Written By Todd Howey
Published in the Central Texas Outdoors Guide magazine by Brownwoodnews.com for the 24-25 Season. Pick up a free copy of the magazine at one of our partner locations HERE.
What started out as an afternoon on the couch watching television ended with the beginning of one the most life changing experiences for kids with special needs in America.
“I was sitting on the couch one afternoon watching television and a show came on about Buckmasters Life Hunts,” stated Tim Schoen, Founder and President of Rackin’ Up Dreams Outdoors. “They were taking kids with special needs on deer hunts, and I thought it was an incredible idea. The kids loved it. At the end of the episode, they showed an email to write to if you were interested in getting involved. So, I sent them an email, and here we are nineteen years later. I don’t have any kids of my own, but I feel like I do. The relationships we develop and the memories we make together are truly life altering. It is awesome and I love it.”
Along with Larry Hart, they worked with Buckmasters in making dreams come true for kids with challenges most people never have to deal with.
“Tim is my stepson,” said Larry Hart. “He brought a DVD home that he was sent from Buckmasters. Along with my wife Connie, Tim’s mom, we watched the DVD on Life Hunts for kids with serious illness and disabilities. We cried through most of it, and then looked at each other and said we have to start up a chapter and do this for our area kids. When we started getting all this support from ranches and businesses, we grew to be the largest charity chapter that Buckmasters had in the country.”
Although Tim and Larry were thrown a curveball by Buckmasters in the summer of 2023 when the Brownwood Chapter was notified that Buckmasters in Montgomery, Alabama had sold and the new owners were no longer going to continue their national 501c3 charity, that did not stop them from organizing their own 501c3 and continue their goal of making dreams come true for kids. With the help from Scott Morelock, a local attorney that has helped many organizations in getting 501c3 status. They also reached out to Jenifer Robison CPA for her assistance with the forms and accounting needed to get them up and running.
With Buckmasters out, a new name was needed for the organization. They did not have to look any farther than one of their many volunteers for inspiration when Erica Delgado, who heads up the wait staff at their annual banquet, mentioned the name ‘Rackin’ Up Dreams Outdoors.’ Everyone looked at each other and said, ‘perfect’!
Although the name has changed, nothing has changed in the way Rackin’ Up Dreams Outdoors helps not only their hunters, but also multiple other organizations as well.
“Our first banquet as Rackin’ Up Dreams Outdoors last year raised over three hundred thousand dollars,” added Larry. “The support was overwhelming. Along with selling tables for the event, the live auction, and raffles, it was a huge success. More than we could have hoped for. We could not do any of this without the support of our local ranches, businesses, and hundreds of supporters that attend our fundraiser banquet the second Saturday of May each year. We do this because we care about our youth, community, and conservation of wildlife in our area. We give a hand up to those in need in our community as well as surrounding communities. We are all volunteers, and no salaries are paid to anyone. 100% of the proceeds from our 501c3 go back into the charity projects we do in Brown and surrounding counties.
Some of the organization Rackin’ up Dreams supports are as follows:
- Good Samaritan Deer Project & Bangs Food Pantry thru RUDO Project Venison/Food for the Hungry and Salvation Army Loaves & Fishes $5,000 donations for these projects.
- Support for 3 County 4H Shooting Sports Chapters
- $3,500 donation for Toys for Kids
- Sponsoring Birdies on the Bayou Charity Golf Tournament for HMBC to benefit the women’s and pediatric & cancer center.
- “SWAG” Southwest Amputee Golf Sponsorship
- Brown County Youth Fair (donations to all seven school’s community funds in our county and BCYF Championship Club Sponsor) $750 to each community fund.
- Premier Sponsor of the State 4H Extravaganza at the Lake Brownwood 4H Center, “investing in tomorrow’s leaders”
- Sponsorship of Texas 4H Archery Team to the Alabama 4H/Buckmasters Indoor World Championship
- Donations of $20,000 to 10 Volunteer Fire Departments in Brown County
- $2,000 toward High Mesa Church Hospital Ministry
- Purchased over $50,000 of disabled hunting equipment for those that qualified in our disabled equipment’s program.
- Premier Sponsor for CAST for Kids
- RUDO Memorial Scholarships (2) $2000 scholarships for graduating seniors that volunteer their time to help special needs kids and adults.
- Camp Able – Equine Rehab for special needs kids and adults. We raised $25,000.00 for this project.
- Sponsor of Coleman County Youth Hunt with the Retired Game Wardens Assoc. and Game Gear, hosted by the Hemphill Family.
- $2,000 donation to Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
- $5,000 Donation to Sleep In Heavenly Peace.
- $1,500 Conservation donation to Heart of Texas Nature Center & Rehab
- $2,500 donation of equipment and feed for Gammill Animal Rehab.
- $7,500 donation for Rising Star Flood Relief
To say Rackin’ Up Dreams Outdoors’s commitment to kids and their community is impressive would be a massive understatement. Most interesting is that Tim and Larry do not receive a salary for their work, not a dime. They do it from the heart, and even refuse tips when offered.
“What is most impressive is the ranchers and landowners we work with on providing these life hunts for kids,” stated Tim. “They have been more than gracious, and they love it as much as we do. It is always a great weekend of bonding with families, sharing stories, eating great food, and making memories for kids. A hunt that would normally cost a hunter thousands of dollars, they don’t charge us a dime. We’re not just talking about white – tailed deer, they allow our kids to hunt exotics as well. It’s incredible what they do for us.”
Hunters who are selected to participate in a life hunt do so at no expense to themselves or their families. Every single expense is paid for by Rackin’ Up Dreams Outdoors, including the mounts. They work with local taxidermists at a discount rate to ensure their hunters are presented with their mount at the banquet the following year.
“The taxidermists are great,” added Tim. “We give them a table at our banquet and allow them to assist in presenting the mount to the hunter. They always tell me it is the highlight of their year. There are many tears shed that’s for sure, when they see the million dollar smiles on the kids’ faces.”
Rackin’ Up Dreams Outdoors has been making memories for those with disabilities and serious illnesses for nearly twenty years. Unfortunately, we have lost a few of our Life Hunters that have passed away, due to their illness, and the reality of that gives Tim pause. “Yeah, that’s the hard part, I feel like I lost one of my own when that happens. But I know we were able to create a memory for them. A bucket list item, I can take comfort in that.”
If you know of a kid you feel would benefit from Rackin’ Up Dreams Outdoors, let them know. Last year they took 18 kids on hunts and are ready to take even more. You can find them on their YouTube Channel and on Facebook. Reach out to Tim or Larry, you will be glad you did.
Their annual fundraiser banquet is scheduled for Saturday, May 10th, 2025. If you want to attend, you’d better contact them early because the event sells out quickly!
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Published in the Central Texas Outdoors Guide magazine by Brownwoodnews.com for the 24-25 Season. Pick up a free copy of the magazine at one of our partner locations HERE.