Episode Transcript
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SPEAKER_02 (00:00):
Good morning and welcome to the Community
Connection, the Inner HarborCast.
My name is Skip Clark.
I am your host again this week,and another great program for
you, as you know, with the InnerHarbor Cast, uh, where you reach
out into the community, beinglocally owned and operated.
There are a lot of organizationshere in town, 501c3
(00:21):
organizations that uh have a lotto do with how we live and what
we do every day, and uh a lot ofgreat causes.
And uh this morning is one ofthose.
Uh I'm talking to Nikki, who isuh with Little Tags, and uh she
is the founder of that.
Her husband is in here, uh Jasonas well, and good morning to you
both.
(00:41):
Thanks for coming in.
And you're gonna tell us alittle bit about what Little
Tags is all about.
First of all, good morning.
SPEAKER_00 (00:47):
Good morning, thank you.
Thank you guys.
SPEAKER_02 (00:48):
Good morning, Skip.
Thank you for being here.
Uh, for listeners who may behearing about Little Tags for
the first time, um, can youshare who Nathan Bush was and
what he meant to those aroundhim?
Nikki being you are his sister.
Yes.
So why don't you start?
SPEAKER_00 (01:04):
So Little Tags, um, we had started about five years
ago.
Um, as you had said, it's anonprofit, 501c3.
Nate was a big um avid hunter,loved to take kids out um in the
woods, kind of show them theropes on you know just what to
do in the outdoors.
Um we tragically lost him in anaccident.
Um so we started this foundationum in his memory.
SPEAKER_02 (01:30):
I know it's hard to talk though.
I totally get it.
SPEAKER_00 (01:32):
And then and how long ago was the uh uh it was in
2020, so it was five years.
SPEAKER_02 (01:36):
This was this in Tully.
Um I think I read about that.
SPEAKER_00 (01:41):
Yeah, yeah.
Yep.
So we started this foundation.
Um we wanted to, you know, helpout kids that in and the
families um deal with you knowthe financial burden of a
lifetime license.
So we give out the lifetimelicenses at no cost to the
family or the child.
unknown (01:59):
Oh wow.
SPEAKER_02 (02:00):
So um obviously losing Nathan was devastating.
Very devastating.
It's just hard to hard to evenfathom that happening, but it
does happen and unfortunately.
But you're putting you'reputting all those memories and
everything to great cause.
Uh, what was the moment orconversation that sparked the
idea to turn that tragedy intosomething so meaningful?
SPEAKER_00 (02:24):
Um, so we actually, it was my mom and my sister, we
were kind of just sitting aroundum the breakfast bar at my
parents' house, and we werejust, you know, we didn't want
to do a scholarship, we didn'twant to do anything, you know,
kind of that everybody's done.
Um, and it just kind of cameabout.
Um the name in itself, you know,tags.
(02:44):
We used to get a little tag, youknow, when you're talking about
it.
SPEAKER_02 (02:46):
That was like when you're hunting, you get your
tag, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (02:48):
Yep.
So it just it just came all cametogether, and you know, we
created the logo and we thoughtwe'd give out maybe two to three
a year, and it's surpassed thatby a lot.
So I love that.
SPEAKER_02 (03:01):
And uh so your his legacy lives on by doing
something like this.
I can see that, I can understandthat.
Um so how did you land?
Well, uh you just kind of talkedabout the mission and all that
and landed on, you know, givingout these lifetime tags.
Um but explain in your own wordswhat Little Tags Foundation
(03:22):
does.
Now you do the tags, but uh isthere any more to that?
SPEAKER_00 (03:27):
So we do the tags, we also um do the merchandise.
Um if w we sell the merchandise,but if people need um, you know,
hunting clothes, um, any gearexcept for firearms, we can't do
that.
Um they can apply online andthey can um they can get it that
way.
Uh we're trying to expand withmentors and stuff.
(03:50):
Um and we would love to build alodge someday, but you know,
that's does cost a lot of money.
SPEAKER_02 (03:56):
So never say never.
SPEAKER_00 (03:57):
Yeah, never.
Never say never.
SPEAKER_02 (04:00):
Exactly.
Never say never.
But you I mean that's one of thegoals.
And uh you said uh you give outthese tags.
Why is it so important toprovide lifetime hunting and
fishing licenses instead of theannual ones?
SPEAKER_00 (04:13):
Um, so we believe that the outdoors is more than
um just recreation.
It's a way to teach patientsresponsibility and respect um
for the environment and thevalue of quality time.
Um by investing in our youthnow, we ensure those traditions
and values will be passed on umfor generations.
SPEAKER_02 (04:31):
Absolutely, absolutely.
And I think, you know, uh megrowing up, I mean, my dad was a
hunter.
I mean, my brother-in-law's,they all go out.
It's hard to get them togetherfor a Thanksgiving dinner, if
you know what I mean, becausethey're all out in the field
doing their thing.
Yeah.
Uh but it's so important, andand I like the fact that it's
also together time.
Uh maybe a father and a and ason go out, or maybe, you know,
(04:52):
even the women are hunting andeverybody sticks together and
you have that bonding.
Yeah.
Uh did you hunt?
SPEAKER_00 (04:58):
Yes.
I it's been many years.
Um I don't have time.
Um but I was my teenagedaughters, um, they are showing
interest, and I would like toget back out there um with them.
So, yes, I did use to hunt.
SPEAKER_02 (05:11):
Yeah.
Jason, tell me um a little bitabout your side of this.
Being you're Nikki's husband,you're involved, you've been
there since day one.
SPEAKER_01 (05:20):
I have been there since day one.
Um that she made mention of theconversation that her mother and
her sister uh were having aroundthe breakfast bar at her
mother's house.
Um, what it was, there was therewas a few extra bucks that
people had donated um to youknow during the funeral time and
all of that.
And they wanted to do somethingthat would promote what Nate was
(05:42):
interested in, um, which was theoutdoors.
And it wasn't just necessarilyhunting.
Um, he was a hunter, he was afisher, he was a fisherman, he
was a trapper, um he was awoodsman, he was a logger.
Um loved the outdoors, yeah,outdoors, he's an outdoors guy,
and he he would take it uponhimself to take a kid that was
interested and just show them,show them the ropes, and that
(06:02):
was kind of the premise of it.
Um so as they started to buildthis thing, um Nikki and I have
a bit of a reputation locally inour community for helping folks
in need through benefits andsuch.
And I have a bit of a knack forbeing able to raise money.
Um, so that's kind of my side ofit.
(06:23):
I'm I'm you're very much in verymuch involved in you know,
working the donations andhelping to you know make this
thing go along.
SPEAKER_02 (06:32):
Yeah, the community is very lucky to have you both.
You know, somebody that wants togive back and somebody that
wants to put meaning tosomething and make it all work.
I mean, you're talking aboutbuilding this lodge down the
road, and let's, you know, thatcould be a goal that, you know,
like I said, never say never,because it can happen.
We know it can happen.
I've talked to otherorganizations where they've set
goals and then they've come backand said, guess what?
(06:54):
You know, we got a grant, wemade this happen, we did this,
and now we have our maybe inyour situation, you're gonna
come back and tell me, Well, wegot our lodge.
Yeah.
And that's what I want you todo.
Could you uh also well you alsoprovide gear, correct?
Yep.
And uh, what type of gear are wetalking about?
And how do you decide what ayouth needs to get started?
SPEAKER_00 (07:15):
So basically the gear is you know, safety gear.
That's you know, when you'rehunting, you have to do your
safety course.
Um if that costs money, we willum in New York State, usually
it's a small fee, but if theyneed help with that, um we will
provide the funds for it to getthe um the safety course done.
Um but it's your jackets, yourblaze orange, um, you know, if
(07:36):
they need the tree stand gear,um the harness stuff, um, all of
those items, fishing poles,bows, um, we can't do firearms,
um, but basically anything youneed in the woods blinds, tree
stands, yep.
SPEAKER_02 (07:50):
How important now the tree stand, how important is
that that uh I know people thathunt and they go sit in the
stands and they don't strapthemselves in.
Then I heard about a situationwhere somebody fell out of a
tree stand, yeah.
That individual is no longerwith us.
So I'm so your tree harness, youknow, it's safety first.
You have to.
SPEAKER_00 (08:11):
Um especially with these these young kids, you
know, they're usually most kids,they are um they're kids,
they're grown up with it, butyou still you never know.
You could easily trip um andfall.
SPEAKER_02 (08:24):
So uh do either of you have a story about a maybe a
particular kid or family thatwho really reminded you of why
little tags exist?
SPEAKER_00 (08:34):
Is there something that sticks out in your mind or
is it just we have so many umtons of great stories of people
applying and you know reachingout if um if they need a license
and their family can't affordit.
I don't have just one story.
Um no, there's there's a lot.
(08:55):
We've given out over 200licenses.
SPEAKER_01 (08:58):
Okay, so since its inception, um, like Nikki said
stated earlier, we intended togive out, you know, her first
year she intended to give outthree or four licenses.
So we have so far surpassed twohundred licenses for over a
hundred and twenty-five thousanddollars given out.
SPEAKER_02 (09:15):
Dude, that's awesome.
SPEAKER_01 (09:16):
So the the amount of stories that I'm I'm sure her
head is flooding right now.
SPEAKER_02 (09:22):
Yeah, I can see the look on her face.
I know this is radio, but if youcould see the look on our face.
SPEAKER_01 (09:26):
There's a you know, through the application process,
which is on our website, whichNikki can give you, um a child
can apply, and the applicationis set up to this to the type of
it can be anything that theyneed that falls in our
parameters.
Um so there's several stories.
I mean, we get applications thatare hand printed in crayon.
SPEAKER_03 (09:44):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (09:45):
And we love those.
So if we can get a picture, ifwe can get a video of a kid, you
know, if you can get a video ofa kid stating that they want to
go hunt so they can hunt withtheir aunt, uncle, father,
mother, grandparent, brother,sister, and or if they want to
fish.
You know, the same it applies toall of it, but it's there's
there's hunt literally hundredsof stories.
SPEAKER_00 (10:06):
We love getting the crayon ones, the ones that I we
I we get in the mail, and it'sjust like, oh my god, you know,
it's just awesome.
SPEAKER_02 (10:12):
How do you hold it together?
I mean, sometimes she doesn't.
And I and I understand.
I don't know if I could.
SPEAKER_00 (10:20):
We have a we have a huge support system.
SPEAKER_02 (10:23):
Knowing first of all, the legacy and everything
about this, and then when youreceive those letters or the
drawings that are in crayon,yeah, it's kind of like wow.
SPEAKER_00 (10:33):
Yeah, it is.
Wow.
SPEAKER_02 (10:34):
And I'll tear up warming too, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (10:36):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (10:37):
Um how many how many youth would you say you have
helped?
SPEAKER_00 (10:42):
So right now, um, with just the licenses, not
including the gear, 205 licensesum we've given out, and that is
um approximately$128,000 thatwe've given in five years.
Um this past fundraiser that wedid in September, we raised our
biggest yet was$43,000.
SPEAKER_02 (11:03):
Let's talk about the fundraisers.
SPEAKER_00 (11:05):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (11:05):
So it's just incredible.
It's fun.
So what kind of fundraisers doyou do throughout the year?
SPEAKER_00 (11:10):
That that's really it.
Um the other thing that we do,we started going to the uh
fairgrounds, the sportsman show,the expo, that's in January this
year.
Um we have um oh the can and bindrive, that is big.
We have um bins around Cortland.
Um people drop off cans and allthat money goes towards it.
(11:31):
And then we just have localsupporters that'll, you know,
kind of cut a check and mail itto us throughout the year.
SPEAKER_02 (11:37):
So can it's one big fundraiser.
It's four it's one bigfundraiser.
It's like 365 days out of theyear.
It goes on 24-7.
Yes, it does.
And when we say that, it I'msaying like you go to the
website, which is um little tagsfoundation.org.org, little tags
foundation.org.
And um, if somebody like myselfor somebody listening to this
(11:59):
right now says, you know, thisis pretty awesome, and I hope
you do, um, that you say, youknow what, I want to give a
little.
I have a little extra.
It's holiday season too, and Iwant to give a little bit.
SPEAKER_00 (12:10):
So we do have uh PayPal Venmo um that you can do
it through.
Uh you can click on a link thatsays donate.
There you go.
Yep.
SPEAKER_02 (12:17):
Yep.
Does anybody write checks?
SPEAKER_00 (12:19):
Actually, we do get quite a few checks.
SPEAKER_01 (12:21):
I'd I'd like to speak on this.
Please do.
We will take donations in anyform, cash check, any type of
Venmo, cash app.
We have it all.
It's all on our website.
Cool.
Um, we have several businessesthat would like to they look
some of them would like to beknown, some of them would like
to remain anonymous, but arevery much behind our mission of
(12:43):
I love your mission.
Getting kids outside andcreating situations where they
can be and spend time with theirfamilies in in a heritage type
situation.
Yeah, I think we need that.
Yeah, it's a thing.
SPEAKER_00 (12:54):
We have a lot of grandparents too that apply for
their grandchildren, which Ithink is awesome.
Um you know, just to hear itkind of, you know, the story for
why their grandchild wants toget out there, whether it's in
the grandchild's words or thegrandparents, it's just it's
rewarding.
SPEAKER_02 (13:10):
I love that.
How many um well let me ask youthis?
You're talking about the kidsgetting out there.
Uh it's different today than itwas years ago.
A lot different.
And I'm sure you both know that.
SPEAKER_03 (13:20):
Yep.
SPEAKER_02 (13:21):
Uh have you noticed a shift in how kids are getting
introduced to the outdoors inthis generation uh compared to
the past decade?
And what have you noticed?
SPEAKER_00 (13:30):
Um, right now we notice, you know, they're tr
they're taking their safetycourses online, which uh if you
gotta do it, you gotta do it.
SPEAKER_02 (13:37):
But I went to the community uh building.
If you can get it, Camillas, Ithink it was.
SPEAKER_00 (13:42):
We have tons of sportsman clubs around here that
offer um usually at no cost.
Um so if anybody needs, youknow, a list of those clubs
around you, uh, reach out to us,we'll get them to you.
Um but we do notice a shift andthey're doing it online instead
of actually going and doing itin hands-on.
Um you learn more when it'shands-on.
SPEAKER_02 (14:02):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (14:03):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (14:03):
Absolutely, no matter what we do in life.
Yeah, you listen to it.
You grasp it more.
You do sing.
Absolutely.
I think doing what I do, uh it'sbeen hands-on.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (14:14):
To add a little to that topic as well, like we
spoke earlier of that long-termgoal of the lodge.
That's a far and distant goalright now, but it it maybe is a
feasible goal at some point intime, depending on donations and
you know, with the effort we putforth.
Um that we would like to holdclasses and events for kids to
come and you know, have it be afamily, you know, oriented
(14:35):
place.
That would be awesome.
Yeah, just a that would be theplace.
You know, a nice place outsomewhere where kids can learn.
SPEAKER_02 (14:41):
Didn't mean to cut you off.
I apologize.
Um, have you like I mean, wehave you know, Dick Sporting
Goods, we have Bass Pro Shops,we have stores like uh Cabela's.
We have stores like that.
Do you get involved with them?
SPEAKER_00 (14:53):
We have reached out to them.
Um I have written letters.
SPEAKER_02 (14:56):
But it's a big corporation, it is hard to get
through the door.
SPEAKER_00 (14:59):
Yeah, they don't reach out.
Um I write them letters likemail it and I email, and we've
gotten no response.
SPEAKER_01 (15:05):
Maybe somebody's listening to we would love a
contact if someone has one thatthey could reach out out to us
on the website and get a littlebit of a endowment.
We would we would we it's a goalfor us to to gain a large
sponsor like that.
Hopefully somebody will hearwhat we're trying to do here.
SPEAKER_02 (15:23):
So the the when do that they have to compete or
compete, complete the safetycourse at a young age.
1212.
Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (15:31):
Yep.
SPEAKER_02 (15:31):
Okay, and that's how you qualify for the license.
SPEAKER_00 (15:34):
Well, you qualify for the license.
Um, you can get it it from whenyou have a social security
number, a birth certificate, andthen we do it until 18.
Um so they can apply, whetherit's the child or the parent,
they can apply whenever.
SPEAKER_02 (15:49):
So you you've started the Little Tags
Foundation.
I'm talking with Nikki, who isthe founder, and uh um Jason,
her husband, who is like yourbackbone right now, and keeping
you.
I mean, this has got to be verydifficult for you to do.
I think every time this happens,um your mind must immediately go
back to that place in time, howit all started, which is very
(16:11):
difficult.
But you know what?
You're blessed and you'restanding strong, yeah, and
you're getting the word outthere because you know that um
Nathan would have wanted this.
Oh, yeah.
Nathan would, and he's there andhe's you know, watching these
kids go out and do this becausehe absolutely loves it.
But uh, you know, as anot-for-profit that began from
(16:32):
this very personal uh place,what were some of the early
challenges in getting uh thefoundation established?
Did you have a tough time doingthat?
SPEAKER_00 (16:41):
Or yeah, the 501c3, as everybody knows, um it is
it's it's US wide.
Um but to get that status, itdid take some time.
Um so that was probably thebiggest hurdle.
Um the second hurdle was justgetting the name out there.
Um now that you know we're we'refive years in, more people are
hearing about it, words gettingout.
(17:01):
Um yeah, the that was the bigand I mean the other hurdle too
is just dealing with you knowthe reminder of why we started
this.
Um but I mean, other than that,you know, my mom and my sister,
Natalie and um Wave A Bush,they're they're great supporters
and they're they're the backbonetoo.
SPEAKER_02 (17:21):
Your hometown is Cortland?
SPEAKER_00 (17:22):
Truxton.
SPEAKER_02 (17:23):
Truxton.
So you're right in Deer Country.
Yeah.
You're down in Preble.
You're down where I got aspeeding ticket on 81.
But you're in that area.
I mean, that's a whole differentsubject.
But still.
SPEAKER_00 (17:33):
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (17:34):
And I do remember that trooper coming down the
ramp.
Um, but no, but I'm just allkidding aside.
That is like mybrother-in-law's, they go to
Truxton, they're in Preble.
I I got so many friends, so manyuh local artists, country
artists that get out there, anduh that's where they usually go
to hunt.
So you're running the heart ofthat uh as well as the fishing.
Yes.
I mean, in that area.
Yeah.
(17:54):
So um where do you hope LittleTags is five years from now?
SPEAKER_00 (17:58):
Five years from now, I'd would have loved to secure a
plot of land and to get, youknow, start thinking about the
lodge and building it.
Um I would love to hit that 500license um threshold, which is I
think it's pretty doable.
Have you doable?
SPEAKER_02 (18:18):
I think it is.
Yeah.
Have you expand wanted toexpand?
Has anybody approached yousaying, you know, you're doing
this here.
This is such this little tagsidea that you have is
tremendous.
Now, maybe another state, uhsurround, you know, we have
Pennsylvania, it's big huntingterritory as well, it's other
tier.
It is.
Um but it the this is a veryimportant thing.
SPEAKER_00 (18:37):
We haven't had any anybody approach us.
Um in our bylaws, we are U.S.
wide.
Okay.
So we can give in other states.
Okay.
We just have not had theopportunity yet.
SPEAKER_02 (18:47):
Or maybe other organizations or other people
wanting to do what you do cometo you to find out how you did
it, and then it expands.
So yeah.
So his legacy is not onlyNathan's legacy, is not only
here, it's everywhere.
And it needs to be because ofwhat he's doing.
Are there uh outdoor experiencesor mentorship elements you'd
like to add one day?
(19:09):
I mean, you talked about gettingsome mentors.
SPEAKER_00 (19:11):
Yeah, we have a we have quite a few people that are
interested in mentoring.
Um, but in order for us to takefull advantage of that, um it
it's just really honing in on,you know, we have so many
sportsman clubs, um, and I'dlike to do the I like to do it
right the first time.
You know, so it's it's it's justdoing the research that we need
(19:31):
to do.
SPEAKER_02 (19:32):
You're right.
We have a lot of sportsmen'sclubs.
And I know you're gonna be atthe show in January.
Yes.
But um, do you actually go tothose clubs and represent little
tags and talk to the the men andwomen that are here?
SPEAKER_00 (19:44):
We have a couple of times, but not a lot.
Again, it's only, you know, sixof us all together um to go out
and do that.
So it is, you know, time is itthere's not enough of us, put it
that way.
SPEAKER_02 (19:58):
Um, I just I'm starting to think about
everything.
Yeah, that it's yeah.
You know, when you think aboutNathan and everything Little
Tags has become, what do youhope he would say if he could
tell you something right now?
Nikki, what the heck you doing?
No, I'm kidding.
SPEAKER_00 (20:15):
Yeah, well, that's pretty much probably how he
would say it.
SPEAKER_01 (20:18):
That's kind of how he would say it.
Um you just mentioned the mentorthing, and Nikki mentioned it
earlier.
Um Nate was doing that on hisown.
You know, he he basicallystarted our premise without even
knowing that this was gonnahappen.
Obviously, he didn't know thatthis was gonna happen.
He didn't, but he was alreadydoing all these things.
(20:39):
He wasn't buying kids licenses,but he was certainly giving them
his time.
If he wanted, I'll go with you.
Exactly.
He would you know teach a kidhow to how to you know you know
throw tackle and bait a hook andyou know, fish and trap and all
of it.
He would he basically startedthe mentor part of it before we
ever started.
SPEAKER_02 (20:58):
Now, what got Nathan involved with this?
Let's go way back even.
SPEAKER_00 (21:02):
Oh, this is my dad.
All right, yeah, dad.
Um Joe Bush did it every everytime he could, you know, when
the season opened up, even atwhen the season wasn't open, he
was cleaning his traps, he washe's yeah, he's still with us.
Um it was dad.
SPEAKER_01 (21:21):
Yeah.
Oh god bless us uh Joe Bushstory.
Um it's funny you mentionedearlier about the Thanksgiving
day uh stuff.
Joe Bush normally has hisThanksgiving dinner either late
or we're waiting a little bitfor him.
And when they was alive, we werewaiting for the both of them.
Yeah, exactly.
I mean, it's a it's a day, youknow.
(21:41):
They they plan to eat late, andthat's how it's gonna be, you
know.
So it's it's definitely part ofNikki's family heritage.
Yeah, it comes way down, itcomes down from Joe's dad right
on down through, you know, andI'm sure it came some way above
that.
Yeah, you know, way back.
It's they uh hunting and fishingand outdoor life is a way of
life for them for sure.
SPEAKER_00 (22:02):
Family of loggers.
SPEAKER_02 (22:04):
Little loggers, yeah.
There you go.
Well, truckston preble, it'sjust you know, in this beautiful
area.
Uh little tags foundation.org isthe website.
Now, if somebody goes on there,you said they could donate, they
can get information about whatyou're doing.
SPEAKER_00 (22:17):
Uh can they they also can apply on there as well.
There's an application process.
SPEAKER_02 (22:21):
There's an application and that application
process that comes to you.
SPEAKER_00 (22:25):
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (22:26):
And then you review it.
How does all that work?
SPEAKER_00 (22:28):
So it'll come to us and we have a committee that
actually goes through all of theapplications, the ones that are
online and then the ones thatare mailed.
Um, and then they pick out theones that um you know that
resonate most on what ourmission is.
Um, and then we contact them,uh, we let them know.
We actually do write checks.
(22:48):
Um, we cut the checks right tothe local city clerk and town
clerk because we have learnedthat 50% of those funds stay
within that town.
So we don't do big box stores.
Um, sorry.
SPEAKER_02 (23:00):
No, no, no, no, no.
But we want we want the moneythere.
Yes.
Yes, exactly.
SPEAKER_00 (23:04):
And then they get it.
Um the checks are made out tothat city clerk um for lifetime
licenses, and um then they'lljust start getting everything in
the mail, and that's it.
SPEAKER_02 (23:14):
Well, one final question.
What does success look like toyou?
Is it a number, a feeling, alegacy, or something else?
I know these are my notes.
SPEAKER_00 (23:26):
Definitely um I would say a feeling.
The legacy as well.
Um but yeah, it's the feeling.
SPEAKER_02 (23:37):
Um I'm putting you on a name.
SPEAKER_01 (23:41):
I'm I'm just gonna speak it straight.
Please do.
Nikki and her family are the thelegacy and the feeling.
Yeah um and not to divide us,we're not divided at all.
But without the funds, we can'tcontinue.
Correct.
Bottom line.
Um that's but even for me, it'smore about the heritage of it.
Yes, no, and I totallyunderstand that.
(24:02):
It's you know, it's it's noteverybody's cup of tea, but it's
you'll it's getting kids outdoing things.
SPEAKER_00 (24:10):
We have supporters that don't even that don't even
hunt, you know.
They don't even it uh they'redoing it, they're giving us the
funds because it's helping thethe kids.
You know, so it hits everyaspect of um the different types
of people that support littletags.
SPEAKER_02 (24:27):
Do you two have have kids?
SPEAKER_00 (24:28):
We do.
SPEAKER_02 (24:29):
We do.
Do they hunt?
SPEAKER_00 (24:31):
Um, so I have one, Brooke hunts um Bailey, she
loves to fish.
So yeah, they're just two youngdaughters.
Yes, they're 15, they're twins.
Um, your daughter.
SPEAKER_01 (24:41):
I have an adult daughter, okay, Elena.
She's not she's not interestedin the hunting fishing, but
she's definitely an outdoorsperson, hiking, nice, you know,
that sort of thing.
SPEAKER_02 (24:49):
See, there's a lot to be in outdoors.
Yeah, yes, there's way more thanjust the hunting and the fishing
all kind of reflects on that.
It does, yeah.
It does.
Yep.
Yeah.
You know, you're both verystrong.
And I want to thank you both forbeing here today to tell us a
little bit more about LittleTags Foundation.
Uh, little tags foundation.orgis the website.
Please, as they as Nikki andJason were saying, uh, this
(25:11):
cannot continue without thefunding.
And being a 501c3, it's anonprofit, which also means, you
know, it is the holidays.
Make a donation.
Do what you can do for thisorganization.
Uh, it's tax, it's a taxwrite-off, it's a 501c3.
Yeah, and there's you know,we're all looking for those
angles right now, just the waylife is, is you know, with the
(25:32):
money.
SPEAKER_00 (25:33):
We will be um getting ready to uh go through
the applications right now.
We always give some forChristmas.
So the parents, when theyreceive them, they put them
under the tree.
Um, and we're looking to do 15or 20 more licenses um for the
holidays.
SPEAKER_01 (25:47):
So to speak to the uh to the donation part too.
I'm a small business owner, sois Nikki.
Um this is the time of yearwhere small business and large
business owners are looking fora place to donate some money,
and Nikki can certainly providethe proper paperwork for any
donations that do.
SPEAKER_02 (26:02):
There would be a uh a contact email, phone number if
somebody wanted to.
Yeah, I kind of figured that asmuch.
But yeah, little tagsfoundation.org.
Please do what you can.
Um when I found out about this,I said this is gonna be one of
the best interviews they everdid.
And um just uh when you we we'relocal and we're hometown and a
(26:23):
nonprofit on top of that, andall just for a great cause.
Yeah, and uh you know, uh NathanBush will live forever.
He will, he will, definitelywill absolutely, and it's a
tragedy that you've turnedaround and made into something
good.
Yeah, you know, it's exactlyit's never good in the way of
the way it all went down, butit's you know he's watching you
(26:44):
do this right now, and yeah, heis you know exactly what I mean.
Uh Jason and Nikki, thank you somuch for being here.
Thank you.
Uh Little TagsFoundation.org,the website, please, please do
what you can do.
All right, and uh help them out.
Uh here they are local.
And if you hunt, if you fish,you just love the outdoors.
This is the organization youneed to uh get involved with,
(27:06):
tell your friends about.
Uh if uh, like Jason said, beinga uh a small business owner, if
you know somebody in thatsituation, say, hey, dude, guess
what?
You know what?
I know you love to hunt, buthave you heard about little
tags?
You know, you need to getinvolved.
It's local.
SPEAKER_00 (27:21):
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (27:21):
Thank you both for being here.
Thank you.
God bless you both.
You're on a mission and it'sawesome.
SPEAKER_01 (27:26):
Thanks.
Skip, thank you for having us.
We appreciate it.
The whole Little Tags familyappreciates you having us.
SPEAKER_02 (27:30):
Well, appreciate you right back on what you're doing.
Good morning and welcome to the Community
Connection, the Inner HarborCast.
My name is Skip Clark.
I am your host again this week,and another great program for
you, as you know, with the InnerHarbor Cast, uh, where you reach
out into the community, beinglocally owned and operated.
There are a lot of organizationshere in town, 501c3
(00:21):
organizations that uh have a lotto do with how we live and what
we do every day, and uh a lot ofgreat causes.
And uh this morning is one ofthose.
Uh I'm talking to Nikki, who isuh with Little Tags, and uh she
is the founder of that.
Her husband is in here, uh Jasonas well, and good morning to you
both.
(00:41):
Thanks for coming in.
And you're gonna tell us alittle bit about what Little
Tags is all about.
First of all, good morning.
SPEAKER_00 (00:47):
Good morning, thank you.
Thank you guys.
SPEAKER_02 (00:48):
Good morning, Skip.
Thank you for being here.
Uh, for listeners who may behearing about Little Tags for
the first time, um, can youshare who Nathan Bush was and
what he meant to those aroundhim?
Nikki being you are his sister.
Yes.
So why don't you start?
SPEAKER_00 (01:04):
So Little Tags, um, we had started about five years
ago.
Um, as you had said, it's anonprofit, 501c3.
Nate was a big um avid hunter,loved to take kids out um in the
woods, kind of show them theropes on you know just what to
do in the outdoors.
Um we tragically lost him in anaccident.
Um so we started this foundationum in his memory.
SPEAKER_02 (01:30):
I know it's hard to talk though.
I totally get it.
SPEAKER_00 (01:32):
And then and how long ago was the uh uh it was in
2020, so it was five years.
SPEAKER_02 (01:36):
This was this in Tully.
Um I think I read about that.
SPEAKER_00 (01:41):
Yeah, yeah.
Yep.
So we started this foundation.
Um we wanted to, you know, helpout kids that in and the
families um deal with you knowthe financial burden of a
lifetime license.
So we give out the lifetimelicenses at no cost to the
family or the child.
unknown (01:59):
Oh wow.
SPEAKER_02 (02:00):
So um obviously losing Nathan was devastating.
Very devastating.
It's just hard to hard to evenfathom that happening, but it
does happen and unfortunately.
But you're putting you'reputting all those memories and
everything to great cause.
Uh, what was the moment orconversation that sparked the
idea to turn that tragedy intosomething so meaningful?
SPEAKER_00 (02:24):
Um, so we actually, it was my mom and my sister, we
were kind of just sitting aroundum the breakfast bar at my
parents' house, and we werejust, you know, we didn't want
to do a scholarship, we didn'twant to do anything, you know,
kind of that everybody's done.
Um, and it just kind of cameabout.
Um the name in itself, you know,tags.
(02:44):
We used to get a little tag, youknow, when you're talking about
it.
SPEAKER_02 (02:46):
That was like when you're hunting, you get your
tag, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (02:48):
Yep.
So it just it just came all cametogether, and you know, we
created the logo and we thoughtwe'd give out maybe two to three
a year, and it's surpassed thatby a lot.
So I love that.
SPEAKER_02 (03:01):
And uh so your his legacy lives on by doing
something like this.
I can see that, I can understandthat.
Um so how did you land?
Well, uh you just kind of talkedabout the mission and all that
and landed on, you know, givingout these lifetime tags.
Um but explain in your own wordswhat Little Tags Foundation
(03:22):
does.
Now you do the tags, but uh isthere any more to that?
SPEAKER_00 (03:27):
So we do the tags, we also um do the merchandise.
Um if w we sell the merchandise,but if people need um, you know,
hunting clothes, um, any gearexcept for firearms, we can't do
that.
Um they can apply online andthey can um they can get it that
way.
Uh we're trying to expand withmentors and stuff.
(03:50):
Um and we would love to build alodge someday, but you know,
that's does cost a lot of money.
SPEAKER_02 (03:56):
So never say never.
SPEAKER_00 (03:57):
Yeah, never.
Never say never.
SPEAKER_02 (04:00):
Exactly.
Never say never.
But you I mean that's one of thegoals.
And uh you said uh you give outthese tags.
Why is it so important toprovide lifetime hunting and
fishing licenses instead of theannual ones?
SPEAKER_00 (04:13):
Um, so we believe that the outdoors is more than
um just recreation.
It's a way to teach patientsresponsibility and respect um
for the environment and thevalue of quality time.
Um by investing in our youthnow, we ensure those traditions
and values will be passed on umfor generations.
SPEAKER_02 (04:31):
Absolutely, absolutely.
And I think, you know, uh megrowing up, I mean, my dad was a
hunter.
I mean, my brother-in-law's,they all go out.
It's hard to get them togetherfor a Thanksgiving dinner, if
you know what I mean, becausethey're all out in the field
doing their thing.
Yeah.
Uh but it's so important, andand I like the fact that it's
also together time.
Uh maybe a father and a and ason go out, or maybe, you know,
(04:52):
even the women are hunting andeverybody sticks together and
you have that bonding.
Yeah.
Uh did you hunt?
SPEAKER_00 (04:58):
Yes.
I it's been many years.
Um I don't have time.
Um but I was my teenagedaughters, um, they are showing
interest, and I would like toget back out there um with them.
So, yes, I did use to hunt.
SPEAKER_02 (05:11):
Yeah.
Jason, tell me um a little bitabout your side of this.
Being you're Nikki's husband,you're involved, you've been
there since day one.
SPEAKER_01 (05:20):
I have been there since day one.
Um that she made mention of theconversation that her mother and
her sister uh were having aroundthe breakfast bar at her
mother's house.
Um, what it was, there was therewas a few extra bucks that
people had donated um to youknow during the funeral time and
all of that.
And they wanted to do somethingthat would promote what Nate was
(05:42):
interested in, um, which was theoutdoors.
And it wasn't just necessarilyhunting.
Um, he was a hunter, he was afisher, he was a fisherman, he
was a trapper, um he was awoodsman, he was a logger.
Um loved the outdoors, yeah,outdoors, he's an outdoors guy,
and he he would take it uponhimself to take a kid that was
interested and just show them,show them the ropes, and that
(06:02):
was kind of the premise of it.
Um so as they started to buildthis thing, um Nikki and I have
a bit of a reputation locally inour community for helping folks
in need through benefits andsuch.
And I have a bit of a knack forbeing able to raise money.
Um, so that's kind of my side ofit.
(06:23):
I'm I'm you're very much in verymuch involved in you know,
working the donations andhelping to you know make this
thing go along.
SPEAKER_02 (06:32):
Yeah, the community is very lucky to have you both.
You know, somebody that wants togive back and somebody that
wants to put meaning tosomething and make it all work.
I mean, you're talking aboutbuilding this lodge down the
road, and let's, you know, thatcould be a goal that, you know,
like I said, never say never,because it can happen.
We know it can happen.
I've talked to otherorganizations where they've set
goals and then they've come backand said, guess what?
(06:54):
You know, we got a grant, wemade this happen, we did this,
and now we have our maybe inyour situation, you're gonna
come back and tell me, Well, wegot our lodge.
Yeah.
And that's what I want you todo.
Could you uh also well you alsoprovide gear, correct?
Yep.
And uh, what type of gear are wetalking about?
And how do you decide what ayouth needs to get started?
SPEAKER_00 (07:15):
So basically the gear is you know, safety gear.
That's you know, when you'rehunting, you have to do your
safety course.
Um if that costs money, we willum in New York State, usually
it's a small fee, but if theyneed help with that, um we will
provide the funds for it to getthe um the safety course done.
Um but it's your jackets, yourblaze orange, um, you know, if
(07:36):
they need the tree stand gear,um the harness stuff, um, all of
those items, fishing poles,bows, um, we can't do firearms,
um, but basically anything youneed in the woods blinds, tree
stands, yep.
SPEAKER_02 (07:50):
How important now the tree stand, how important is
that that uh I know people thathunt and they go sit in the
stands and they don't strapthemselves in.
Then I heard about a situationwhere somebody fell out of a
tree stand, yeah.
That individual is no longerwith us.
So I'm so your tree harness, youknow, it's safety first.
You have to.
SPEAKER_00 (08:11):
Um especially with these these young kids, you
know, they're usually most kids,they are um they're kids,
they're grown up with it, butyou still you never know.
You could easily trip um andfall.
SPEAKER_02 (08:24):
So uh do either of you have a story about a maybe a
particular kid or family thatwho really reminded you of why
little tags exist?
SPEAKER_00 (08:34):
Is there something that sticks out in your mind or
is it just we have so many umtons of great stories of people
applying and you know reachingout if um if they need a license
and their family can't affordit.
I don't have just one story.
Um no, there's there's a lot.
(08:55):
We've given out over 200licenses.
SPEAKER_01 (08:58):
Okay, so since its inception, um, like Nikki said
stated earlier, we intended togive out, you know, her first
year she intended to give outthree or four licenses.
So we have so far surpassed twohundred licenses for over a
hundred and twenty-five thousanddollars given out.
SPEAKER_02 (09:15):
Dude, that's awesome.
SPEAKER_01 (09:16):
So the the amount of stories that I'm I'm sure her
head is flooding right now.
SPEAKER_02 (09:22):
Yeah, I can see the look on her face.
I know this is radio, but if youcould see the look on our face.
SPEAKER_01 (09:26):
There's a you know, through the application process,
which is on our website, whichNikki can give you, um a child
can apply, and the applicationis set up to this to the type of
it can be anything that theyneed that falls in our
parameters.
Um so there's several stories.
I mean, we get applications thatare hand printed in crayon.
SPEAKER_03 (09:44):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (09:45):
And we love those.
So if we can get a picture, ifwe can get a video of a kid, you
know, if you can get a video ofa kid stating that they want to
go hunt so they can hunt withtheir aunt, uncle, father,
mother, grandparent, brother,sister, and or if they want to
fish.
You know, the same it applies toall of it, but it's there's
there's hunt literally hundredsof stories.
SPEAKER_00 (10:06):
We love getting the crayon ones, the ones that I we
I we get in the mail, and it'sjust like, oh my god, you know,
it's just awesome.
SPEAKER_02 (10:12):
How do you hold it together?
I mean, sometimes she doesn't.
And I and I understand.
I don't know if I could.
SPEAKER_00 (10:20):
We have a we have a huge support system.
SPEAKER_02 (10:23):
Knowing first of all, the legacy and everything
about this, and then when youreceive those letters or the
drawings that are in crayon,yeah, it's kind of like wow.
SPEAKER_00 (10:33):
Yeah, it is.
Wow.
SPEAKER_02 (10:34):
And I'll tear up warming too, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (10:36):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (10:37):
Um how many how many youth would you say you have
helped?
SPEAKER_00 (10:42):
So right now, um, with just the licenses, not
including the gear, 205 licensesum we've given out, and that is
um approximately$128,000 thatwe've given in five years.
Um this past fundraiser that wedid in September, we raised our
biggest yet was$43,000.
SPEAKER_02 (11:03):
Let's talk about the fundraisers.
SPEAKER_00 (11:05):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (11:05):
So it's just incredible.
It's fun.
So what kind of fundraisers doyou do throughout the year?
SPEAKER_00 (11:10):
That that's really it.
Um the other thing that we do,we started going to the uh
fairgrounds, the sportsman show,the expo, that's in January this
year.
Um we have um oh the can and bindrive, that is big.
We have um bins around Cortland.
Um people drop off cans and allthat money goes towards it.
(11:31):
And then we just have localsupporters that'll, you know,
kind of cut a check and mail itto us throughout the year.
SPEAKER_02 (11:37):
So can it's one big fundraiser.
It's four it's one bigfundraiser.
It's like 365 days out of theyear.
It goes on 24-7.
Yes, it does.
And when we say that, it I'msaying like you go to the
website, which is um little tagsfoundation.org.org, little tags
foundation.org.
And um, if somebody like myselfor somebody listening to this
(11:59):
right now says, you know, thisis pretty awesome, and I hope
you do, um, that you say, youknow what, I want to give a
little.
I have a little extra.
It's holiday season too, and Iwant to give a little bit.
SPEAKER_00 (12:10):
So we do have uh PayPal Venmo um that you can do
it through.
Uh you can click on a link thatsays donate.
There you go.
Yep.
SPEAKER_02 (12:17):
Yep.
Does anybody write checks?
SPEAKER_00 (12:19):
Actually, we do get quite a few checks.
SPEAKER_01 (12:21):
I'd I'd like to speak on this.
Please do.
We will take donations in anyform, cash check, any type of
Venmo, cash app.
We have it all.
It's all on our website.
Cool.
Um, we have several businessesthat would like to they look
some of them would like to beknown, some of them would like
to remain anonymous, but arevery much behind our mission of
(12:43):
I love your mission.
Getting kids outside andcreating situations where they
can be and spend time with theirfamilies in in a heritage type
situation.
Yeah, I think we need that.
Yeah, it's a thing.
SPEAKER_00 (12:54):
We have a lot of grandparents too that apply for
their grandchildren, which Ithink is awesome.
Um you know, just to hear itkind of, you know, the story for
why their grandchild wants toget out there, whether it's in
the grandchild's words or thegrandparents, it's just it's
rewarding.
SPEAKER_02 (13:10):
I love that.
How many um well let me ask youthis?
You're talking about the kidsgetting out there.
Uh it's different today than itwas years ago.
A lot different.
And I'm sure you both know that.
SPEAKER_03 (13:20):
Yep.
SPEAKER_02 (13:21):
Uh have you noticed a shift in how kids are getting
introduced to the outdoors inthis generation uh compared to
the past decade?
And what have you noticed?
SPEAKER_00 (13:30):
Um, right now we notice, you know, they're tr
they're taking their safetycourses online, which uh if you
gotta do it, you gotta do it.
SPEAKER_02 (13:37):
But I went to the community uh building.
If you can get it, Camillas, Ithink it was.
SPEAKER_00 (13:42):
We have tons of sportsman clubs around here that
offer um usually at no cost.
Um so if anybody needs, youknow, a list of those clubs
around you, uh, reach out to us,we'll get them to you.
Um but we do notice a shift andthey're doing it online instead
of actually going and doing itin hands-on.
Um you learn more when it'shands-on.
SPEAKER_02 (14:02):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (14:03):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (14:03):
Absolutely, no matter what we do in life.
Yeah, you listen to it.
You grasp it more.
You do sing.
Absolutely.
I think doing what I do, uh it'sbeen hands-on.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (14:14):
To add a little to that topic as well, like we
spoke earlier of that long-termgoal of the lodge.
That's a far and distant goalright now, but it it maybe is a
feasible goal at some point intime, depending on donations and
you know, with the effort we putforth.
Um that we would like to holdclasses and events for kids to
come and you know, have it be afamily, you know, oriented
(14:35):
place.
That would be awesome.
Yeah, just a that would be theplace.
You know, a nice place outsomewhere where kids can learn.
SPEAKER_02 (14:41):
Didn't mean to cut you off.
I apologize.
Um, have you like I mean, wehave you know, Dick Sporting
Goods, we have Bass Pro Shops,we have stores like uh Cabela's.
We have stores like that.
Do you get involved with them?
SPEAKER_00 (14:53):
We have reached out to them.
Um I have written letters.
SPEAKER_02 (14:56):
But it's a big corporation, it is hard to get
through the door.
SPEAKER_00 (14:59):
Yeah, they don't reach out.
Um I write them letters likemail it and I email, and we've
gotten no response.
SPEAKER_01 (15:05):
Maybe somebody's listening to we would love a
contact if someone has one thatthey could reach out out to us
on the website and get a littlebit of a endowment.
We would we would we it's a goalfor us to to gain a large
sponsor like that.
Hopefully somebody will hearwhat we're trying to do here.
SPEAKER_02 (15:23):
So the the when do that they have to compete or
compete, complete the safetycourse at a young age.
1212.
Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (15:31):
Yep.
SPEAKER_02 (15:31):
Okay, and that's how you qualify for the license.
SPEAKER_00 (15:34):
Well, you qualify for the license.
Um, you can get it it from whenyou have a social security
number, a birth certificate, andthen we do it until 18.
Um so they can apply, whetherit's the child or the parent,
they can apply whenever.
SPEAKER_02 (15:49):
So you you've started the Little Tags
Foundation.
I'm talking with Nikki, who isthe founder, and uh um Jason,
her husband, who is like yourbackbone right now, and keeping
you.
I mean, this has got to be verydifficult for you to do.
I think every time this happens,um your mind must immediately go
back to that place in time, howit all started, which is very
(16:11):
difficult.
But you know what?
You're blessed and you'restanding strong, yeah, and
you're getting the word outthere because you know that um
Nathan would have wanted this.
Oh, yeah.
Nathan would, and he's there andhe's you know, watching these
kids go out and do this becausehe absolutely loves it.
But uh, you know, as anot-for-profit that began from
(16:32):
this very personal uh place,what were some of the early
challenges in getting uh thefoundation established?
Did you have a tough time doingthat?
SPEAKER_00 (16:41):
Or yeah, the 501c3, as everybody knows, um it is
it's it's US wide.
Um but to get that status, itdid take some time.
Um so that was probably thebiggest hurdle.
Um the second hurdle was justgetting the name out there.
Um now that you know we're we'refive years in, more people are
hearing about it, words gettingout.
(17:01):
Um yeah, the that was the bigand I mean the other hurdle too
is just dealing with you knowthe reminder of why we started
this.
Um but I mean, other than that,you know, my mom and my sister,
Natalie and um Wave A Bush,they're they're great supporters
and they're they're the backbonetoo.
SPEAKER_02 (17:21):
Your hometown is Cortland?
SPEAKER_00 (17:22):
Truxton.
SPEAKER_02 (17:23):
Truxton.
So you're right in Deer Country.
Yeah.
You're down in Preble.
You're down where I got aspeeding ticket on 81.
But you're in that area.
I mean, that's a whole differentsubject.
But still.
SPEAKER_00 (17:33):
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (17:34):
And I do remember that trooper coming down the
ramp.
Um, but no, but I'm just allkidding aside.
That is like mybrother-in-law's, they go to
Truxton, they're in Preble.
I I got so many friends, so manyuh local artists, country
artists that get out there, anduh that's where they usually go
to hunt.
So you're running the heart ofthat uh as well as the fishing.
Yes.
I mean, in that area.
Yeah.
(17:54):
So um where do you hope LittleTags is five years from now?
SPEAKER_00 (17:58):
Five years from now, I'd would have loved to secure a
plot of land and to get, youknow, start thinking about the
lodge and building it.
Um I would love to hit that 500license um threshold, which is I
think it's pretty doable.
Have you doable?
SPEAKER_02 (18:18):
I think it is.
Yeah.
Have you expand wanted toexpand?
Has anybody approached yousaying, you know, you're doing
this here.
This is such this little tagsidea that you have is
tremendous.
Now, maybe another state, uhsurround, you know, we have
Pennsylvania, it's big huntingterritory as well, it's other
tier.
It is.
Um but it the this is a veryimportant thing.
SPEAKER_00 (18:37):
We haven't had any anybody approach us.
Um in our bylaws, we are U.S.
wide.
Okay.
So we can give in other states.
Okay.
We just have not had theopportunity yet.
SPEAKER_02 (18:47):
Or maybe other organizations or other people
wanting to do what you do cometo you to find out how you did
it, and then it expands.
So yeah.
So his legacy is not onlyNathan's legacy, is not only
here, it's everywhere.
And it needs to be because ofwhat he's doing.
Are there uh outdoor experiencesor mentorship elements you'd
like to add one day?
(19:09):
I mean, you talked about gettingsome mentors.
SPEAKER_00 (19:11):
Yeah, we have a we have quite a few people that are
interested in mentoring.
Um, but in order for us to takefull advantage of that, um it
it's just really honing in on,you know, we have so many
sportsman clubs, um, and I'dlike to do the I like to do it
right the first time.
You know, so it's it's it's justdoing the research that we need
(19:31):
to do.
SPEAKER_02 (19:32):
You're right.
We have a lot of sportsmen'sclubs.
And I know you're gonna be atthe show in January.
Yes.
But um, do you actually go tothose clubs and represent little
tags and talk to the the men andwomen that are here?
SPEAKER_00 (19:44):
We have a couple of times, but not a lot.
Again, it's only, you know, sixof us all together um to go out
and do that.
So it is, you know, time is itthere's not enough of us, put it
that way.
SPEAKER_02 (19:58):
Um, I just I'm starting to think about
everything.
Yeah, that it's yeah.
You know, when you think aboutNathan and everything Little
Tags has become, what do youhope he would say if he could
tell you something right now?
Nikki, what the heck you doing?
No, I'm kidding.
SPEAKER_00 (20:15):
Yeah, well, that's pretty much probably how he
would say it.
SPEAKER_01 (20:18):
That's kind of how he would say it.
Um you just mentioned the mentorthing, and Nikki mentioned it
earlier.
Um Nate was doing that on hisown.
You know, he he basicallystarted our premise without even
knowing that this was gonnahappen.
Obviously, he didn't know thatthis was gonna happen.
He didn't, but he was alreadydoing all these things.
(20:39):
He wasn't buying kids licenses,but he was certainly giving them
his time.
If he wanted, I'll go with you.
Exactly.
He would you know teach a kidhow to how to you know you know
throw tackle and bait a hook andyou know, fish and trap and all
of it.
He would he basically startedthe mentor part of it before we
ever started.
SPEAKER_02 (20:58):
Now, what got Nathan involved with this?
Let's go way back even.
SPEAKER_00 (21:02):
Oh, this is my dad.
All right, yeah, dad.
Um Joe Bush did it every everytime he could, you know, when
the season opened up, even atwhen the season wasn't open, he
was cleaning his traps, he washe's yeah, he's still with us.
Um it was dad.
SPEAKER_01 (21:21):
Yeah.
Oh god bless us uh Joe Bushstory.
Um it's funny you mentionedearlier about the Thanksgiving
day uh stuff.
Joe Bush normally has hisThanksgiving dinner either late
or we're waiting a little bitfor him.
And when they was alive, we werewaiting for the both of them.
Yeah, exactly.
I mean, it's a it's a day, youknow.
(21:41):
They they plan to eat late, andthat's how it's gonna be, you
know.
So it's it's definitely part ofNikki's family heritage.
Yeah, it comes way down, itcomes down from Joe's dad right
on down through, you know, andI'm sure it came some way above
that.
Yeah, you know, way back.
It's they uh hunting and fishingand outdoor life is a way of
life for them for sure.
SPEAKER_00 (22:02):
Family of loggers.
SPEAKER_02 (22:04):
Little loggers, yeah.
There you go.
Well, truckston preble, it'sjust you know, in this beautiful
area.
Uh little tags foundation.org isthe website.
Now, if somebody goes on there,you said they could donate, they
can get information about whatyou're doing.
SPEAKER_00 (22:17):
Uh can they they also can apply on there as well.
There's an application process.
SPEAKER_02 (22:21):
There's an application and that application
process that comes to you.
SPEAKER_00 (22:25):
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (22:26):
And then you review it.
How does all that work?
SPEAKER_00 (22:28):
So it'll come to us and we have a committee that
actually goes through all of theapplications, the ones that are
online and then the ones thatare mailed.
Um, and then they pick out theones that um you know that
resonate most on what ourmission is.
Um, and then we contact them,uh, we let them know.
We actually do write checks.
(22:48):
Um, we cut the checks right tothe local city clerk and town
clerk because we have learnedthat 50% of those funds stay
within that town.
So we don't do big box stores.
Um, sorry.
SPEAKER_02 (23:00):
No, no, no, no, no.
But we want we want the moneythere.
Yes.
Yes, exactly.
SPEAKER_00 (23:04):
And then they get it.
Um the checks are made out tothat city clerk um for lifetime
licenses, and um then they'lljust start getting everything in
the mail, and that's it.
SPEAKER_02 (23:14):
Well, one final question.
What does success look like toyou?
Is it a number, a feeling, alegacy, or something else?
I know these are my notes.
SPEAKER_00 (23:26):
Definitely um I would say a feeling.
The legacy as well.
Um but yeah, it's the feeling.
SPEAKER_02 (23:37):
Um I'm putting you on a name.
SPEAKER_01 (23:41):
I'm I'm just gonna speak it straight.
Please do.
Nikki and her family are the thelegacy and the feeling.
Yeah um and not to divide us,we're not divided at all.
But without the funds, we can'tcontinue.
Correct.
Bottom line.
Um that's but even for me, it'smore about the heritage of it.
Yes, no, and I totallyunderstand that.
(24:02):
It's you know, it's it's noteverybody's cup of tea, but it's
you'll it's getting kids outdoing things.
SPEAKER_00 (24:10):
We have supporters that don't even that don't even
hunt, you know.
They don't even it uh they'redoing it, they're giving us the
funds because it's helping thethe kids.
You know, so it hits everyaspect of um the different types
of people that support littletags.
SPEAKER_02 (24:27):
Do you two have have kids?
SPEAKER_00 (24:28):
We do.
SPEAKER_02 (24:29):
We do.
Do they hunt?
SPEAKER_00 (24:31):
Um, so I have one, Brooke hunts um Bailey, she
loves to fish.
So yeah, they're just two youngdaughters.
Yes, they're 15, they're twins.
Um, your daughter.
SPEAKER_01 (24:41):
I have an adult daughter, okay, Elena.
She's not she's not interestedin the hunting fishing, but
she's definitely an outdoorsperson, hiking, nice, you know,
that sort of thing.
SPEAKER_02 (24:49):
See, there's a lot to be in outdoors.
Yeah, yes, there's way more thanjust the hunting and the fishing
all kind of reflects on that.
It does, yeah.
It does.
Yep.
Yeah.
You know, you're both verystrong.
And I want to thank you both forbeing here today to tell us a
little bit more about LittleTags Foundation.
Uh, little tags foundation.orgis the website.
Please, as they as Nikki andJason were saying, uh, this
(25:11):
cannot continue without thefunding.
And being a 501c3, it's anonprofit, which also means, you
know, it is the holidays.
Make a donation.
Do what you can do for thisorganization.
Uh, it's tax, it's a taxwrite-off, it's a 501c3.
Yeah, and there's you know,we're all looking for those
angles right now, just the waylife is, is you know, with the
(25:32):
money.
SPEAKER_00 (25:33):
We will be um getting ready to uh go through
the applications right now.
We always give some forChristmas.
So the parents, when theyreceive them, they put them
under the tree.
Um, and we're looking to do 15or 20 more licenses um for the
holidays.
SPEAKER_01 (25:47):
So to speak to the uh to the donation part too.
I'm a small business owner, sois Nikki.
Um this is the time of yearwhere small business and large
business owners are looking fora place to donate some money,
and Nikki can certainly providethe proper paperwork for any
donations that do.
SPEAKER_02 (26:02):
There would be a uh a contact email, phone number if
somebody wanted to.
Yeah, I kind of figured that asmuch.
But yeah, little tagsfoundation.org.
Please do what you can.
Um when I found out about this,I said this is gonna be one of
the best interviews they everdid.
And um just uh when you we we'relocal and we're hometown and a
(26:23):
nonprofit on top of that, andall just for a great cause.
Yeah, and uh you know, uh NathanBush will live forever.
He will, he will, definitelywill absolutely, and it's a
tragedy that you've turnedaround and made into something
good.
Yeah, you know, it's exactlyit's never good in the way of
the way it all went down, butit's you know he's watching you
(26:44):
do this right now, and yeah, heis you know exactly what I mean.
Uh Jason and Nikki, thank you somuch for being here.
Thank you.
Uh Little TagsFoundation.org,the website, please, please do
what you can do.
All right, and uh help them out.
Uh here they are local.
And if you hunt, if you fish,you just love the outdoors.
This is the organization youneed to uh get involved with,
(27:06):
tell your friends about.
Uh if uh, like Jason said, beinga uh a small business owner, if
you know somebody in thatsituation, say, hey, dude, guess
what?
You know what?
I know you love to hunt, buthave you heard about little
tags?
You know, you need to getinvolved.
It's local.
SPEAKER_00 (27:21):
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (27:21):
Thank you both for being here.
Thank you.
God bless you both.
You're on a mission and it'sawesome.
SPEAKER_01 (27:26):
Thanks.
Skip, thank you for having us.
We appreciate it.
The whole Little Tags familyappreciates you having us.
SPEAKER_02 (27:30):
Well, appreciate you right back on what you're doing.
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