BLOOMFIELD -- When a Stoddard County family farm wasn't utilized to its full capacity, the owners decided to open the property for use by local disabled veterans.
"When I first got the farm, I had four grandsons, and they grew up on it," Tom Love recalled. "They rode their four-wheelers on it, and they're all in college now.
So instead of letting the 125-acre land sit vacant, Love, who served six years in the Marine Corps, along with land co-owner Alan Hedrick and their families wondered if local disabled or wounded veterans/soldiers might enjoy using the property.
Love then approached American Legion Post 59 in Dexter about sponsoring the endeavor.
"It's a pretty big project to tackle by yourself, and I asked the Legion if they'd like to sponsor a disabled veterans program," Love said, adding he would offer the use of the farm free of charge.
The Legion agreed, and on July 1, 2012, the Disabled Veterans Wildlife Facility opened on the farm located about four miles north of Dexter in an area of rural Bloomfield off county road 426.
"We have a disabled veterans' facility for hunts and for them to relax, to photograph and view nature," Love said.
Among the additions to the property since opening include the construction of a 12-by-12 handicapped hunting, wildlife viewing and photography blind; a cabin equipped for wheelchair use was built, and three portable hunting and viewing blinds were also obtained.
Love said they're also in the process of building a handicap accessible fishing dock which is expected to be completed by mid-April, Love said.
For the complete story, see the Sunday edition of the Standard Democrat.