Episode Details

Episode 30: From Potato Punishment to Poultry Fraud Description: Recorded at deer camp, this unforgettable conversation brings together Poppy, Mark, and the last two living brothers of a remarkable generation—Uncle Sim and Uncle Dick. They recount stories of growing up on a sharecropping farm in Rexmont, Pennsylvania during the Great Depression, raising chickens, canning vegetables, share-farming “for the half,” surviving farm chores, and pulling pranks on their father. The episode weaves together stories of hardship, humor, and unshakable family bonds. Highlights include: 🥔 Potato Punishment: Dick recalls missing basketball practice and spending a week sorting potatoes as penance. 🐔 Poultry Fraud: Sim caponizes a rooster who later learns to crow—and still wins grand champion at the farm show. 👟 Cows, Crap, and Tootie at the Post Office: How the brothers’ barn-scented shoes caused a stir in town. 🐇 Rabbit Pranks: The infamous incident involving a stuffed rabbit, a garden, and a startled father with a shotgun. 🚜 Farm Life: Sharecropping for wheat and corn, treating grain for weevils, digging spuds, and surviving on hard work. 🦃 Turkey Tactics: Guy’s annual success hunting fall turkeys with a .22 magnum, and early deer hunting tips from Wilmer. 🍝 Spaghetti Stew: A legendary dish made with pheasants, squirrels, and rabbits from Thanksgiving hunts. 🎯 Shotgun Skills and Sibling Injuries: Tales of being accidentally peppered with birdshot—and forgiving each other anyway. 💔 Al’s Near-Death Car Crash: A serious high school accident that left Al with lasting injuries and a massive scar. 🧼 Market Days and Homemade Cakes: How their mother’s baking prowess packed a market booth with customers every week. 🚲 Bike Races in the Barn: Childhood hijinks, manure missions, and scraped knees in the cobbled barnyard. 🦌 Hunting Traditions: Classic deer drives, pheasant flushing, and the brothers' deep respect for Wilmer’s woodsmanship. 🏠 Why Family Matters: Reflections on how and why the Ruhl family stayed so close—and passed that tradition down. Closing Thought: As the next generation carries the torch, this episode preserves not only hunting lore and family stories, but the values that made them who they are: hard work, love, humor, and forgiveness. This is old-school deer camp, and we’re lucky to be invited in. Mentioned in the episode: Rexmont, Pennsylvania Crossroad and Rexmont farms Kettering Woods Cornwall-Lebanon School District Nobles Grove, Knoebels Grove, Washington DC trips Market baking days and the Wenger Store Reverend Booker’s tribute at the family funeral Find Recipes From This Episode: Visit outdoorruhls.com/cooking for spaghetti stew and other family food traditions. Follow Us Online: 📸 Instagram: @OutdoorRuhlsPodcast 🌐 Website: outdoorruhls.com