Episode 54: Dave Garrett Stuck In The Green Room
Technology is wonderful...when it works. Unfortunately, on occasion the recording platform for The HHAUSA Podcast will hang up, leaving our guest trapped in a virtual green room. Such was the case with my new friend Dave Garrett in bringing you his story. Thankfully the incident was short lived, made for a good laugh or two and helped give birth to the title of this week's episode. Mission accomplished!
The former 1st Sergeant from the 1st Cav Division of the United States Army, Garrett received an invitation earlier this spring from his cousin and fellow Veteran Jeremiah Young, to join him at an HHAUSA archery event this summer. Happily accepting but without a bow, I connected the two with good friend Tyson Trunkhill of Sticks and Stones Archery and The Dust-Off Project. Plans were set in motion to present Dave with his new bow at Mission 18 in Wautoma Wisconsin the first weekend in June.
It all came together on Saturday, June 4th as Garrett anxiously received his new set up. A few last minute adjustments from Trunkhill and Dave was ready to hit the course for a round of 3D. Only nine targets into his day, the unthinkable happened when the self-subscribed chatter box forgot to load an arrow and dried fired his less than hour old gift! The embarrassing setback was only temporary though when Cousin Jeremiah pulled out his backup bow and Dave was quickly back in business, a bit more cautious from the mishap.
Word travelled quickly around the small, central Wisconsin club about "the guy that blew up his bow" and I was fortune enough to draw the Chris Farley fan as my scramble partner for the evening. A conversation began that hasn't stopped and we became fast friends. We laughed about the events of the day and even managed a podium finish which awarded us some hard earned cash that was donated back to the cause that evening.
The conversation took on a more serious tone Sunday morning as I hit the course with the cousins and a local first responder. Talk quickly turned to their time of service, PTSD and how beneficial archery and the outdoors has been for all three men to deal with their struggles in a positive manner. It was one of those special moments that you'll never forget and I knew the that the dialogue from those three hours would resonate long after we parted ways Sunday night.
It took Garrett less than a week to text me, already making plans to return to The Badger State for another HHAUSA event, this time with his entire family in tow. I had the pleasure of meeting the Garretts in Neenah at Mission 20 a few weeks ago and Dave and I again spent a day on the archery range together. This time, other friends of HHAUSA, Al Quackenbush, Aaron Ritter, Brian Turner, Jeff Litteral and Chase Nation stars Sam Ubl, Steve Jeffrey and Brad Werwinski joined in the fun. It was a great afternoon and by far one of the highlights of my 2022 season thus far.
I could go on for hours about the camaraderie, bonds and friendships that are formed at these events but my words can simply not do it justice. You will have to eventually experience it for yourself firsthand. That's about to get a lot easier as plans are in motion to take HHAUSA outside the state of Wisconsin for multiple stops in 2023. More on that in a future episode this fall...
As for Dave, his childhood dream of taking to the airwaves are drawing closer by the day as he plans to start a podcast, sharing his own struggles with the hopes of helping others. He has the personality and voice for the venture and personally, I can't wait to tune in. Like so m
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