Episode 63: Chris Hamm Season Wrap Up, 2023 Schedule Preview and Houdini

One of my greatest shortcomings is that I seldom take time to rest. Between being a business owner, running a nonprofit, having a weekly podcast, and trying to be a good husband, family man and friend, it doesn't leave me with a ton of free time. Having danced too close to the edge at least once or twice a year for the past decade, I have to consciously tell myself to slow down, usually with a reminder from my wife and a few close friends. If I don't, I start juggling too many things and run the risk of being less effective in all areas of my life. Since rediscovering my faith in 2016, God has shown me what true rest really looks like. While still a work in progress, I feel that I'm doing a better job of self care and as a result, operating in a more positive headspace on a regular basis.

I decided in early September to take a few weeks off from the podcast to rest, reflect on the successes of the 2022 HHAUSA event season and begin working on next year. Missions 21 and 23 rounded out the shoot schedule and we hosted our first ever HHAUSA Banquet in partnership with our good friends at Whitetails Unlimited. The third film in the HHAUSA Film Series from Sam Ubl and Chase Nation debuted that evening, featuring my trip to Washington DC in July on the Old Glory Honor Flight. It also included the presentation of a $70,000 check to Never Forgotten Honor Flight out of Mosinee. The culmination of a three year goal to fund a full flight out of central Wisconsin, it was there where that I really developed my love for our Veterans and where many of the ideas for HHAUSA originated.

Successes aside, it was also a bittersweet summer as we moved throughout Wisconsin. knowing that the time was coming to move on to other cities and regions that will allow us to grow the organization and impact more lives in the Veteran and First Responder communities. That said, we will not be returning to Waushara Archers in Wautoma, Rib Mountain Bowmen in Wausau, Twin City Rod & Gun Club in Neenah or Blackhawk Archers of Stevens Point in 2023. We want to thank these clubs for opening their doors and ranges to us over the last few years and taking us to the next level. They will continue to receive our support on the for profit side for their club functions and we strongly encourage you to check out their shoot schedules in 2023 and beyond.

Tomah Warrens Sportsman's Alliance in Warrens and Antler Archers in Wisconsin Rapids will once again be hosting events for HHAUSA in 2023. We have two other cities confirmed and waiting on a third with the complete lineup for next year due out in late November.

A quick weekend trip to Nashville for a 3D shoot on 9/11 also planted seeds in The Volunteer State for what will hopefully be a great fundraising opportunity for HHAUSA next summer. Thank you to my good friends Al Quackenbush, Chad Stillman, Josh Vegors and Ira Dean for one of the greatest evenings of my life and a powerful conversation that I will never forget.

Last but not least, another three year journey came to an epic conclusion on the evening of September 28th. I was blessed to harvest "Houdini", a mature Wisconsin whitetail that I had been chasing on my home farm since first spotting him on trail cameras in 2018. Tipping the scales at 200 pounds and green scoring 169" and change, he's by far the largest buck I have put on the wall in 35 years as an outdoorsman and I could not be more thankful.

Overall, 2022 was a great year and I cannot thank you, our listeners, enough for the continued support of all things HHAUSA. We have some exciting thing

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