11th Annual Western Pennsylvania Turkey Hunt

May 7-10

Rural Valley, Pennsylvania

Five Purple Heart Heroes traveled to Rural Valley, Pennsylvania for the 11th Annual Western PA Turkey Hunt. Upon arriving at the Bevevino Farm, the Heroes received a warm welcome from Host Dan Bevevino and the volunteer guides who would be assisting them throughout the weekend. The afternoon provided plenty of time for everyone to get acquainted, share stories, and settle into their accommodations. Diversified Energy generously provided the Heroes with turkey hunting gear, including vests, calls, knives, and decoys. Following a delicious steak dinner, Dan and Frank presented each Hero with a custom-made knife and sheath before everyone discussed hunting assignments and prepared for an early morning in the field.

The first morning began before sunrise as the Heroes paired up with their guides and headed to their respective hunting locations. The morning produced the first successful harvest of the weekend when Hero Joshua took a beautiful turkey. After returning to the farm for lunch and some downtime, everyone headed to Blackleggs Creek for an afternoon of trout fishing. The beautiful surroundings provided another wonderful opportunity for the Heroes to enjoy the outdoors, relax, and spend quality time together. The evening concluded with a tremendous meal and plenty of conversation and camaraderie.

Cool temperatures and rain greeted the Heroes for their second morning of turkey hunting. Despite the challenging conditions, Hero Cody successfully harvested the second turkey of the event. After the hunt concluded, everyone returned to the farm for lunch and some warm, dry conversation. The weather eventually cleared, allowing the group to spend the afternoon fishing at the farm pond, where everyone enjoyed some success and additional time together. That evening, the Heroes, guides, and supporters gathered for one final dinner, recognition, and an opportunity to reflect on the weekend. The conversations continued well into the evening as everyone shared stories, memories, and plenty of laughs with the new friends they had made.

The 11th Annual Western PA Turkey provided much more than successful days in the woods and on the water. The welcoming atmosphere, generosity of the local community, and time spent together allowed genuine friendships and connections to develop, with the Heroes heading home refreshed and recharged from an outstanding weekend in Western Pennsylvania.

Special recognition and sincere thanks to Host Dan Bevevino and family, the incredible team of guides, volunteers, supporters, and friends who made this memorable experience possible for our Purple Heart Heroes. Additional gratitude and appreciation to Diversified Energy for their tremendous generosity and support throughout the event.

“Doing things out of my safe zone is hard. The encouragement from my family and WWIA got me here. All my anxiety disappeared when I walked through the door. I had a blast, learned about turkey hunting, and slept for the first time in a long time. It’s hard to receive appreciation, but when it comes from genuine people, it is easier to do. I got to talk to other veterans in the same boat, healing! The facilities and people are top-notch. This is a positive memory I will always keep with me, and I hope to do more. This past year was a tough medical year for me, and I needed all the positives I could get in my life. Thank you for a great weekend. I can’t wait to reconnect with my new friends.”

– David N., US Air Force
Purple Heart Recipient