American Workers Honored During Labor Day Marathon on Sportsman Channel

Nashville, TN—The American worker and sportsman will be honored during the inaugural Brotherhood Outdoors Labor Day marathon, which will feature eight back-to-back episodes airing from 1 to 5 p.m. ET. on Monday, September 5 on Sportsman Channel, the leader in outdoor TV for the American Sportsman.

A collaboration between Sportsman Channel and the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA), the marathon will give viewers an intimate glimpse into the lives of these hardworking, blue-collar characters as they join host Tom Ackerman for an exhilarating North American trip of their choice or act as his guide, taking him to their favorite hunting or fishing location.

Between episodes of Brotherhood Outdoors, Ackerman and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka will join viewers to salute some of America’s most historical and iconic outdoor companies and the workers who help make the gear outdoorsmen and women have come to know and trust.

Episodes Airing on September 5 include:

1 p.m. | Texas Whitetail with a Steamfitter

Jake Lovato is a sportsman, sculptor and UA Local 412 steamfitter who uses his welding skills to make a positive impact, even travelling to Haiti to help rebuild an orphanage after the earthquake.  In this episode, Lovato must control his impatience as he watches more deer than he’s ever seen, waiting for the perfect opportunity at that shooter buck.

1:30 p.m. | Illinois Whitetail with a Firefighter

Fire Fighter Captain Bob Barteck of IAFF Local 425 serves people in their darkest hour.  His commitment to service goes beyond firefighter/paramedic and is matched only by his passion for hunting and fishing. In this episode, he and host Tom Ackerman confront the challenges of a post-rut Illinois archery hunt, when the bucks seem to have a copy of their playbook – always staying a step ahead.

2 p.m. | Kansas Geese with a Machinist

Brett Graham, an IAM Local 839 machinist, longtime Ducks Unlimited member and waterfowl guide, takes Tom Ackerman on a goose hunt outside Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Kansas. Waterfowl experts and novices alike will get a thrill out of this epic hunt, which Tom calls the best day of goose shooting he’s experienced.

2:30 p.m. | Montauk Stripers with a Steamfitter

Host Tom Ackerman joins UA Local 638 steamfitter Jay Rodriquez on an exhilarating fishing trip to Montauk Point in Long Island as category four Hurricane Earl is heading toward the coast.  Watch as this hardworking dad and autism advocate tries to put Ackerman on the East Coast’s sportiest fish before the storm hits.

3 p.m. | Colorado Elk with a Painter

Robin DeHaven, an apprentice glazier, member of IUPAT Local 1778 and a true hero did two tours of duty in Iraq and rescued five people from a building struck by a plane. Some say no good deed goes unpunished, but DeHaven’s good deeds earned him his dream Colorado elk hunt, which comes down to a 5x6 bull at 240 yards.

3:30 p.m. | Missouri Waterfowl with a Sheet Metal Worker

Avid waterfowler and dedicated SMWIA Local 19 sheet metal worker Doug Bachman heads to the Mississippi Flyway with host Tom Ackerman for late season waterfowl action.  Hunting guide and retired auto worker Dan Guyer puts his 42 years of waterfowling experience to the test, calling in the wary birds in difficult conditions.

4 p.m. | Wyoming Pronghorn with a Sheet Metal Worker

Todd Heustis, a member of Sheet Metal Workers Local 9 in Denver, is a family man in a big way with 13 children.  He gets the whole family involved as he takes host Tom Ackerman on his first quest for the quick and sharp-sighted Wyoming pronghorn on Wyoming’s public land.

4:30 p.m. |  (NEW!) Arizona Mule Deer with a Firefighter

A former 101st Airborne Division flight medic, firefighter, master hunting guide and IAFF Local 3066   President, JP Vicente comes from a long line of Arizonian outdoorsmen. In this episode, Vicente guides Tom Ackerman on a challenging archery hunt for monster muleys on Arizona’s often underestimated public lands.

In addition to corporate partners like Buck Knives and Burris Optics, Brotherhood Outdoors is made possible through the generous support of many of America’s leading trade unions and contractor associations.

About the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance:

The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) is a Union-dedicated outdoor organization whose members hunt, fish, shoot and volunteer their skills for conservation. The USA is uniting the Union community to expand and improve hunting and fishing access and wildlife habitat throughout North America.

About Sportsman Channel:

Launched in 2003, Sportsman Channel is the only television and digital media company fully devoted to the more than 82 million sportsmen in the United States, delivering entertaining and educational programming focused exclusively on hunting, shooting and fishing activities. Sportsman Channel is now available in HD, check with your local cable or satellite provider. Acquired by InterMedia Outdoors Holdings in 2006, Sportsman Channel reaches 27 million U.S. television households and is a part of the nation's largest multimedia company targeted exclusively to serving the information and entertainment needs of outdoors enthusiasts.