From the Ground

Tucked away among the winding backroads and rolling hills of Appalachia is Vest Berries farm. For more than 15 years the farm, boasting a variety of berries and produce, has been looked after primarily by Richard Vest. Vest used to spend much of his time farming, but he is now semi-retired and uses his free time to focus on his true passions, hunting and trapping.

Vest’s farm serves as his main source of produce and a place for him to trap in Stewart. When asked where he gets most of his food from, Vest says that “As far as vegetables 100 percent [home grown]. As far as fruit almost 100 percent [home grown]. As far as meat, it's probably a 50/50.”

Vest has been refining his skills as a trapper for more than 50 years. He can look around and see signs of life everywhere. Small hints of animal presence like a tuft of fur or prints in the mud that many would simply walk past do not go unnoticed by a seasoned trapper like Vest. This comes as no surprise as Vest has been trapping ever since high school when he was 15 years old.

He knew people at his school who would trap with their fathers and one day he decided to join them. Ever since then trapping has been a key point in Vest’s life. It quickly took up most of his free time.

“When I was in high school, I typically would get up a couple hours before school started. [I would] either walk or drive to traps, check traps for a couple hours, before I went to school ,” he says. “Then, when I come home, I would maybe check some more [traps]… then in the evening, you skin what got.”

Vest would then sell his furs to various buyers and soon started a small business.

Vest drives in his off-road vehicle and collects poles on his land in Stewart, Ohio, on March 11, 2022. With 80 acres of land to look after, this vehicle provides quick and easy transportation, including to some of the traps around his property.

Vest drives in his off-road vehicle and collects poles on his land in Stewart, Ohio. With 80 acres of land to look after, this vehicle provides quick and easy transportation, including to some of the traps around his property.

Quinn picks stinging nettle from her back yard in The Plains, Ohio, on April 1, 2022. Quinn’s backyard often serves as a source of materials for her crafts. Here she collects herbs for teas and even taps the trees for syrup.

Two coyote furs lay in the back of Vest’s truck in Stewart, Ohio. In high school, Vest would treat hides himself and sell them to fur buyers and traders.

“It was fun a hobby. And, you know, I made a little bit of money,” he says.

Vest began trapping in his hometown on the Indiana-Ohio border but continued his passion when he moved to the Athens area to study wildlife management at Hocking College. While there, he met his wife and settled down to raise a family. With 80 acres of land, Vest now mainly traps on his property and typically traps raccoons and coyotes and hunts deer.

Over his years of trapping, the techniques have remained virtually unchanged.

“Pretty much the same techniques are being used today that have been for 100 years or more. They've been refined, I guess you could say.”

Raccoon prints in the mud near one of Vest’s trapping spots in Stewart, Ohio, on March 21, 2022. Over his years of trapping, Vest has become highly aware of the world around, noticing small details such as tracks or fur on the ground that many would miss.

Raccoon prints in the mud near one of Vest’s trapping spots in Stewart, Ohio. Over his years of trapping, Vest has become highly aware of the world around, noticing small details such as tracks or fur on the ground that many would miss.

Vest sits beside his furs in the bed of his truck in Stewart, Ohio, on March 11, 2022.

A stick lays in a creek on Vest’s property where he sets traps in Stewart, Ohio. Vest has multiple spots on his property where he traps and hunts animals. There, Vest mainly traps raccoons and coyotes. “Two things that are really a nuisance… they're very hard on wildlife, young wildlife, any kind,” he says.

Trapping played an important role in Appalachian history and was once an extremely influential industry in the area. Trappers from all over the world would come to trap in the area in the 1700’s before Ohio was settled.

“Trapping is a part of the history of this country. You got to remember that that's what broke trails in this country. [Trappers] and hunters… they ended up being the scouts,” he says. While this industry did help to establish this area, it had its downsides because it pushed Native Americans off their land "which just irritates me because this is their ground," he says.

While the techniques may not have changed over the years, Vest has been sure to change the impact his trapping has on the environment. He leaves naturized areas on his property for animals to birth, graze, and be safe. He is careful not to over hunt any species or make drastic changes to his surroundings. Vest also appreciates everything the earth has provided for him over the years.

“I always thank God for what I harvest,” he says, “You have to thank that animal.”

Vest holds a heavily used muskrat trap in Stewart, Ohio, on March 21, 2022. Traps like this are some of the first that Vest used. He says he “started with the easiest thing, muskrat trapping, and it was fun. I liked it. And I was always outdoors anyway. And so that got me outdoors even more.”

Vest holds a heavily used muskrat trap in Stewart, Ohio. Traps like this are some of the first that Vest used. He says he “started with the easiest thing, muskrat trapping, and it was fun. I liked it. And I was always outdoors anyway. And so that got me outdoors even more.”

Vest looks through his collection of lure scents in Stewart, Ohio, on March 31, 2022. Scents such as coyote urine and skunk essence have become common place for Vest over the years. Vest says he and his trapping friends were easily identifiable in high school because of the scents. “I think [people] smelled us.” He says with a laugh “We usually had mud on our boots, and, depending on what you got into, you might have smelled like a fox or something.”

Vest looks through his collection of lure scents in Stewart, Ohio. Scents such as coyote urine and skunk essence have become common place for Vest over the years. Vest says he and his trapping friends were easily identifiable in high school because of the scents. “I think [people] smelled us.” He says with a laugh “We usually had mud on our boots, and, depending on what you got into, you might have smelled like a fox or something.”

Now, at 65, Vest wants to pass on his knowledge to a future generation of trappers. “Our grandkids are just now getting to the age where they're interested,” he says. When it comes to trapping, the best way to learn is from those who came before you.

“Talk to people... If you talk to them that’s where you’ll learn more than anything.”

With his new bounty of free time and usable farmland, Vest has also chosen to help support the community around him. Partnering with a local organization called Community Food Innovative (CFI), Vest has donated some of his land to grow crops for people in need of fresh fruits and vegetables.

A poster from Quinn’s former mentor hangs in her workshop in The Plains, Ohio, on Feb. 8, 2022. Quinn utilizes a wide variety of animal parts in her craft.

Rick Vest, of Stewart, OH sits in a cabin that he is constructing on his property. Vest recently built this cabin primarily as a place for his grandchildren to enjoy the nature on his property and stay when they visit.

“I gave [CFI] some ground last year to plant themselves and harvest and they did a good job on it. And I thought if it went good that since I'm semi-retired this year, I have a lot extra ground and I'll give them more ground,” he says. “I want them to utilize it to help feed some people and hopefully everybody will prosper.”

Rick Vest, of Stewart, OH surveys his land on March 21, 2022. Vest has 80 acres of land where he hunts, traps and grows produce.

NATURAL LAND

Rick Vest

Vest’s farm serves as his main source of produce and a place for him to trap in Stewart. When asked where he gets most of his food from, Vest says that “As far as vegetables 100 percent [home grown]. As far as fruit almost 100 percent [home grown]. As far as meat, it's probably a 50/50.”

Vest drives in his off-road vehicle and collects poles on his land in Stewart, Ohio. With 80 acres of land to look after, this vehicle provides quick and easy transportation, including to some of the traps around his property.

Two coyote furs lay in the back of Vest’s truck in Stewart, Ohio. In high school, Vest would treat hides himself and sell them to fur buyers and traders.

Raccoon prints in the mud near one of Vest’s trapping spots in Stewart, Ohio. Over his years of trapping, Vest has become highly aware of the world around, noticing small details such as tracks or fur on the ground that many would miss.

Vest holds a heavily used muskrat trap in Stewart, Ohio. Traps like this are some of the first that Vest used. He says he “started with the easiest thing, muskrat trapping, and it was fun. I liked it. And I was always outdoors anyway. And so that got me outdoors even more.”

Rick Vest, of Stewart, OH sits in a cabin that he is constructing on his property. Vest recently built this cabin primarily as a place for his grandchildren to enjoy the nature on his property and stay when they visit.

Rick Vest, of Stewart, OH surveys his land. Vest has 80 acres of land where he hunts, traps and grows produce.

Story by Dylan Benedict

Audio Story by Dylan Benedict

Photos by Dylan Benedict and Sam Warren

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