Zink Calls Field Staff

Tad Hartwig

October, 3rd 1981 was the day it all started. My father had two choices; go to the hospital or stay in the decoy spread. My father did make it to the hospital just in time to watch my birth. This is the way of life I was brought into.

My home town of Garner, Iowa is a small town located in the north central part of the state. I've lived here all my life except for 2 years away at college. I started going with my father hunting around the age of 3. At 7 years old I killed my first Canada goose. Every weekend was spent in northwest Iowa hunting ducks and geese at the Ingham- High Refuge through out the fall. My father raised my brother and me, so this was our vacation every year which was the best we could ask for. Throughout grade school and high school, nearly all my time was spent hunting, fishing and trapping.

After high school I decided to head back up to northwest Iowa to attend college at Iowa Lakes Community College. My motivation for that school was driven by the fact that I've hunted there for years. Enrolling in the Environmental Studies program was a great opportunity to meet likeminded people that loved to hunt and fish. During the summers I would come back to Hancock County and work for the County Conservation Board.

In October of 2003 I started my career at Stellar-Industries in Garner. I've been at Stellar ever since and love every minute. My boss knows that I save all my time off for the fall. I also work as a Realtor for Schoneman Realtors/ GMAC part-time. This has been a blessing as I work with two of my best friends I grew up with. We manage and sell farm ground as well as sell homes.

My favorite memory is being with my father on my 12th birthday. We called in a pair of geese feet down in the decoys. Both of us sat up at the same time killing both birds in two shots. That was by far the greatest birthday present I have ever gotten.

Currently I am living 6 miles south of Garner with my black lab Jacki. I am a member of the Klemme Fire Dept. In the summer of 2010, I will be marrying my fiancé Mallory Young. My summers are spent catching fish, golfing, playing fast pitch softball, and working with my lab Jacki. The fall is a very hectic time for me as I hunt every weekend as well was help my soon to be father-in-law farm.

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