Curt Arens / Farm to Family Connection Radio Program, KKYA 93.1 FM, Yankton, South Dakota / November 2004
Written and narrated by Crofton, Nebraska, farmer Curt Arens, November featured families on Farm to Family Connection Radio include:
Kaylor Locker, Kaylor, SD, where they make superb chislic and other specialty products from locally raised meat; Swanson Hunting Acres at Niobrara, NE, for hunters interested in hunting upland game and enjoying the hospitality of the upper Niobrara River valley; KSK Elk and Buffalo Hunting, also at Niobrara, NE, for hunters wishing to lodge at a local farm and set their sights on bigger game; and Dan Hoppe's T.H.E. Tree Farm near Bloomfield, NE, where Dan and his family have sold fresh Christmas trees and wreaths for several years.
Farm to Family Connection airs Thursday mornings at 7:45 on KKYA, 93.1 FM Radio in Yankton, SD. KKYA reaches listeners in 150 mile radius from Yankton, covering three states. The show is sponsored in part through a grant from the USDA SARE program, Husker Ag, LLC at Plainview, NE and West-Hodson Lumber Company at Crofton, Creighton and Osmond, NE.
The show has a companion website, www.farmtofamily.net, that offers text of the shows, Real Audio clips and a directory of local farmers and families producing food and products for local consumers. Here's the text from some select November features.
Swanson Hunting Acres, Niobrara, NE
Text from Farm to Family Connection KKYA Radio Special, Nov. 11, 2004
Jim, Darrell and Betty Swanson have been hosting hunters from across the country for over twenty years. Their Swanson Hunting Acres six and a half miles southwest of Niobrara, Nebraska, according to Betty, is where good folks meet for good hunting. That's particularly true with Swanson's fine accommodations including a new lodge built in a beautiful, wooded setting. Swansons offer 2300 acres of perfect habitat along the rugged Niobrara River valley near upper Lewis and Clark Lake. Pheasant, quail and chukar partridge are always abundant and the Swansons provide a dog handler with each party of three or four hunters.
Advance reservations are a must, because Swanson's Hunting Acres is a popular spot, especially in the fall months. Their season runs from Sept. 1 to April 1 for hunting, but the lodge is open year around. Their reserved parties enjoy great hunting, good, old fashioned hospitality, food served in their own hunting lodge and lodging as well.
Be sure to call ahead at 402-857-3794 and visit with Betty about scheduling dates for your hunt. You can learn more about Swanson's by visiting the web at farmtofamily.net.
KSK Elk and Buffalo Hunting, Niobrara, NE,
Text from Farm to Family Connection KKYA Radio Special, Nov. 18, 2004
These days you don't have to drive thousands of miles to recreate the days of Lewis and Clark and hunt big North American game like trophy elk and buffalo. Kenard and Steve Kreycik and the KSK Elk and Buffalo Hunting Acres at Niobrara offer hunters from around the region and across the country the hunting experience of a lifetime, traversing some of the most rugged and beautiful landscape in the state - densely wooded hills and deep canyons all within view of the Niobrara River valley. Headquartered at Kreycik Riverview Elk Ranch eight miles southwest of the Niobrara State Park entrance west of Niobrara, Nebraska, KSK guaranteed hunts offer guided hunting experiences of all kinds - black powder, archery or high power rifle.
Kreycik's offer elk, buffalo and fallow deer hunting from their private herd, with animals of all sizes from medium to trophies. Depending on the size of hunt, Kreycik's will provide meals for the hunting party and provide lodging at the local hotel.
KSK Hunts offers locker services for processing meat or you can purchase elk meat processed at a federally inspected facility from the ranch anytime. At the ranch gift shop, you can purchase elk and buffalo hides and skulls and elk antlers as well.
If you'd like to schedule this type of unique hunt at Kreycik's Riverview ranch, call Kenard and Steve at (402) 857-3850 or email the ranch - elkranch@bloomnet.com. Learn more by visiting the web at KSKelkhunt.com or farmtofamily.net.
T.H.E. Tree Farm, Bloomfield, NE
Text from Farm to Family Connection KKYA Radio Special, Thanksgiving Day, 2004
A fresh, locally grown Christmas tree adorning your home is really one of the best holiday traditions there is.and the experience of choosing and cutting your own tree is something children always remember and cherish. Dan Hoppe at T.HE Tree Farm southeast of Bloomfield, Nebraska can offer your family an opportunity to create your own holiday tradition starting with a real Christmas tree.
Dan planted his first evergreen trees back in 1987 and started selling Christmas trees from his five-acre field in 1993. Dan has always loved Christmas and operating a tree farm is just another way his family celebrates the holidays. Their tree farm offers Scotch Pines and Spruce trees. They've planted some balsam fir, so in a couple of years they will offer firs as well.
Dan enjoys making all kinds of Christmas decorations from their greenery like wreaths and swags as well as pinecone wreaths and other decorations. The Bloomfield Boy Scout Troop and Bloomfield FFA chapter will be helping clean, bundle and load trees at the farm this year as part of their fundraising efforts.
The tree farm is open Friday and Saturday, Nov. 26 and 27 from 10:30 am to 5 pm and Sunday, Nov. 28 from 1 pm to 5 pm. They are also open the following two weekends on Saturdays from 10:30 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm. To get to their tree farm, follow Broadway south from the main intersection in downtown Bloomfield and stay on the same road as it turns into 544 Ave. Go one mile south of town and two thirds of a mile east on 880 Road. The tree farm is located on the south side of the road. If you'd like to set up an appointment at another time or find out more about THE Tree Farm at Bloomfield, call Dan at (402) 373-4866 or (402) 640-3820. You can learn more about locally grown trees and other food and farm products by visiting the web at farmtofamily.net. And remember, if it's locally grown, it's the best.
