Earl Hansen, a past Exalted Ruler from Broken Bow Elks Lodge #1688, was recently surprised with a commendation and award at the Nebraska State Elks Association Convention for his work with the state deer hide collection program.
Hansen has dedicated over 20 years of service to the collection, which includes the collection, delivery, salting, and storing of hides throughout the state before delivery to a tannery in Tennessee. Hansen serves as the State Deer Hides Chairman and oversees the process.
After hides are tanned, they are returned and transformed into fingerless gloves for wheelchair bound veterans. The remaining tanned hides are donated to veterans facilities for craft projects for veterans.
In an interview in November, Hansen said that Nebraska was among the top states in the country in support the previous year, collecting nearly 1,300 deer hides.
