Kenny Kieser is a man's man. If he's not fishing, he's duck hunting. He smokes cigars, sips scotch and tells tales of long-ago misty mornings. He's the outdoor writer you dream of being. Well-traveled, well versed and thoroughly accomplished.
But more than anything, Kieser is a softy for kids.
A couple of years ago, Kieser was inducted into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame as a legendary communicator. He earned this honor by producing more than 30 years worth of content as a writer and photographer. His articles and photographs have appeared in every magazine you can name and many more you've probably never heard of.
At this stage in his career Kieser could easily rest on his laurels while looking back over a life well-lived. That's not how the legend operates, though.
To give back to the youth of today and the organization that recently honored him, the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, Kieser has developed a contest to build awareness of and interest in outdoor writing.
"I dedicated my writing career to introducing kids to the outdoor 36 years ago. I teach writing classes too, so mixing writing and fishing seemed like a natural," Kieser said.
The contest is very simple. Youths must submit a one- to two-page, double-spaced essay on a specific fishing experience or their overall love of fishing.
There is no cost to enter. There are two age groups: grades 6-8 and grades 9-12. The winner of each category will receive a $500 scholarship. All entries most be postmarked by Sept. 15, 2014. Mail entries to: The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 690, Hayward, Wis., 54843.
Judging is based on a 1 to 10 system - 10 being the highest score in the following categories: 1. Originality - Was the story unique? 2. Style - Was this story well written? 3. Quality - What was the overall quality of the story? 4. Readability - Was the story enjoyable? Judges will be selected by the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. No one related to the judges may enter the contest.
"Writing is becoming a lost art in this country and sadly many kids are not interested. This is an extreme waste of talent. With this contest, I hope to inspire kids to write about fishing or hunting. I have made a very good living as an outdoor writer and I want to see the torch passed when my generation is gone," Kieser said.
Outdoor writing has afforded me opportunities I never even thought possible when I was a high-school student. I read outdoor magazines and a weekly column in my local newspaper growing up, but never dreamed I could be an outdoor writer. Well, it's funny how things work out and now my career is mirroring those of people like Kieser, a man I have admired for many, many years.
If you are a youth who loves to fish and hunt, I'm telling you that with hard word, thick skin and time, you can make a life out of communicating outdoor experiences. This contest could be the start of a life well-lived. To learn more, download the application at www.freshwater-fishing.org.
See you down the trail ...
III
Brandon Butler is an outdoors columnist for the News Tribune. Contact him at [email protected].