GETTIN' FROGGY WITH IT

Kermit wouldn't have had much fun in Harvey County last weekend.  In fact, he would have been running and jumping for his life.  An entire herd of frog-catching enthusiasts that included kids as young as 7 years old to adults descended upon several ponds for a frog grabbing fiesta.

This get-together has become somewhat of an annual event organized by several friends.  Since my boys were old enough to wander around much they've invited us to participate.  It's a great time with anywhere from 15-30 people most years.  The evening starts with a wonderful beast feast of fried fish, frog legs, duck kabobs and all the fixin's.  Tall tales are told and the kids run around fishing, playing washers and enjoying the great outdoors.

The main event starts shortly after dark.  Armed with flashlights and mesh sacks, teams of froggers head off into the darkness.  Only hand to web-footed combat is allowed with no gigs or nets used. Adults, high school and college-aged kids are on their own and head to a huge watershed pond.   Youngsters like my twin 12-year-old boys and a couple others still have adult supervision.  They've been dubbed the FFA (Future Froggers of America) and get to hunt their own smaller pond. 

The evening was a huge success.  Drought conditions made visuals on bullfrogs easy and some grabbed were nearly as big as a Chihuahua.  It was discovered the next day when they were cleaned that one of the larger ones had a baby bird in its stomach!  Dozens of frogs were bagged and sacks grew heavy.  My two boys were proud of their catch of eight frogs with plenty more that got away. 

A few run-ins with snapping turtles and giant water snakes added even more excitement to a truly fun-filled evening.  Sure, some participants lost tennis shoes, got cut-up, bug-bit and bruised.  Anything wrong with the evening will soon be forgotten when they all remember how much fun it was to chase Kermit's relatives all over the pond.