By DAVID CLOUSTON

Salina Journal

Dalton Sullivan was more than a little puzzled Monday, when instead of going out to the shop to practice their welding, he and his classmates at Salina Area Technical College were told to wait in their classroom.

Then he saw, TV camera crew in tow, a couple he instantly recognized but had never met.

"All of a sudden Jodi came and sat by me and it hit me. It was just a shock," Dalton said, of the surprise visit by the co-hosts of the Outdoor Channel TV network's program "Higher Ground Outdoors."

The hosts and creators of the program, Weston and Jodi Clark, arrived at the school Monday to help Sullivan, 17, carry out a dream in memory of his deceased best friend, Tyler Vishnefske.

The couple are taking Dalton on a four-day hunt to Aberdeen, S.D., to take aim at whitetail deer, pheasant and possibly other game.

"It's such an amazing, touching story. That's what we do, is find those stories we really think are truly worthy to be honored," Weston Clark said.

Dalton and Tyler were childhood friends, later growing to be inseparable hunting buddies. They donned camo for the opening day of nearly every hunting season, be it deer, duck, turkey, pheasant or other game.

"As an adult, work comes first and then the hunting. His philosophy was the exact opposite of that," Dalton's dad, Richard, said jokingly.

If the boys weren't hunting, they were most often watching hunting shows on TV or DVDs. Together, they dreamed of someday going hunting in Canada or another exotic destination. But it wasn't to be.

Tyler died suddenly at the age of 21, nearly two years ago, from a rare form of heart disease.

In a letter to the Clarks, Dalton's mom, Karrie, wrote about her son asking to be a pallbearer at Tyler's funeral. As every hunting season passes, Dalton has continued to keep his friend's memory in his heart, she said.

The Clarks pick the subjects for their TV show from hundreds of letters weekly from viewers like Dalton and his family.

They began arranging Monday's surprise a month ago, working in secret with Karrie and representatives of Salina Tech.

"We want to give honor to Tyler by having Dalton standing in the gap," Weston Clark said.

The couple just finished taping a hunt for a future episode in Stafford on Sunday night. The show is entering its second season and can be seen on the Outdoor Channel where new episodes air at 2:30 p.m. Sundays, with repeats at noon and 1 a.m. each Tuesday. Generally it takes three months or longer to prepare a show for broadcast; Dalton's episode doesn't have a firm broadcast date, Clark said.

The Clarks produce the show through their own production company, Freedom Productions. Weston Clark began his outdoor career 19 years ago as a successful outfitter and guide in Colorado. Jodi Clark grew up in a small Texas town but never hunted until meeting and marrying her husband.

"The good Lord gave this concept so we could bless people. That's why we do what we do," Weston Clark said.

Dalton said he feels blessed to be able to enjoy the outdoors as much as he can, and to remember his friend Tyler in such a special manner. Tyler's mom, Shelly, and his dad, John, feel the same way.

"It was a very emotional day. But it was neat for us. Tyler would have loved to have done what Dalton is getting to do. Because that was what he always said he wanted to do, was be a guide," Shelly said. "But I know he'd be glad."

n Reporter David Clouston can be reached at 822-1403 or by e-mail at dclouston@salina.com.

Join the Discussion:

Salina.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here. Read our full online terms of service policy.

eagle says....
Are we supposed to just imagine the story that goes with the picture?
11/19/2008

---

Post a comment
Your best chance of getting your comment posted:

• No profanity
• Be civil
• Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

Comment:

Poster:

Enter text seen above:

Read our full use policy.