Message from Forester John Byrd Nov. 5, 2014 / Completion of Horse Shelter #3

Message from Shimek Forester John Byrd:

Thank you for everyone’s help in completing the stalls in the new horse shelter in the Upper Campground...the last one!  It is a relief to get that project done and we can move on to another project.  I would never have completed getting the horse shelters done without a lot of help from volunteers.  Now we have three good quality horse shelters that should last a long time. 

As I look to the future for improvements to Shimek facilities, my goal is to look hard at the trail side of things.  Campgrounds are still not perfect, but the reason people come to Shimek is to ride trails.  It is unfortunate that I was unable to do much trail work this year due to wet conditions most of the time.  There are some ambitious plans for the future but time is the limiting factor, especially with 9,500 acres to manage.  I will be looking to volunteers to remain vigilant in our fight to protect the resource and maintain a safe and healthy trail system.

In closing, I would like to thank all volunteers in 2014, whether you helped 1 hour or 200 hours, every hour counts.  Thank you and we will look to a successful 2015.

John Byrd, Area Forester

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Shimek State Forest, 33653 Rte J56, Farmington, IA 52626

Phone: 319-878-3811 e-mail: john.byrd@dnr.iowa.gov

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Completion of Horse Shelter #3 -Upper Campground

The last of the dilapidated, roofless horse shelters has been replaced with a new, metal roofed structure with 10 stalls. The stalls are made from rough cut oak lumber taken from Shimek Forest. Construction of the new ten horse stall shelter was made possible by a grant from the Lee County Charitable Fund, funds raised by Friends of Shimek, Friends of Shimek volunteer labor and both DNR funds and staff labor. The Lee County Charitable Fund supports only projects in Lee County in the fields of arts and culture, community betterment, education, health and human services. The grant to Friends of Shimek was used to improve the equestrian campground facilities at Shimek's Lick Creek Unit in Lee County. The grant of $4,200 was combined with $2,000 raised by Friends of Shimek and lumber, hardware and gates provided by DNR to construct the new horse shelter. Use of the horse shelters is free to equestrians. Forester John Byrd and crew cut trees and sawed the heavy, rough-cut 2 x8” boards that were used for stall construction. Once the roofed structure was completed, 15 Friends of Shimek volunteers assisted by Forester John Byrd and DNR Technician Cody Brothersen installed the stall walls and gates –this was a hard but enjoyable day of hauling very heavy boards, cutting them to length, countersinking holes, placing boards, drilling holes, inserting carriage bolts and adding a washer and nut, tightening the nuts, then cutting off the bolts, followed by smoothing any jagged edges where the bolt was cut---for 234 bolts! Ten gates with chains were hung also. Volunteers were: Doug Moothart ( FOS Construction Coordinator), Bonnie Moothart, Marsha and Bob Achenbach, Ray Conrad, Ann Bennett, Bob Bender, Art Duke, Ringo Covert, Pam Larson, Al Brown, Pat Pollpeter, Dennis Hunter and Pam Ball. Both Forester John Byrd and DNR Technician Cody Brothersen also worked on the stall construction with the volunteers. The work was completed by mid-afternoon. A total of 110.5 volunteer hours were donated toward stall construction. Volunteers enjoyed snacks provided by Bonnie Moothart and Lora Conrad and lunch provided by Ann Bennett.

From: This unsafe old set of pens ----

To:

A proud group of FOS Volunteers and Forester John Byrd celebrate the completion of Horse Shelter 3!

More photos below (by Lora Conrad)  of the construction of the stalls:

Photos by Bonnie Moothart from the FOS Potluck and Raffle

This is a sample of the many photos made by Bonnie Moothart at the Potluck.
 Thank you, Bonnie.

Gathered Round the Campfire

A serious FOS Board meeting ---only Lora missing--
she was in the hospital so might be excused.

Ann Bennett holds the raffle tickets while Dennis Hunter draws names

Excitement! Art just won the campfire tools donated by Dennis.

Chow Time!

 
 

 

A relaxing evening by the fire.

Report on the End of Season Friends of Shimek Potluck and Raffle

Report on the 2014 End of Season Friends of Shimek Potluck and Raffle

from FOS President Ann Bennett with input from Debbie Miller

Art Duke of Brighton won the campfire iron grill donated by Dennis Hunter.- Dennis did the raffle drawing for us. The campfire ring was donated by Bill White and won by Debbie's boss at work - Mike Culbertson of Fort Madison. Treasurer Debbie Miller reported that the raffle raised a total of $960. In addition $100 was donated by Diana Thrift as she has been unable to volunteer and work the last couple years but hopes to be able to do so this coming year. Another $50 was donated by Michael & Barbara Leete. Total revenue raised over the weekend: $1,100 which gives us a good start on

funding improvement projects for the campground and trails.

The weather was stunning - sunshine and 70's, Sat night clear and stars. The Upper and Lower campground was over flowing, trailers parked in day riding and skirting every available spot. The potluck was outstanding with walking tacos, chili, fried chicken, bacon wrapped little smokies, pumpkin pie dessert, dutch oven cobbler, sweet potatoes, cabbage/sausage casserole, and other great food I'm sure I'm forgetting at the moment.

 

  Everyone was enjoying the beautiful fall weather and out riding. Camp was peaceful and quiet at night - all enjoying a campfire but settling down shortly after 9pm - thanks to all the courteous campers. I saw lots of folks cleaning their tie rails and stalls, so hopefully camp was left clean for the following weekend visitors. Bonnie is donating a quilt to the raffle next year so looks like Friends of Shimek will be making the October potluck an annual event.

We estimated 50 people there for riding and/or potluck. There was no sign-in for attendees, so we'll list as many trail riders and potluck attendees as we can remember: Art and Judy Duke, Mary Doyle, Diana Thrift, Becky Hassman, Pat Pollpeter, Linda and Bill Fiordelise, Martina Poggenpohl, Jewel McDonald, Denise Schieffer, Doug and Bonnie Moothart, Laura Paulsen, Ringo and Brenda Covert, Craig and Kristine Sink, Bob Bender, Debbie Miller, Marsha and Bob Achenbach, Dennis and Melinda Hunter and their daughter Michelle Hunter, Pam and Bob Noe, Nancy Grams, Ann Bennett, Pam Larson and Al Brown, Pam, Alan, Adam and Jackie Ball, Dean and Cathy Weber, Neal Hartman, Lala O'Hara, John Steenhoek, Dick and Sharon Wyett, and Tom and Jeanie Schacklett. Thanks to Bonnie Moothart, Judy Duke, Martina Poggenpohl, and Ringo Covert for making photographs.

Strings of rental horses stopped at camp to use the bathroom and take a break. The camp was so crowded that they were blocking the trail entrance at the south end of camp. Someone suggested some tie rails and a picnic table near the pit toilets so they would have somewhere to hang out. It is a good idea as one of the campers said the dude horses were trying to drink out of their water buckets and were in their camp site. And riders out on the dude string horses probably don't have any idea how to stay away from the other horses' food and water.

I camped in site #34 and sadly someone had recently tied a horse to a tree at that campsite and badly damaged it. There were fresh chew marks, the damage is only apparent from the back side so you can't see it from the road. Whoever had the campsite last left a big mess all around that camp, but not at the hitch rail.....almost like it was someone camping next to whoever rented the site. The bad damage to the tree will likely result in its death later---clearly campers must obey the Do Not Tie to Trees rule or our  lovely trees in the campground could all easily be destroyed.