Editor’s Bio
Hello all. I am Kelly Reeves. I was born and raised in East Texas, and still reside here. I grew up a country kid spending most of my time on my grandparents’ farm where there was no end to the freedom I was able to experience outdoors. I got my first real gun, a single barrel .410 shotgun, when I was 7 years old. That’s where it began. I have always loved hunting. Rabbit, squirrel, deer, pigs, dove, ducks … you name it. My true passion has always been hunting with hounds. Beagles on rabbit was my favorite of all. I loved the thrill of the chase and the music of the hounds. I loved the competition aspect of AKC Field Trials and competed in them all over the United States. I also ran coon hounds, and fox hounds on fox and coyotes. I truly loved them all. The urban encroachment and population explosion has now made hunting with hounds almost impossible in this area. I’ve always loved camping, farming, fishing, and eating fish.
I have a sweet wife, a grown daughter and son-in-law, a precious granddaughter, two nearly grown sons, and my baby girl is now starting high school. I recently retired from a 30-year career as a policeman. Yes, I was a K-9 officer for a good portion of my career and hunted crooks. Crook hunting might have been more exciting than a pack of 12 beagles on a rabbit. It’s a close second, anyway.
Shortly before my retirement, I learned that many of the outdoor magazines that I loved reading as a kid and young man are no longer available, except in an online version. I tried to make myself enjoy the digital magazines but longed for the feel and smell of a magazine in my hand. I wanted to be able to read a while, and dog-ear the page I left off at, and return to it later to continue. The digital magazines didn’t do it for me. So, with some free time on my hands after retirement, I decided to just publish my own magazine and cover hunting, fishing, farming and ranching topics that interest me and other outdoorsmen, all while staying true to my faith, family and friendships. LIFE & LAND was born from that idea, and we are now going gang-busters.
I am now the 4th generation owner of the farm I grew up on. I raise a few cows and laying hens, and do a whole lot of piddlin’. I enjoy feeding my pond fish, turning dirt with a few old Farmall tractors, burning brush piles, and feeding and watching the deer.
I sincerely hope that you enjoy reading LIFE & LAND Magazine as much as we have enjoyed putting it together.
KR
