Michael Smart
Michael Smart was born and raised in Texas, he enlisted in the United States Army in 2010- Following his basic training he was assigned to a station near the DMZ in South Korea for a year. After completing his assignment in Korea he and Cassidy were stationed at Fort Hood in Texas. Michael and Cassidy while stationed at Fort Hood welcomed three lovely daughters into their family. In 2014 Michael was deployed to Afghanistan and upon his return he was stationed at Fort Riley Kansas. In 2017 he deployed to Iraq and upon coming back they joyfully welcomed another daughter. At the end of his enlistment in 2019 Michael decided to end his career in the military as a SSG, Shortly after he and Cassidy welcomed their only baby boy. Michael chose to pursue a career as a Lineman Apprentice in the IBEW. He found joy in working with power lines and even took part in 2 lineman rodeos showcasing his skills and passion for the job. Despite trying out various jobs after leaving the military it was clear that being a lineman was the right fit for him. Michael's life took a drastic turn nearing the end of his apprenticeship on November 17 2023. A tragic accident while driving a company line truck left him paralyzed from the waist down. Despite undergoing three back surgeries and months of physical therapy Michael is now adjusting to his new reality and trying to find his new normal. While attending therapy one of Michael's therapists Taylor shared with him that her husband was also paralyzed. Matt and Michael quickly discovered that they had a lot in common as they both loved sports and the outdoors. Matt decided to introduce Michael to wheelchair football a sport that they both found to be thrilling and empowering. Through their shared passion for the game Matt and Michael formed a friendship.The friendship between them made them see that Kansas needs more hunting opportunities for people with disabilities. Starting this organization has become a passion for him because he loves everything about the outdoors. He wants to make sure that everyone regardless of their abilities can enjoy the beauty of nature through hunting. This organization is a way for him to give back to the community and make a difference in the lives of those who may have otherwise been excluded from such experiences.
Matt Bollig
Matt grew up on a farm outside of Chanute Kansas. While growing up he learned a lot about hunting, fishing, and the outdoors from his family. They are a family that loves being in the outdoors. Throughout his younger years he played as many sports as he could. During his high school years, he was a stand out all state athlete in football and track. Football being Matt’s favorite sport he chose to play football in college. He attended Fort Scott Community College playing safety and quarterback, before transferring to Ottawa University. Unfortunately, while lifting weights at Ottawa he suffered a spinal cord injury in 2012 that left him paralyzed. As serious as a spinal cord injury can be it didn’t let it slow him down physically or mentally. One year after his injury he enrolled at the University of Missouri and joined the wheelchair basketball team. At Mizzou, Matt studied Natural Resource Recreation Management with the hopes of starting a hunting ranch where people with all disabilities could enjoy the outdoors for the first time or again after a debilitating event. After college in 2015 Matt helped build Midwest Adaptive Sports and start the Kansas City Kings wheelchair basketball program. The Kings have been a very successful program in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association with several high school aged athletes going to college to continue their basketball dreams. In 2018 Matt married his wonderful wife Taylor and they are expecting their first child in the spring of 2025. Matt and Micheal met each other through Taylor, and immediately found out they had a lot in common. Micheal joined the Kansas City Chiefs wheelchair football team that Matt is the quarterback of, and they got to discussing hunting and the outdoors before and after practices. After several conversations Matt and Micheal agreed there was a service missing in Kansas and so that’s how Kansas Adaptive Outfitters got its start. Two guys just trying to help their peers enjoy what might not be possible without adaptive hunting equipment.