Jack Anders, 2016 Level 3, Runner-Up

Dear Willson Rawls,

Growing up, my Dad loved Where the Red Fern Grows. It was one of his favorite books. When I was in 6th grade, he recommended it to me. When he told me I should read it, I was reluctant because l didn’t think it was something I would like. At the time, I was more interested in reading books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Percy Jackson and I didn’t think l had any connection to a kid in rural Oklahoma in the 1930s. At least I did. By comparison, I am what would have been thought of as a rich city kid versus Bitty, your main character in Where the Red Fern Grows who was a poor farm boy. But as I started reading, I noticed that I didn’t seem to mind that I wasn’t reading a comical or action packed book. The pace of life in Where the Red Fern Grows was slower and more simple and I enjoyed it. I realized that this was a very powerful and meaningful story that made me think about life.

As l read, l starting thinking about Billy’s dogs, Little Ann and Old Dan, and my German Shepherd, Shelby. My parents just went out bought a her one afternoon. I love Shelby very much, but there is a big difference in how Bitty and I acquired our dogs. Unlike me, Billy didn’t just get a dog. He worked his butt off for two straight years—every day, to provide for his family. With no pay, he would work on their family farm for the whole day. He went to school and had homework each night. In addition to all of that, he sold vegetables and would catch Crawdads and sell them as bait to the local fisherman. His grandfather owned the local general store and he was very supportive of Billy’s goal. it took him a long time, but his hard work paid off, and he finally had enough money to buy two coonhounds.

I was really impressed by the fact that Billy was such a determined and selfless person. He could’ve bought a lot of other things important to boys at that time like toys, candy, books, maybe even shoes. But instead of buying the dogs as pets for his family’s enjoyment, he bought them to make money by coon hunting. It takes a very big person and someone who cares about others more than himself to do something like that.

As I read your story, it made me realize the value of hard work. Often, the things that are most meaningful to you are the things that don’t come easy. if you really strive for something that is important to you, when you finally achieve it, you can have a more lasting enjoyment.

I was so inspired by Where the Red Fern Grows that I decided I wanted to work for something that meant a lot to me. I had been wanting to start a lawn mowing business but my family did not have a lawn mower. Just like Billy’s grandfather, my dad wanted to help my achieve my goal, but wanted me to figure out a business plan and a way to achieve this on my own. I spent several weekends thinking of my plan, writing it out and tweaking it. I then presented it to my dad. Essentially I proposed that my dad would buy the mower for me, but I would mow our family’s lawn and neighbors and give my dad the money until the mower was paid off. I made flyers and posted them around the neighborhood. I searched on Craig’s List to find a suitable used mower. I presented my plan to my dad and he approved it. It took me two years, but I mowed enough lawns to pay my dad back and then owned my own mower for my business.

Having my own lawn mowing business is not the same as Billy’s desire to save money to get Old Dan and Little Ann to help support his poor family, nor does it compare to the satisfaction that he got from training the hounds and caring for them. But, Billy’s determination, hard work, and love of what he was doing gave me the idea to try to succeed at something important to me. The relationship that Billy developed with his hounds was something special that I have yet to experience, but reading the pages was riveting and I hope someday to feel that same bond.

Sincerely,

Jack Anders