Jake Bartlett is the eldest son in the Bartlett family. In many ways, Jake is a typical 14 year old. He loves to hunt, play sports and to be in the middle of things. He has a girlfriend. He is genuine, and he is loved by everyone he meets.
And he is more. He is an “A” student taking advanced courses at North Middle School and is a national-class archer, winning first in the 2011 National Archery in Lousiville, where more than 6,730 archers competed in what was the largest archery tournament in the world.
“Jake was on the gifted and talented academic program and had never shot an arrow,” his mother, Winnie, says. “One night, Jake was sleeping over at a friend’s house and went with him the next day to regionals at Hopkins County Central (High School) for archery. Someone on the team was sick and they needed a spot filled. So they asked him if he would want to shoot, and he ended up placing.”
“Yeah, it was pretty cool,” Jake says.
Jake’s father, Eric, is the third-generation operator of the family’s company, which manufactures sawmill blades. “I am very proud of what we do,” Eric said. “My dad got the trade from his dad, and I got it from him… we work hard.”
But, he said, “It’s dirty and nasty,” and he believes that Jake can achieve something greater.
Jake sometimes thinks he would like to go onto the family business; at other times, he’s thought about becoming an anesthesiologist. But he’s still young, and if his past is any indication, he will eventually hit the right mark.
