HORSE SHELTER 2 Lower Campground READY TO GO!!!

  

The DNR Parks Department managed to budget the funds for the DNR Shimek crew
 to purchase the materials for this new horse shelter.  After Forester John Byrd and the DNR crew finished the building shell as documented on the FOS Blog, FOS Volunteers  planned a work day for Tuesday June 24.  DNR provided a trailer load of new rough cut oak for stall walls and eight new gates for the stalls.  DNR also provided the 180 bolts, 180 washers, and 180 nuts to install the boards.  All of us at FOS really appreciate the commitment by DNR and of Forester John Byrd to enhancing the campground at Shimek this year by adding a this new horse shelter.
 
By 8am, Doug and Bonnie Moothart, Ann Bennett, Bob and Marsha Achenbach, Ray and Lora Conrad were starting the work on the stalls and were joined shortly by Brian and Jewel McDonald, and Art Duke  and joined by David Featherstun later in the morning.  ( Neal Hartman stopped by for a visit--he is improving and will be back at work soon. )

 Generators humming, saws buzzing, drills, well, drilling and hammers whacking, everyone worked steadily  as the temperatures rose and the boards got heavier --but by 1:30 the stalls were finished.  Boards had been  measured, trimmed  and placed and  all 180 holes had been drilled, counter bored, bolts installed, with nuts  and washers, tightened and the ends sawed off.

 Then, that afternoon Doug Moothart and David Featherstun completed hanging the gates--all eight of them.

 Bonnie Moothart photographed the action
 --a few shots are included here,   and an
 entire set of photos are at
 http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=9AZuWLhs0csMM
 where you can also order prints directly from Shutterfly.  Thanks, Bonnie!
 .                                                                                                                                              
  
Just for good measure, gutters on horse shelter 1 were cleaned of maple sprouts.  The recycle cans were collected and sorted.

Some stalls that an inconsiderate   %^&*  camper left dirty were cleaned out.  Yesterday, DNR crew members mowed the campground--so it is ready for the 4th of July campers!! 

What can you do you ask, I'm sure.......
First of all---------
       .

Secondly---thank DNR staff and

John (left) got there for some of the action too. 

 Forester John Byrd when you can for the
commitment of both money and time
to the shelter.



Thirdly--help FOS by donating money or coming to work with FOS later or both---we are raising funds to replace the third horse shelter--the one at the upper campground which is now just pens.  Donations can be sent to Lee County Bank,  Attn: Debbie Miller, FOS Treasurer, 2501 Ave. L, Ft. Madison, IA 52627.


Since I put out the call for help and tools on Tuesday, on behalf of FOS  ----
 From me to the crew that brought their tools and worked so hard---
THANK YOU Thank You--
you worked very, very hard, got it all done.
 Be sure to check out the photos of you by Bonnie.
 Enjoy the stalls when you go camping at Shimek State Forest.

Lora

Horsing Around Shimek State Forest

Read Horsing Around Shimek State Forest

by Mindy Kralicek

It's already heading to the 90-degree mark this August Friday morning, but a moderate breeze and acres of dappled shade beckon us into the statuesque beauty of Shimek State Forest.

So begins Horsing Around Shimek State Forest in Iowa Outdoors July/August 2014 issue—just recently in mailboxes around the state. Mindy researched this article last August with Shimek Forester John Byrd and the DNR forestry crew and with Friends of Shimek (FOS) volunteers. The article includes an interview with Forester John Byrd about management of Shimek Forest and working with Friends of Shimek. She and DNR photographer Clay Smith joined FOS Volunteers for a FOS Group Work day and for a separately arranged trail ride the following day. A photo from that trail ride is featured across two pages in the beginning of the article.

To read the full article, go to

https://www.dropbox.com/s/y2uoklz36c2q1n5/Iowa%20Outdoors%20Horsing%20Around%20Shimek.pdf

This pdf copy has been provided for public use courtesy of the Editor of Iowa Outdoors and article author Mindy Kralicek, DNR staff writer.

Iowa Outdoors is DNR's magazine with the mission to open the door to the beauty and uniqueness of Iowa's natural resources, inspire people to get outside and experience Iowa and to motivate outdoor minded citizens to understand and care for our natural resources. Its a gorgeous magazine full of interesting articles about Iowa, some by well known nature photographer and writer Ty Smedes.

To subscribe call 1-800-361-8072 or go to http://www.iowadnr.gov/Recreation/IowaOutdoorsMagazine/Subscribe.aspx

A one year (six issues) subscription is currently only $15.

"Kudos!" from President Ann Bennett

First of all, many Thanks to Forester John Byrd and his crew for the construction of the second horse shelter in the lower campground. They took time to take down the old shelter, get the materials, and construct the shelter shell despite their heavy schedule in other parts of the forest at this time. We volunteers will be installing the walls and gates before the 4^th of July weekend, weather permitting. We will then have two new roofed shelters with a total of 16 horse stalls for use by campers. Excellent progress toward updating our facilities! We are now seeking grant funds and individual donations to construct the third and final horse shelter at the upper campground.

We have been pleased to see two of our FOS Volunteers recognized by Trailblazer magazine this year---Marsha Achenbach was honored as a Trail Warrior for her Friends of Shimek work in the Jan/Feb issue and Doug Moothart was honored as a Trail Warrior in the April issue for his work at Brinton Timber. Both volunteer many hours to improve the facilities available for trail riders and to support other trail riders in their activities. The dedication they have for the job is what makes organizations like FOS possible.

This week subscribers began getting their latest issue (July/August) of DNR's publication Iowa Outdoors. This issue features the article we have been waiting to see by Mindy Kralicek and photographer Clay Smith—remember last August when we met them for a work day and a ride? To subscribe, see http://www.iowadnr.gov/Recreation/IowaOutdoorsMagazine.aspx

Thanks to Mindy and Clay for the excellent article.

Special thanks to Denise Schieffer for including both the May FOS update re Biosecurity and the Wet Weather Trail information in full in the ITRA June Newsletter --- both are information that trail riders needs to read and the ITRA newsletter reaches many of those riders.

When it comes to social media---Bonnie Moothart is a whiz---her monitored, closed group facebook page, Eastern Iowa Trail Riders, reaches over a thousand trail riders. She has kindly listed links to our FOS blog on topics ranging from Biosecurity, the Wet Weather Trail to scheduled work days. Lora reports a jump in blogspot access each time she does this---as it does when the links are published in the ITRA newsletter. Both expand greatly our reach of information to the “right” people – potential equestrian trail riders at Shimek State Forest.

We are also pleased to announce that Lora Conrad was selected for a 2014 Individual Governor's Volunteer Award by DNR Forestry for her outstanding commitment and service to Shimek State Forest through FOS. Forester John Byrd submitted the nomination which required the endorsement of the Forestry Department. A full description of these awards can be found at: http://www.volunteeriowa.org/Organizations/ICVSPrograms/GovernorsVolunteerAwards.aspx

This award will be presented during one of several state volunteers recognition ceremonies. It will be among those awards presented Friday, June 20 at 10:00AM at the Indian Hills Community College St. John Auditorium in Ottumwa. Lora will be present to receive the award. Anyone interested in attending is invited to join us there and to have lunch after the award ceremony at the Appanoose Rapids Brewery and Restaurant on main street in Ottumwa. Drop me an e-mail if you can join us there.

The Kudos for our volunteers keep piling up----and I know I have not thought of all---but wanted to let you know about some of the recognition that our volunteers, FOS and the DNR Shimek crew have garnered this year. Congratulations to all of you and thanks for your enthusiasm for Friends of Shimek.

Ann Bennett

FOS President  
windrushhill@farmtel.net

Profile--Down Memory Lane with Lora Conrad

(This post continues our series about our Board Members and how they came to be involved with Shimek State Forest and FOS.)

You are surely destined to spend your life with horses when one of your first memories is holding onto the collar of a plow horse as it pulled the plow and your father walks behind down a cotton row. My next memory of horses is being three and “leading” the horse back to the barn alone at the end of the day, getting him over a terrace out of sight of Dad, and climbing up the harness to ride instead of walk back to the barn. So---except for those years of college and beginning a career, horses have been part of my life as they are today. For the 50 years we have been married, my husband Ray has supported my love of horses ---he's mowed, and hayed, and cleaned barns and sat with sick horses too.  For a few years, we lived in Tennessee where I had Tennessee Walking horses and a Missouri foxtrotter that I moved back home to Alabama. Struck with love of Arabian horses, I raised a half-Arab, half Tenn Walker filly---beautiful but not gaited. I finally purchased my first pregnant registered Arab mare in 1988.

When my husband Ray and I moved to Iowa from the sunny south 14 years ago, I brought 11 Arabian horses with me that Halloween night who thought the lush green pastures they saw the next day were a treat. Six weeks later when the snow and cold hit, they knew they'd been tricked!

Within a year, I had somehow heard about the area dressage club now known as Great River and through that group met Ann Bennett. I then asked Ann to start two of my young fillies since she is an excellent trainer of Arabian horses. Ann and I have worked together on several projects over the years, one being the Great River group. Through Great River I made many friends that now volunteer with Friends of Shimek. After a year or so, thanks to our farrier and Marsha's initiative, I met Marsha Achenbach who promptly introduced me to Shimek State Forest and its 25 miles of trails. At group trail rides and riding with Marsha and her husband Bob, I've enjoyed many great hours on horseback in all seasons---from January 1st rides several good years to sweltering horsefly laden days in August---all have their own joy. The most wonderful days being those spring days with redbuds blooming and bluebells on the hill sides, tiny spring beauties underfoot and numerous other flowers adding to the beauty along side the trails as you ride. With Marsha's good guidance on the Shimek trails, I've never gotten into the quicksand nor gotten lost. However, she has gotten to laugh at me often as most every horse I've ridden has dumped me in some unexpected fashion or the other when riding with her. (I'm thankful for helmets.)

I met Debbie Miller one year around a campfire at Shimek and only met Neal, Lala, Ringo and Brenda when we all began getting together to work as volunteers at Shimek. John Byrd---since he does not ride---darn it---I met when Ann, Doug Moothart and I went to his office in 2011 to talk to him about starting Friends of Shimek.

Now with each FOS Group Volunteer Day, I meet more great people who also care about Shimek and want to help protect and improve the trails both for our enjoyment and safety and to preserve the beauty of the natural resource that is Shimek Forest.

 Lora and her half Friesian-half Arab gelding Kalan
 riding up a trail in Shimek. NOTE HELMET!
(Photo by Kelly Britnell)

Lora doing what she does best.
 (Photo by Clay Smith)

Magicicada along the trails.......

Magicicada....

along the horse trails, outside your home, along the road---stop and listen to the chorus of the Magicicada—as in rhythm thousands of male Magicicada raise a chorus of sound to higher and higher volume and drop it back down and repeat that cycle again and again and again.........

 

This is a spectacular sight and sound that we see/hear only once every 17 years---as that is how long these periodical cicadas stay in the ground before emerging for a few short weeks of flying, singing and mating to begin the cycle again. These are the Iowan Brood and last emerged in 1997. They do not bite nor sting. They are not venomous nor do they transmit any diseases. They don't even pose much of a threat to plants except perhaps the youngest or weakest trees. Birds, especially wild turkey, reptiles, squirrels and even some cats eat them. You may see piles of their bodies under trees as their season wanes

Notice that they have 5 eyes---three little ones (ocelli) in a triangle between the two big compound eyes. 

 

 

 The magicicada will be silent again sometime in July...for 17 more years.

As of July  4, 2014....The silence is deafening....only an occasional lonely Magicicada still sings.  Soon their silence will be complete for 17 more years.

Keep Iowa Beautiful and Yo-Ho Tools grant

Keep Iowa Beautiful and Iowa tool manufacturer Yeoman & Company have

announced the awards for the Yo-Ho Tools for a More Beautiful Iowa grant program. This is the first year of the program for community groups and organizations to receive grants of up to $200 in Yo-Ho quality hand tools to assist volunteers in clean up and beautification projects in their communities. Yo-Ho Tools have been manufactured by Yeoman & Company in Monticello, Iowa for over 85 years. William F. Yeoman founded the company in 1929 and his grandson, Tom Yeoman, President & CEO, now leads the company that manufactures nearly 400 standard and custom quality tools. More information is available at www.yo-ho.com

Keep Iowa Beautiful was established in 2000 becoming the 23rd State Affiliate of Keep America  Beautiful. It is a 501c3 charitable organization working with Iowa citizens, neighborhoods, communities and regions in improving the quality, beauty and cleanliness of our State. KIB empowers Iowan’s to have a greater commitment in building pride and respect in the places we live. For more information see www.keepiowabeautiful.com

Friends of Shimek Equestrian Trails was one of fifteen organizations awarded a 2014 grant. The tools were obtained through Kempker Hardware in Fort Madison. The tools included several heavy duty loppers and rakes for use at the FOS Group Work Days. The loppers will assist greatly in trimming back multiflora roses and small overhanging limbs on the trails. The rakes will help with campground cleanup. The FOS Volunteers will be using the tools on each of the four annual group work days.

President Ann Bennett said: “We much appreciate this award from Yo-Ho through Keep Iowa Beautiful. The tools will provide assistance to FOS volunteers for years to come in our trail maintenance.” 

Chuck Kempker of Kempker Hardware in Fort Madison presenting the Yo-Ho tools to FOS Treasurer Debbie Miller

 

Horse Shelter #2 -Going Up!

June 17

Here is the new Horse Shelter #2 at the Lower Campground all finished by Forester John Byrd and the DNR crew.  Lime chips already down.  FOS Volunteers will be installing walls and gates on June 24-25.

May 28
Forester John Byrd sent the following photos showing the progress they have made on the new horse shelter replacing the last dilapidated one at the lower campground.  This shelter, at the back of the campground, is being funded by DNR and the Shimek DNR crew are constructing it.  FOS Volunteers will help put up the interior walls and gates when the building construction is finished.

 

Putting up the trusses on May 28th.

 

 

FOS May 14, 2014 Group Work Day Activities

 

On the morning of May 14^th, FOS volunteers and DNR employee Heath Fraise met in the lower campground under the direction of Ringo Covert, Work Day Coordinator. The following was prepared using the follow-up report submitted by Ringo Covert to the Board.

Ringo Covert discusses the plans for the day with the volunteers.

The priorities for the day were to clear downed trees from trails, install 14 “You are Here” signs at marker posts on the trails, and to clean up around camp at both campgrounds. 

FOS had 16 volunteers there, at least two of which were new volunteers. The DNR representative for John Byrd was Heath Fraise who was very helpful. Everyone appreciated his being there for the day, bringing needed DNR equipment to use and helping out on the trails.

Preparing to go out on the trails.

Doug, Bob, and Bonnie plan their route. 

Weather conditions were cold and dry; trail conditions were very muddy.

The work day started at about 08:30 AM and concluded for most at about 12:30 with several people working a couple more hours after lunch.

Bob Achenbach and Doug Moothart cut up this large tree that fell
across the trail. (Photo by Bonnie Moothart)

For work out on the trails, crews of two or more people and one or two 4-wheelers carrying needed tools and signs to post were disbursed to assigned trail sections and directed to be back by noon. (Since phones do not work in most places on the trails, we can not count on using cell phones to communicate. As a result, no person is sent out alone onto the trails.)

Crews that included Brandon Sink, Craig Sink, Bob Achenbach, Neal Hartman, Bob Bender, Doug and Bonnie Moothart went out on the trails to remove downed trees and to pick up cans and litter from trails between trail markers 6 and 19.

Pete, Marsha and Martina load signs, posts and post drivers

Marsha Achenbach and Pete Jinkens installed 10 "You are here " signs. Martina Poggenpohl and Don Harris put up 4 signs. All 14 signs were posted! No one should find themselves lost for long with all those signs placed carefully around the trails as determined by Marsha and Debbie Miller.

Ann and Judy removing soiled hay left at a campsite.

Art, Judy and Ann cleaning out the horse shelter stalls.

At the lower campsite, Ann Bennett, Judy and Art Duke cleaned all fire pits, picked up trash from the area, cleaned some stalls and campsites left with manure and old hay. Small repairs were made to signs and tables. Ringo Covert and Lora Conrad swept, power washed and bleached the restroom facilities. At the top campsite all fire pits were cleaned, trash picked from the area, (stalls had not been used and did not need to be cleaned) and the restrooms were also power washed and cleaned. Recyclable cans were also collected and bagged.

Neal Hartman suffered injuries in a 4 wheeler accident resulting from the slippery conditions.  He is recovering with painful bumps and bruises and a broken finger but will be off work for several weeks.   Send cards to:    Neal Hartman, 4972 Sullivan Slough Road, Burlington, IA 52601.

Martina Poggenpohl captured this photo as Heath, Don
Harris  and Bob Bender
 unstick a 4-wheeler---conditions too muddy.

The lesson learned from this unfortunate accident is that if it is too wet to ride the trails on horseback, FOS will not take equipment out on the trails as the slippery conditions are a safety hazard for both using 4-wheelers and chain saws and there can be damage to the trails from using 4-wheelers to carry equipment. This was approved by the members of the Board of Directors present at President Ann Bennett's recommendation, Lora Conrad's second. The FOS Board and DNR staff consider personnel safety our #1 priority and will redouble our efforts to assure that all volunteers are working in teams and working under safe conditions, with appropriate tools and gear.

A brown bag lunch was enjoyed by some of the volunteers while some had to leave once the debriefing meeting concluded about 12:30. No further trail clearing work was done after lunch though Marsha and Pete did go back out and post the final 4 signs as they knew the trail conditions in the area they were going into.

Recommendations for the scheduled work day on July 12^th include to repaint all 4 restroom facilities and use walk behind mowers to clear narrow trails of multi-flora roses and weeds.

Neal Hartman with his three year old mare Reba
---he's not back to her training yet but he is much improved.
____________________________________________________________________