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Summarized by Michael Nielsen
Missionary Couple Tends Isolated Farm
(Tending the flock)
Deseret News 8Jul00 P2
By Carrie A. Moore: Deseret News religion editor
LDS missionary couple operate church-owned hunting preserve
ELBERTA, UTAH -- Clair and Beth Huff have what must be one of
the most unusual mission calls in church history: they works with
pheasants, doves, geese, and ducks. Wearing his boots, blue jeans,
baseball cap and missionary name tag, the couple manage a private
hunting preserve along the shores of Utah Lake.
After retiring from his career as a wildlife biologist, Elder Huff
tends flocks of birds in this isolated, 11,000-acre area on the
southwest edge of Utah Lake. Their goal is to turn the preserve into
a revenue-generator. Now, they have served more than the customary
two years, and have agreed to stay until November while the church
locates suitable replacements.
The job is lonely except for hunting season, when permits are sold
for as much as $1500 to hunt on the land. The preserve attracts
hunters from throughout the state. The preserve is located near
church-owned farm land, and by coordinating efforts between the two
types of sites, the hunting preserve is able to avoid some of the
problems that would normally arise. The church's Farm Management Co.
manages both the farms, and the preserve.
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