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In 1994, Jimmy Young had a vision.
He could see into the future, and he had a personal mission...
to bring hogs, dogs, hunters and their families together for an annual family reunion and a springtime vacation.
He wanted to bring the Bayed Solid family together,
once a year,
for a hog dog competition.
He went to his home town first, of course,
and made his proposal, but ran into contentions.
So, without any warning, early one morning,
he headed east looking for other locations,
and came to the birthplace of three of our famous state gubernatorial politicians.
The people there were delighted to host our annual get-togethers,
in honor of the 100th birthday of one of the Long brothers.
In 1995, in conjunction with the Centennial Celebration of Earl Long's birthday,
we bayed dogs on hogs all weekend long!
This began as a tribute to Uncle Earl, who was a man of the common people,
and he also loved dogs with the color merle.
For this, we all now come together every spring in a city called Winnfield.
From faraway places, with names like Grosbec,
Tallahassee,
and Mobile.
We bring our kids,
our dogs,
and our hope.
And take home some new collars, vests,
trophies, and rope.
Some of us are water wilderness guides,
cowgirls,
truck drivers,
and mule skinners.
And it looks like a bunch are simple farmers,
country folk,
and log skidders.
Our breeds are called Catahoula,
Yellow Black Mouth Cur,
and Plott,
with names like Bubba, Cutter, Coushatta, and Spot.
Some listen to Gospel, Country,
or Rock, others to Blue Grass,
Cajun, Zydeco,
or Pop.
We don’t care if you call us backwoods,
country,
redneck,
or Cajun,
because we all know what’s important,
and get to run to the squeal on occasion.
Some call ‘em rooters, razorbacks, and runners,
sanglier, cochan,
wild boar,
sow, and grunters.
In the morning we love to eat grits, bacon, flapjacks and taters.
For lunch, it’s rice, cornbread, fricassee, with blackeye peas and homegrown tomatoes.
While the humaniacs have labelled this a rodeo and called it hog baiting,
The truth is, it’s a wild hog backed up and the dogs are a baying.
Some think this is about chase and shoot.
Some just ask why?
Others prefer to hide and wait,
but the true art of our sport is called catch and tie.
.
We all love a little walk behind the house,
just as much as a long road trip with our kids and spouse.
Through countrysides with thorny mesquite, moss-draped cypress
or towering pines, not to mention boggy oak bottoms, thick with muscadine vines.
Whether you find us in the dead of night,
the blazing heat of day, or an early morning fog,
according to Jimmy Young,
“We all got one thang in common. . .
We love the smell of a stinkin’ hog.”
I am Marcus de la Houssaye and I wrote this poem. I can be reached @ catahoula1@gmail.com
