Registered: Sep 2009
Location: Goshen, IN
Posts: 639

I believe the first Autumn Oaks I ever attended was in Oak Harbor, Ohio with John Wick and it was shortly after going to work for John and Linda and the Wick Outdoor Works crew. John and I left a group of Wick employees at the Kenton Nationals after getting a large tent set up and coats, bibs, chaps and catalogs out on display. I don't remember if we drove to Oak Harbor or Green Castle that night but I do remember John and I sleeping in dusty old blue plastic tarps on the side of a road for a few hours of rest before getting up and driving on. Tough times called for tough measures but I remember those years fondly.

New friend Todd Kellam had just started working at UKC and Steve Fielder was a young fella himself back then, sometime in the late 1980's.

There have been many miles traveled and several good dogs have come and gone since then but one thing has remained the same. UKC's Autumn Oaks is THE premier coon hunt in the country. The facilities, the lodging, the restaurants, the cleanliness on the fairgrounds and smiling faces on UKC's staff all make it the grand event it is.

Our sport is filled with a lot of great, great people! Many of you have made my wildest of dreams come true and I am grateful to all of you and the folks at UKC who have staffed events like Autumn Oaks with terrific employees for all of these years. Thank you UKC.

I look forward to visiting with all of you at the Grand American in January.

Good Hunting and Safe Travels - Big Mark

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Mark Zepp

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Registered: Oct 2021
Location: Cat Farm
Posts: 97

Thanks for sharing Mark! Dad and I appreciate you upgrading our collars and receivers.
Dad first took me to Kenton Nationals in 1987 and I was dumb founded at how big it was. I recall when we turned onto the main highway at 10pm on Friday night of Kenton nationals there was a line of vehicles several miles long to get in. Huge was an understatement. I was 15 and could clearly recall seeing the big Wick tent by the road. Great memories.
I am so sorry we had a lowlife take your thermal I hope the culprit is found.
Thanks for all you do in the hound world and your friendship.
The pics and videos of the J6 that I shared shows the truth of that day, we will always stand up for truth and country.
Continued prayers for your family Mark!
UKC, this was a fantastic week with the beautiful weather congrats on a successful Autumn Oaks!!

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Here kitty kitty kitty

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