youth Development Agent: 1424 Jackson Ave. Suite A Chipley, FL.  32428. 850-638-6180 or juliepd@uf1.edu. Online users may also enroll at httns:llflorida.4honline.com.

The Hard Labor Creek Plantation in Washington County offers quail hunting with trained dogs including English pointers, black & white pointers, English setters, German shorthairs and one very game yellow lab. Some 33 local 4-H youth, both boys and girls, have learned gun safety while enjoying both skeet and trap shooting supervised by 4·H Leaders.

Kiwanians enjoyed watching man's best friend, two at a time flush the birds into flight and the ensuing crack shots of the young sharpshooters, followed by a prompt fetch and delivery of game ready for the kitchen.

Along with trail riding facilities, Hard Labor Creek Plantation offers scenic pinewoods suitable for quail and deer hunting and bass fishing with an 85 acre freshwater lake and lodge facilities. Hard Labor Creek Shooting Sports 2 t31 Clayton Road Chipley, Fl. 32428. Shooting Range 850·557-1329.

The El Rancho Hunting Preserve, also in Washington County, offers Florida's only mallard duck hunting preserve with at times over 10,000 in stock. Kiwanians watched as area youth with a sweeping motion and careful aim brought many mallards earthbound into the watery clutches of the yellow lab. Happiness and joy were evident on the faces of these children, who later would enjoy their duck with all the trimmings in the lodge.

The El Rancho Hunting and Fishing Preserve offers 1,956 acres, an onsite clubhouse, with lodging, meals, shoots, blinds, boat, birds and dogs. There are at times over 100 mallards in the air and you can shoot from over a mile of shoreline or blinds on the lake. El Rancho today remains as the only licensed duck hunting preserve in the state of Florida and the only one that will ever be allowed.

El Rancho Hunting and Fishing Preserve, 2121 Coon Hollow Trail,  Chipley, FL 32428. 850-638-9075. www.elranchohunting.info

Kim Wilson, former chairman of the general advisory council for the Washington-Holmes Technical Center received a plaque of appreciation for her service from Bill Howell and Tommy Smith, director of the school.