We  are having an Open House at the Trap Shack  on Sunday Sept.19,2010 from 10 am to 3pm. This year we are fortunate to have a number of special guests.

      Uncle Kenny Salwey,the Last River Rat and renowned author, will be on hand for the entire event. He will be available to chat and share stories-always a popular activity among trappers. His third book, Old Time River Rats, came out last fall. Kenny will be happy to autograph your books-bring them along-or all 3 books will be available at the Shack. Plan some time to pull up a chair and “set a spell”!

     George and Bill Porter have very graciously offered to spend the day with us also. For those of you that attended the 2010 NTA Convention in Marshfield you may remember that George did the weasel demo and Bill did a coyote demo. This father -son team is extremely knowledgeable and have a very good way of explaining their innovative ways of doing things. They trap in northern WI so they are experienced in the fur-bearers we are familiar with.They will be doing  demos on weasels,coyote, fisher and dryland coon. I know of no better weasel trappers and they go into great detail. Bring the kids along-what a simple way to get them started in trapping and spend some time trapping when the snow sets in.  This is a great chance to pick up some new ideas from people that love to share their expertise. The Porters also formulate their own lures which are thick and uncut. They will be telling you how to use them. We do carry their lures at the Shack so you can order from them or pick them up from us. The time of each demo has not been set yet so check back on the blog or give us a call closer to the date.

      We hope you can join us. Activities will be both inside and outside so please dress for the weather. Our phone # is 608-797-0550-leave a message if I’m not right there. Directions-take HWY 95 west of Arcadia for 2 miles then south on River Road for 0.3 mile to Sauer Mill Rd. Our address is W74 Sauer Mill Rd.  Arcadia,WI 54612.  Watch for our signs. If you are looking for special items let us know in advance and we can have your order ready when you get here.

       Looking forward to the season                                                                          Tom

     Our free Open Farm will be on Sat. Aug21,2010 from 1-4 pm. Come see our farm and how we blend agriculture and nature. See our beef cattle, sheep, chickens, goats and other pets. Enjoy the perrenial garden and our little prairie. Stroll about our farm and walk on our nature trail. See the folks from Midwest Bio-ag and their forage demonstration plot. Visit with Junior Pieper and see some of  the Blue River Corn. Talk to Dr. Paul Detloff and Dr. Sarah Slaby and learn about their products. Browse through the Trap Shack showroom and see what is new in the world of trapping. While there, pick up one of Kenny Salwey’s books. Stop up at the shed and have some snacks.

     Sue and Tom Roskos, along with their sons Greg and Hawken, welcome you.We hope to see you!!

     DIRECTIONS: Go west of Arcadia,WI on HWY 95 for 2 miles, then left on River Road for 0.3 miles. Just past cemetery take  a left on Sauer Mill Rd. Watch for signs. Any questions call us at 608-323-3306 or 608-797-0550.

     The NTA Convention in Marshfield,WI. was a huge success! I heard talk that this was the largest or next to the largest ever . The fairgrounds were fillled with trappers,campers, vendors and tailgaters. The mood was enthusistic and optomistic.

     The WTA did a marvelous job of hosting the event.We appeciated all the help we got getting into our campsite and to our booth. A special huge THANK-YOU to all the district 5 volunteers for all their assistance! All the volunteers were putting in long hours in the sun and heat but all we saw were smiles and helpfullness.

     Thanks to all who stopped  by our booth to chat or purchase. We appreciate the business. It is good to be immersed in the company of so many like-minded folks, both hearing and telling stories.

      One of the new products we had at the show was the Coon Dagger. This is a racoon specific trap designed on the order of the Little Griz except it has the advantage of having a trigger that can be set off by pushing or pulling. We have them at the showroom and they will show up on the website shortly. They are priced at $20.00 each or $200.00 per dozen.

     Our next Open House will be Sunday Sept.19,2010 from 10 am to 3 pm. Author Kenny Salwey, the Last River Rat will be here to visit and sign books. More details later.

       Enjoy the rest of the summer.                                                                                                                        Tom

     The National Trapper’s Assn. is  holding their Annual Convention in Marshfield,WI on August 5-8,2010. The event will be located at the Central Wisconsin State fairgrounds, the same location that the WTA Fall Convention is usually held.The Trap Shack will have a booth set up in the hockey arena. We are in a different location than usual because we needed more space for our products. Please look us up and stop by to visit.  The national convention is a very exciting time with endless opportunities to visit with other trappers,check out new products and learn new techniques.

      The fur price prospects are good for the fall. We have many new products this year. We will have a supply of the new Coon Daggers, the coon specific trap that has a push or pull trigger. These are priced competitively with the Lil Grizz. We also will have a good supply of the Jungwirth Coon Catchers at some great prices.

     Another date to put on your calender-Sunday Sept. 19,2010- we are having an Open House at our showroom by Arcadia, WI.Author (Uncle) Kenny Salwey will be there to visit and sign books. The hours will be 10 am to 3 pm.  Watch for more information coming up.

     See you in Marhfield. Get in the spirit!                                                                             Tom

Wanna see some photos of Gerald and Sharon Salwey’s 50th Anniversary @ Welcome Home Farm? Head to website of bcgoldenstudios.zenfolio.com and it’s the shoot with Tom and Sue setting on our swing.

Thanks!

It’s pure delight to step outside early in the morning mist. It really is living Heaven on Earth. Sheep munch dutifully on lush green meadows. It’s been a moist July and we have ample pastures this season. The baby barn Swallows line up on the wires to greet me in their songs. The chickens explode with enthusiasm as I fling their coop door open and let it flop. The goats and Jasper the Sheep are relishing the tart cherries that are hanging teasingly from the trees in their pastures. Flocks of children and kids @ heart have been touring and visiting us and the farm.  

We’re hosting a Fall Open Farm and Trap Shack Open House on Sun. Sept. 19th, 2010. Hours will be from 10 AM until 3 PM. Uncle Kenny Salwey will be there from 10 ’til 3.  He’s a cherished family member, author and story teller. Come browse the Showroom for trapping and coon hunting supplies and chat with us and  Kenny. Tour the gardens and see the animals and Welcome Home!

Flow like water, shine like the rising sun and play like an otter!

Sue Roskos

Artic Springs was the site of the WTA District 5 Summer Redevous on June 26, 2010. The morning brought a large numer of trappers, both from the local area a well as from MN, Bangor and Hagar City.  Larry Jungwirth and Jim Blakely were showing and discussing the new coon trap, the Coon Digger, that Larry will be selling @ our Showroom and @ the NTA Convention in Marshfield in Aug.

A turtle trapping demo was put on by Bud Pierson and Jim Helgeson.  Tom Olson did a beaver and muskrat demo. Fish poles were provided for the kids to catch fish in the pond. Caleb Ellis kept us informed of his catch-bluegills and crappies.

The wonderdul people of District 5 provided a lunch of BBQ’s, chips, home-made pickles and bars.

The afternoon business meeting was conducted by Jim Gordon and Jr. Prudlick.

 Click on this to open for information on our Open Farm Afternoon on Aug. 21st from 1-4 PM near Arcadia, WI    Doc Tom and Sue Roskos offering a free afternoon

A few weeks ago we were out with a conservation acquantence in the backwaters. We canoed and tied up the Michicraft along shore. Then we walked and talked and saw a glamorous stand of ferns. A whitetail deer fawn lept up after Tom was three feet away in the grass. I photo’ed Big Bend from the other side of the river and relished the sunshine.

Thanks to Patzie, a great neighbor Bernie and good weather-we made the highest quality first crop hay, we’ve ever made. It’s neatly stacked and under cover of tarps.  Tom would add that he had one of his biggest belly busters again. Day two of hay making and I was giddy with another day of raking hay. I gleefully hopped on the Field Boss Tractor with the Tonutti Rake pulling behind. Tom gave me a refresher course as Hawken added his own version of instructions. I waved them away and half way through the round, I heard a squeak. Oops-I loosened the tightly pulled parking brake.  A short version is Tom later went to beg Bernie to come to the field I raked. Tom had to give up using our baler. Bernie came and later told Tom he’d have to charge us mileage. Made a lot of rounds and few bales. “I think a cyclone went through the field after Sue raked it!” Let’s just say the tonutti rake was for sale before this story and now it will be on an auction for sure by next year. I did make it to Broiler/Dairy Days Kiddie Parade with Hawken though. He asked me where the kitty cats were though @ the kiddie parade!

Making and raking hay,

Sue Roskos

Many thanks to the superb instructors who put together a great Trapper’s Education weekend. Junior Prudlick and his crew, spent their weekend teaching 25 students about trapping. The students ranged in age from 11 up to age 60. The certificate that the students receive upon their testing out of the class, is necessary to have to trap off of their land. Game Warden Bob Jumbeck deserves a thanks also for coming out to Welcome Home Farm on a Sunday. He put together a fabulous power point presentation and shared his knowledge with the class.

What a delightful way to share our farm, the Trap Shack Company and stories with old and new friends. The visitors arrived early and stayed late and strolled the farm and shopped the Shack.

Thanks for all the people who traveled an hour or two to attend class and those who live down the road a short ways.

Sue, Tom and Hawken