Auto Industry and the Outdoors are Tied at the Hip
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 7:09 amA concerned Sportsman must realize the Auto Industry and the Outdoors are tied at the Hip
As I sat watching The Outdoor Channel this morning, an interesting bow hunt was on. It kept me thoroughly entertained and my mind off of business, not to mention all of the hurt in my community. The heavy realities of what is happening here in Michigan have been weighing on me. I have watched so many friends struggle. People that have businesses of yesterday are falling so quickly. I have started to dread the call when an old buddy rings me out of the blue and I see their name on my caller ID. I just know that it is not a, “Hey how are you?” type of phone call.
As the commercials continued, I realized a common theme. The outdoor industry and the auto industry are attached at the hip. Whether it is the show sponsors, product placements or simply the commercials, I realized the truck industry is endemic to the outdoors. There is no doubt about it.
As a man who makes his living within the outdoors, I am always focused on what is good and what is bad for the industry. I think of small towns around the country that have literally been built around a manufacturing plant. I think about communities and their reliance on car dealership’s support.
Many of these rural towns have some of the nation’s finest hunting, fishing, hiking and recreation within a stones throw from them. How will the hotels and lodges survive? How will the local diners or bars survive?
Then, there are the sportsman festivals and events that companies like Intermedia Outdoors put on. Can these types of events that express and bring together the passion of outdoorsmen survive without the support of the auto industry? I think of the charities that provide food, shelter and opportunities for less privileged kids to go on a hunt. Can any of these survive without the support of the auto industry?
My point is, by supporting the American auto industry we are actually supporting our country and the lives of so many good people. In turn, we also support conservation and the outdoors.
Sincerely,
A concerned sportsman
As I sat watching The Outdoor Channel this morning, an interesting bow hunt was on. It kept me thoroughly entertained and my mind off of business, not to mention all of the hurt in my community. The heavy realities of what is happening here in Michigan have been weighing on me. I have watched so many friends struggle. People that have businesses of yesterday are falling so quickly. I have started to dread the call when an old buddy rings me out of the blue and I see their name on my caller ID. I just know that it is not a, “Hey how are you?” type of phone call.
As the commercials continued, I realized a common theme. The outdoor industry and the auto industry are attached at the hip. Whether it is the show sponsors, product placements or simply the commercials, I realized the truck industry is endemic to the outdoors. There is no doubt about it.
As a man who makes his living within the outdoors, I am always focused on what is good and what is bad for the industry. I think of small towns around the country that have literally been built around a manufacturing plant. I think about communities and their reliance on car dealership’s support.
Many of these rural towns have some of the nation’s finest hunting, fishing, hiking and recreation within a stones throw from them. How will the hotels and lodges survive? How will the local diners or bars survive?
Then, there are the sportsman festivals and events that companies like Intermedia Outdoors put on. Can these types of events that express and bring together the passion of outdoorsmen survive without the support of the auto industry? I think of the charities that provide food, shelter and opportunities for less privileged kids to go on a hunt. Can any of these survive without the support of the auto industry?
My point is, by supporting the American auto industry we are actually supporting our country and the lives of so many good people. In turn, we also support conservation and the outdoors.
Sincerely,
A concerned sportsman