Savage Arms announces the release of their latest episode of Savage Journeys: Duren family farm. This full story, from Savage Journeys and Savage Arms Affiliate Doug Duren, follows the 400-acre farm that is revolutionizing conservation and the community. This farm has been in the de Duren family for 120 years and is located near Cazenovia, in a part of southwestern Wisconsin known as the Driftless Area. The farm contains extensive agricultural and timber spaces; It is here that Duren promotes conservation through a new project. One that allows visitors access to your land in exchange for their help with farm maintenance and management projects.
Viewers can follow along as Duren tells the backstory of this farming and hunting project that is thriving on his family’s land. He attributes the success of the project to his values, which have their roots in the works of Aldo Leopold. Many people know Leopold as a pioneer in wildlife conservation and are familiar with his life story and major achievements. Leopold’s collection of essaysA Sand County Almanac” it is iconic in many conservation, environmental, and hunting communities, and Duren will be the first to agree with its importance.
“Leopold, that little book and your other essays have continued to speak to me throughout my life,” Duren said. He adds that “Leopold and a fascinating project: The Riley Game Cooperative” were a great inspiration for this conservation experiment on his farm. “In Riley, Leopold and some of the townspeople befriended a group of local farmers. They worked together to improve marginal land for all wildlife, especially game species. Cooperatively, they shared the labor, hunting, and recreational benefits of their efforts.” This Riley gaming cooperative is very similar to the operation run by Duren, shown in this Savage Journeys story.
Viewers will see how Duren invited new people to his family’s 400 acres to participate in a trade. Visitors arrive to help Duren with projects on the farm, and in turn, each volunteer is given access to the land to forage and hunt. The experiment was a success, the volunteers became friends and the cooperative grew over time. This project fosters connection between people, resulting in a community based on shared experiences, camaraderie, and a great appreciation for the outdoors.
The success of Duren’s project continues with the accompanying creation of Sharing the Land, a network of conservation partners that Duren started in 2020. It serves to connect landowners with those seeking access to game. Today, owners from eight states have joined Sharing the Land, 30 properties are part of the network and more than 300 people have registered as access seekers, proving that The Duren Family Farm’s experiment is not only beneficial for the land, but also successful in encouraging the community. and conservation efforts over time.
This episode of Savage Journeys will debut on June 22 on the Savage Arms website and through their social channels. For more information on Savage Arms and Savage Journeys, please visit the Savage Arms home page.
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Headquartered in Westfield, Massachusetts, Savage has been producing firearms for more than 125 years. Savage is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of rimfire and centerfire shotguns and rifles for hunting, competition and target shooting. Their firearms are best known for their accuracy, performance, and innovation. The entrepreneurial spirit that originally defined the company is still evident in its continued focus on continuous innovation, craftsmanship, quality and service. Learn more at www.savagearms.com.