Written by
Dee Loflin SMT Manager/Writer

Dexter, Missouri – The Rotary Club of Dexter had their early morning breakfast meeting on Tuesday, April 2^nd and were pleasantly greeted with a guest speaker.

Mr. Tom Love, co-owner of Gobbler Ridge Farm in Dexter, Missouri was present to discuss the Disabled Veterans Wildlife Facility.   Also as guests were Mr. Jim Adams and Mr. Darrell LaPierre, who are officers of the Kenady-Hanks American Legion Post 59 in Dexter.

Tom and his family have enjoyed spending time on their 125 acres called Gobbler Ridge Farm, which is about four miles north of Dexter off County Road 426.  If you haven't had the opportunity to visit this beautiful location then you have missed a great wildlife habitat.

Privately owned and without severe government restrictions, the grounds are maintained by volunteers and donations from the community.

The facility was designed for the use of disabled veterans exclusively.  Veterans with combat related disabilities will have first preference, but veterans with documented disabilities will also be eligible.  Priority is given to those who are wheelchair bound or require assistance to use the facility.

The rustic cabin and the grounds area are specifically designed so that disabled veterans can hunt in elevated blinds, travel along the trails or just view the beautiful wildlife. 

There is a large enclosed blind that is completely wheelchair accessible and very safe, even heated and insulated with sliding windows for accessible hunting or taking photographs. 

They maintain the area in a manner consistent with the Missouri Department of Conservation standards and have added food plots with clover, wheat, beans, corn and milo.  There are even ground blinds that are wheelchair accessible and portable to provide mobility.

The rustic cabin is quite a home away from home and is used for preparing meals, sleeping or just relaxing and is fully wheelchair accessible.  Meals or snacks will be provided for veterans as needed or requested and guides are available as well.

The Disabled Veterans Wildlife Facility is a valuable asset to our community and serves the needs of our disabled veterans.  We want to show our appreciation for their service and dedication to this great country of ours.

They do have needs as this is a completely privately owned and volunteer operated facility.  Tom stated, "The road going in will have to be repaired.  It floods sometimes and we need to get that fixed.  We can't use the facility if we can't get to it easily."

"We can always use seed, fuel, food, money to cover insurance, trail repairs, and other needs," continued Mr. Love.  "Mostly we could use a well.  We get water the old fashioned way like when I was growing up, utilizing rain water.  I have only ran out of water twice and that was in the summer months."

For many veterans who are confined to a wheelchair or whose mobility has been restricted as a result of serving their country or due to age, etc accessibility to their once favorite pastime is restricted, but not any more.  With the Disabled Veterans Wildlife Facility, they can enjoy hunting, fishing, photography, or just getting out of the house and into the woods for a daytime adventure!

For more information please or to make a donation, please contact, Tom Love 573-820-0802 or Jim Adams 573-421-3660.

To mail in donations:  D.V. Outdoor Fund

American Legion Post 59, P.O. Box 446, Dexter, Missouri 63841

They also have a Facebook page with lots of photographs of the facility, blinds, veterans who have used the facility and just God's creatures living on the land. 

Go to the page:  https://www.facebook.com/DisabledVeteransWildlifeFacility?ref=stream

The Dexter Rotary would like to thank Tom Love and his guests for joining them for their breakfast meeting and they look forward to visiting the Disabled Veterans Wildlife Facility at Gobbler Ridge Farms in the near future.

The Dexter Rotary Club meets weekly for breakfast or lunch and is currently looking for new members.  If you are interested in becoming a member contact Mr. Jack Rodgers at 573-624-5762 or jrod63841@yahoo.com.  Their motto is Service Above Self!

Also check out their new Facebook page: