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Swanson Farms-
Hunting for the Life They've Always Wanted

April 2005

About eight years ago, Jerry and Brenda Swanson moved from Johnson County back to the family farm in Elsmore, Kansas, population 490, on U.S. 59 about 2/3 the way down the map from Kansas City. The original owners bought the 320-acre farm from the railroad, and then in the early 1900s, sold it to Jerry's grandparents.

Soon after they moved, about 11 of their friends from the Kansas City area asked if they could come down and hunt (not too many hunting opportunities left in Johnson County). They came, and had a great time.

It was such a great time that the next year, the group grew to 35 hunters. And the next year-well, it was about 75 hunters - and the Swansons realized that maybe they were on to something!

For several years, their business just kept growing. "We have a controlled shooting area, and one of the things we offer is a $99 hunt." Jerry explains. "We are priced for the city dwellers that want to enjoy a great day of hunting, but feel they have to get back at it the next day. We often run four hunts in the morning, and four in the afternoon. After three-and-a-half to four hours, most of them are ready for the chairs on the porch."

Each hunt also includes homemade soup, cheesy biscuits, and a dessert tray of homemade delights.

"Until we built the lodge, I was cooking for our guests in the farm kitchen," recalls Brenda, "and then serving the food to the guys in an 8-foot by 10- foot building that had been the grain shed."

By 2004, their seventh year as a hunting business, the Swansons had about 400 hunters, and opened a new lodge for their guests. Across the front of the lodge is a 30 by 60 foot porch with chairs for the hunters. At one end of the building is the lodge room and restrooms, while the opposite end is a public restaurant. The middle of the lodge is Brenda's new kitchen.

The restaurant is named "Buddy's Pointe", which honors one of their favorite lead dogs, "Buddy", who was shot and killed during a covey rise. Buddy's Pointe is currently open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, specializing in biscuits & gravy or a juicy hamburger with homemade French-fries. Visitors may top off their meal with homemade coconut cream, chocolate or apple pie, or fresh apple cake.

Taylor Lhuillier caught this 5 3/4 largemouth bass the same day his fishing partner Ralph Davis Jr. caught a 6 pounder. Both fish were returned.

Weekender packages are also popular, and for longer stays, the Swanson's have camper hookups on the property, and they also have camper hookups and a couple of cabins on nearby Bourbon County State Fishing Lake, about 6 miles from the farm. The fishing there, by the way, is some of the best in Southeast Kansas, and the cabin lakeside will sleep six. A second cabin, looking out over the lake, will sleep four more. About 50% of their hunters now come up from Arkansas, with the balance primarily from urban areas of Kansas.

The Swansons till the farmland strictly for their hunting guests, planting milo, millet, and native grasses that are ideal for habitat. Of special note, the Swansons do everything possible to accommodate older hunters and those with physical disabilities.

"We mow one strip straight through the middle of each terrace, wide enough that we can drive our John Deere gator or a four wheeler with our special guest(s) right to the heart of the action." Says Brenda. "When the dogs take a point, and it's his or her turn, they can choose to get out and walk up to flush the bird, or if necessary, shoot from the vehicle. Some of our older patrons are truly grateful to have a chance to get out in the field again."

Jerry and two other guides lead the hunting teams. Also available, the Swansons keep about 14 well- trained German shorthair pointers.

"We work the dogs in teams," says Jerry. "One male and one female in each team. Our dogs are schooled, and return to school each year for a 'refresher course' before the season starts."

The hunting season at Swanson Farms runs from September 1 through March 31. Guests may hunt pheasant, chukar and quail, along with deer and coyote hunts, and a variety of fishing. The Swanson also offer a variety of hunting-related activities, including Hunter Safety courses, an expanded clay- pigeon target range, and this fall, a European hunt. An annual favorite is the "Trifecta", where teams of two compete for prizes in a) a pheasant/chukar hunt, b) a fishing tournament, and finally 3) 9 holes of golf. The team with the most points, wins.

The Swansons also run a few cattle and horses, which, as Brenda says, provides extra spending money for things that come up, like taxes, but their farming is strictly focused on sustaining the land for hunting.

Jerry Swanson's "day job" is with McGraw-Hill books, but he looks back on the decision to return to Elsmore with great appreciation, and looks forward to a growing future for the farm.

"We always wanted to return to the farm, both of us grew up in this area, and this is where we met-but we didn't know for sure that we could make it work. We are sure glad the gang from Johnson County wanted to come down that first year. Sharing our farm with hunters has made a lot of things possible."