Donnie and Donnis Herrington of Hineston, La., met Patsy and Dexter Whatley in Shreveport, La., e 15 years ago and learned about the benefit coon hunt in Cass County.
They began coming regularly, for one main reason, Donnie said. Their son has CF.
"The research money raised for CF really does help," Donnie said. "We've seen that ourselves. Our son with CF is doing well at 34 when at first the expected living age was 9 or 10.
"And we've just learned about a new machine that will help get medicine into his lungs more quickly."
The Herringtons joined this year's 4-State hunt out of respect for the organizers here and attended even though they were unable to bring their own dogs.
"It's such a good effort they make here," Donnis said. "We love to come."
The Herringtons said they know of no other coon hunt like this to benefit Cystic Fibrosis.
"We go to other fundraisers but have especially liked coming here. So we've come to help this final one."
The Herrington said they had one other acknowledgement.
"We also are Christian people, close to the church and Jesus Christ. This gives us our confidence, too, and we want people to know this."