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Wild Turkey Federation, Smithfield Foods also involved in event

NEWSOMS

The Millswamp Longbeards, in conjunction with the Newsoms Hunt Club, hosted several guests for their deer hunt on Dec. 6. Keith Futrell, a member of the Millswamp Longbeards and NHC, said the groups have doing this annually this for several years.

The guest hunters’ presence was made possible through coordinated effors by the National Wild Turkey Federation. Davy Blessing, the regional director whose territory is southwestern Virginia and along U.S. Highway 58 to Franklin, said, “That is one of our outreach programs. The unique thing is you don’t have be a veteran or in a wheelchair [to participate].”

To learn more about that organization, visit www.nwtf.org, or its Facebook page. Blessing can be contacted at dblessing@nwtf.net.

Futrell reported on Friday that while no bucks were harvested, “Several hunters bagged some deer, so there was meat to take home.”

Also involved in the day’s event was Smithfield Foods, which provided meals for the occasion.

The words of gratitude from the hunters were plentiful.

“I got numerous texts from different ones thanking us over and over,” Futrell added. “They enjoyed the fellowship and had a really good time.”