SUNMAN, Ind. – A local company hopes to strike it rich when they appear on the Discovery Channel’s ‘Billy Bob’s Gags to Riches’ on Tuesday, November 25.
Steve and Roberta Huster are the owners of Hooker Deer Drag, a Sunman-based company that invented a product to allow hunters to drag and load deer with ease.
The couple was offered an opportunity to appear on the new television show, which gives inventors the chance to pitch their product or idea to Jonah White.
White is the founder of the popular Billy Bob Teeth. He is now the CEO of a multi-million dollar gag-gift empire and uses the show to help find new products to add to the Billy Bob line.
Steve and Roberta scored well during the interview process and traveled to the company headquarters in Hardin, Illinois, in May for filming.
Steve recalls, “We took several sets of deer drags with us and when we were killing time in town, we were telling people that we were going to be filmed for the Billy Bob show.”
“He is the largest employer in that county,” Roberta added.
“We showed some people our pamphlets and I almost sold out of everything we brought before we even did the filming,” Steve continued. “They wanted to buy them right there on the spot, so they saw something!”
Steve created the Hooker Deer Drag after several years of physically dragging a deer by any means available. He began selling the product locally in 2011 and received a design patent this year.
Steve handles the sales and marketing end of the company and Roberta is a graphic designer. They told us merchandise sales are in great demand due to the slogan, “Take a Hooker to the woods with you!”
The deer drags are manufactured at Wire-Tek in Sunman, and the couple assembles and ships out each order personally.
“When I put it in the box before I seal it up, I always sign my name on there with a ‘thank you,’” Steven admitted. “And its genuine, I really appreciate every order.”
Hooker Deer Drag has sold locally and as far away as Sweden.
The couple also travels often in an effort to get the word out about the growing business. They were approached by television producers at a trade show in Pennsylvania last February.
“I was very hesitant,” Roberta recalled.
Referencing other reality shows, she told producers, “I cannot come on TV and have someone humiliate us, because we are a very small company.”
The Sunman couple decided to go through with the interview process after learning more about Jonah, who created his wealth through hard work, family values and a creative idea.
“He is a super nice guy, and has more money than he can spend on himself, his family or whatever. He feels the need to give back,” Roberta said. “Like with us, he said if you don’t get anything out of this but publicity, than people will see your product.”
‘Billy Bob’s Gags to Riches’ debuted early November and the Hooker Deer Drag owners are scheduled to be shown on the fourth episode of the show.
Will the Husters make a deal with Jonah White? You’ll have to watch the show to find out.
“We had to sign a confidentiality agreement,” Roberta explained.
Steve added, “and we are not exactly sure what is going to be on there either!”
The episode airs at 10 p.m. on November 25.
