Bowhunter turned land specialist reflects on nature’s majesty

This is the second in a two-part series in recognition of National Ag Week, celebrated March 15-21.

MOUNT AYR - From a young age, Marty Edwards has loved to hunt. Calling the wild his first love, Edwards described in mythological terms what has stuck with him since he first started hunting in Council Bluffs.

“It’s long been known by serious bowhunters; the biggest whitetails that walk the Earth are in the southern two or three tiers of counties in the state of Iowa,” Edwards said. “I just so happened, by the grace of God, I got to chase those whitetails. I always wanted to get back home to that family reunion with the whitetails.”

That connection to the whitetail deer of Southwest Iowa, and what it means to walk the land and prairie, has led Edwards from Nebraska to Mount Ayr, where he now works as a land specialist for, coincidentally, Whitetail Properties Real Estate and Ranch & Farm Auctions.

The love for hunting began between him and his dad, who brought him on his first hunting trips. Edwards is a bowhunter, hunting game with a bow and arrow, silence on his side. Even on early mornings, Edwards quickly fell for the activity.

“I fell madly in love, freezing my tail off in the morning and the afternoons,” Edwards said. “It was magical, I fell in love with the outdoors. I couldn’t get enough of it. I wanted to spend all my time in the outdoors.”

However, in junior high, Edwards’s grandfather passed, and Edwards focused on his studies. After graduating from the University of Northern Iowa, he started practicing archery again, spending his time at West Oak Archery.

“Those guys would let me shoot bows, but I couldn’t afford my own,” Edwards said. “Finally, they say, ‘why don’t you put a bow on layaway.’ I started paying $5, $10 a week, and they would hold the bow for me. That was my first bow.”

Although he had his own bow, finding land to hunt on was another challenge. Plus, for the first time, Edwards was on his own. Fremont County Supervisor Marty Gordon allowed Edwards to hunt on his land, and it was there where his love of nature started to blossom.

“That was the first time to do it all by myself,” Edwards said. “My very first deer, I had shot it all by myself. That was my beginning of my connection to the land. I started taking care of those farms as if they were my own. The seed of that dream was planted then. Some day, if I could own my own little scratch of dirt, trace that all the way to 1989, 1990.”

Edwards would move to Petunia, Nebraska, and raised his family there, purchasing a plot of land in 2008. Edwards moved to new plots of land as he slowly expanded, and continued until he found his way to Mount Ayr.

“It happened by pure accident, zero intention whatsoever,” Edwards said. “I had no plans to upgrade or downgrade, but, if I’m being completely honest, I plan to live here until my last breath. No doubt in my mind. That was the plan with my very first one. And right now, right here where I’m at, that’s the plan.”

Owning land and maintaining it became a lifelong love for Edwards, who said he was often overwhelmed by the nature around him.

“It’s a blessing I don’t deserve,” he said. “I can walk out my back door and be immersed in nature.”

Hunting became a form of connection with the land around him. Ever since he had a dream to own his own plot of land, Edwards said he hasn’t lost that majesty. As he now prepares to take on the role of land specialist, offering services like auctions and land brokerage, Edwards hasn’t forgotten his dream or his connection to the land he’s now responsible for.

“I think, often, men in general tend to pursue and go after things. They’re proactive and intentional,” Edwards said. “That dream, I never thought that would become a reality. When it started to come into focus, I realized we can make this happen.

“For me, bowhunting, it has nothing to do with harvesting of an animal. The whole thing with being in the outdoors, and being connected to the land and the timber and the crops. I got my own little tractor and implements. I’m planting my own crops. I try really hard to leave it better than I found it, become a steward of my ground.

“We treat something like it’s ours, we take care of it. Mark Twain said, ‘buy land; they’re not making any more of it.’ There’s a finite supply. There’s scarcity. It’s a reminder that we should take care of it.”

Edwards said if anyone has questions about land, from a complimentary land valuation or just wondering what farms are selling for these days, they can call him at 402-250-5510 or email him at marty.edwards@whitetailproperties.com.