Today's podcast is notably different from a typical documentary-style baragery

that we usually put out every other Wednesday.

I was recently asked to be the keynote speaker at the Fesent Fest banquet where we celebrated

Kwell Forever's 20th anniversary.

And it might seem odd that they'd ask me to speak

because I don't own bird dogs or travel the country

wing shooting. But I'd like to share

with you bear grease folks

a slightly elongated version. So it's not

the actual speech. It's a little little bit longer but i want to share

that speech with you and i think that you'll understand after you hear it why they asked me to speak

i'd say this story is deeply personal and i titled it the bird hunter.

My name is Clay Newcomb and this is the Bear Grease podcast where we'll explore things forgotten but relevant. Search for insight in unlikely places and where we'll explore things forgotten but relevant search for insight and unlikely places

and where we'll tell the story of Americans who live their lives close to the land

presented by FHF gear American made purpose built hunting and fishing gear that's designed to be as rugged as the places

we explore.

I'd like to tell you a story.

On the morning of September 5th, 2024, I awoke from a dream so vivid I felt like that I had

actually been with him. When I got up, I wrote down what I experienced. I dated it. I told

Misty about it and I actually called my mom and dad. He had died on Christmas night 2013, but on that September morning, over 10 years

later, I felt like that I had actually seen him. The man in the dream was a schoolteacher,

a pastor, and a bird hunter that I knew very well, and the shadow and echo of his life has never left me.

...