New Members join the Friends of Shimek Board

 

Friends of Shimek has a few new board members!

The Friendship Tree stands in its majestic beaty to greet each and every one that passes by.  It represents long lasting friendships that have been made and nurtured as the years go by.  As we pass by this tree, let's reflect on the new and old friends we have met, and the memories that have been made along this trail as we journey throughout the forest.

The FOS (Friends of Shimek) board is excited to introduce the newest members of the board.  We look forward to their ideas, creativity, ability to help and encourage each other along the way.  They each bring knowledge and experience from various walks in life to our board.  We would like to welcome them to the board.

Herman (Sonny) Gipe, Member at Large 

                                       

                                                                                                        

I am 54 years old.  I work at Conagra and currently supervise         

2 teams on 3rd shift. I have been in some type of management role

for the past 30 plus years, ranging from team lead to plant 

superintendent in fabrication of pre-engineered metal buildings to

production of food or food grade products.

My wife, Tammy, and I moved to this area in 2015 after I accepted

a promotion.  When we were looking for a place to buy, our search

criteria, included being as close to Shimek as possible.  We spent a 

lot of time camping and riding here prior to moving and it is our favorite

place in Iowa to ride.

Tammy and I enjoy camping and riding. We try to camp and ride every chance that our work schedules allow. We camp and ride all over Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, and South Dakota.

We have 2 boys, 2 girls, 7 grandchildren, 3 dogs, 4 cats,15 chickens, and 5 horses.  We enjoy being outside and nature.  With the time we spend camping at Shimek and our love for it, I wanted to join Friends of Shimek to be able to give back, as well as help maintain and preserve the area for camping and trail riding.

Lala O'Hara, Member at Large 

 

Our family started out in town where our parents ran a Mom and Pop grocery store until I was 3 years old.  Then moved to the country south of Burlington and began a horse boarding facility- which Neal and I still own and operate, along with storage.  I can’t remember not having horses since I was 3.  Our first horse was an American Saddlebred named Romance.  I can remember riding around our circle drive and mom would go from front door to back door with oatmeal cookies for Romance.  Numerous horses and ponies came from there.  We belonged to Des Moines County Saddle Club and always rode as a large group in Ft Madison Rodeo Parade all wearing red and white.  Started in horse shows at age 10, and dad and mom hauled me to Mt Pleasant for riding lessons.  The saddle club had their horse shows at our place for many years until the college put up a covered arena and moved the shows out there.  I showed western pleasure, English pleasure, some reining as I was preparing for queen contest.  Won Tri State Rodeo Queen in 1977.   Now I like team sorting and obstacle trail challenges at River Valley in Farmington.  I have also done a few Cowgirl Challenges which consisted of 4 events: ranch sorting, ranch cutting, ranch pleasure, and barrels.  In fact, I won a series trophy saddle in 2019. 

I also love trail riding in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, SD, NM (cattle drive).  We went on a 6 day wagon train ride (50 wagons and150 riders) 

from Four Corners, WY to Deadwood, SD.   2023 will be 45 years going to Cross Country Trail Ride in Eminence, MO.   I have given riding lessons to kids and adults for many years and will look at doing more of that since retiring July of 2022.  I retired from 20 years with Des Moines County Farm Bureau.

We love riding at Shimek- it’s close, has great maintained trails - thankful for the wet weather trails when it’s wet everywhere.  There has been a lot accomplished with the FOS and the DNR with trail maintenance, rock needed additional parking lots, adding stalls to the upper and lower barns, etc.  I hope to contribute help where I can a new FOS board member.      

Teresa Murray, Member at Large 

I was born and raised in Keokuk and have had a love of horses from day one.  My husband and I have been married for 42 years.  we have 2 great kids and 2 grandkids.  I'm fortunate my grandkids have a love for riding horses as well.  I grew up trail riding and showing horses and have owned and raised American Paint horses and American Quarter horses. 

Some of my earliest memories were showing horses at Jesse Hagmeier farm just south of Montrose. We became members of the Keokuk Saddle Club in the 1970's.  I have great memories hanging out with friends at the barns.  we had a lot of memorable shows at the saddle club.  Once such show had a jumping class put on by a jumping club from another town.  The had those fancy jumps with the grass on top (LOL). Mu horse was a16 hand1/2 quarter 1/2 thoroughbred gelding that would do anything I asked. I asked the entry stand "Can I enter the jumping class?"   I'll set the scene here; all of these people rode English saddles and all the attire.  Here's a 14-year-old girl in a western saddle, riding a barrel and game horse.  What they didn't know is one of our favorite things to do was to ride the timber and jump every downed tree I could find.  The class was intense with a jump off the at the end.  Buck and I won, and the crown went WILD!

I have been President of the Keokuk Saddle Club since 2005.  The Club lost its land lease with the City of Keokuk in 2004 and has not had a permanent home since that date.  In 2017 the club signed a new lease with the City of Keokuk to build a new 130 x 250 arena in Joyce Park, just north of Keokuk.  The club has been awarded multiple grants that I have written.  Club members have been busy getting ready for opening day.  I'm a typical Grandma, love spoiling and bragging about my grandkids.  My Granddaughter was the 2016 Little Miss Ft. Madison Tri-State Rodeo Cowgirl.  My Grandson was the 2022 Ft. Madison Tri-State rodeo All-around Cowboy.  I'm so blessed they have the love and passion of trail riding and showing horses.

I retired in 2019 after a 39-year career in the Lee County Assessor's office, spending the last 11 years as the Assessor.  Retirement has given me more time to do one of my favorite pastimes of trail riding in Shimek.  I'm looking forward to being on the FOS board, continuing with their great work and heling out wherever needed.

Your 2023 Board Officers are as follows:

Kathy Weber - President/Editor

Marsha Achenbach-Vice President/Trail monitor

Debbie Miller - Treasurer

Lora Conrad - Secretary/Grant Officer

Jo Watson - Member at Large/Volunteer Hours Coordinator

Neal Hartman - Member at Large

Herman (Sonny) Gipe -Member at Large

Lala O'Hara - Member at Large

Teresa Murray - Member at Large

As we move toward spring watch for new projects to be posted, workdays to be scheduled, and activities of interest to be added.

Spring is just around the corner.  That old groundhog is about to show us just how soon.  Until then, stay warm, stay safe, and smile because it looks good on you!

May your troubles be less, your blessings more, and may nothing but happiness come through your door. (BG)

Kathy

President/Editor

Campground improvements and Activites from 2022

Shimek Lick Creek Unit

 Improvements and Activities

2022

Shimek Forest Campground Improvements and Activities in 2022 by the DNR Crew. Reported by DNR Technician Patrick Thomas:

As we all look forward to getting out on the trails this year, I would like to reflect back on the happenings that took place in the campgrounds in 2022.

I first want to recognize the contributions of the summer staff this year, David "Dave" Forsythe and William "Bill" Mathias. Without them, these projects and day to day maintenance wouldn't have happened.

*Seven sites in the Lick Creek Lower Campground have been rearranged to better accommodate larger trailers, ease of backing in, relocating hitching rails for safety, making better use of fire ring areas, and possibly better use of the campground space. (I hope to continue this process) The pole hitching rails were replaced with treated 6X6 posts. Photos are included here that show some of these changes for sites 31, 33 and 36. We were able to relocate site 31 to make it a longer pad and have a better site overall. Now, sites 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, and 38 will all accommodate larger horse trailers!

*Several hazard trees were removed, cleaned up and stumps have been removed throughout all four campgrounds. (Thanks to Bill for his mapping skills I would have never found all those stumps this winter)

*Thanks to the Friends of Shimek for the grants, donation and time for the additions to the stalls. We expanded the Lick Creek Upper Campground Horse Stall building with one set of stalls, and one of the Lower Campground Horse Stall buildings had two sets of stalls added.

*A workday was held, the Lick Creek campgrounds were tidied up, with replacement hitching rails going in fire rings being cleaned, the stall additions worked on with both DNR staff and FOS volunteers helping.

*A few site posts were replaced.

*Several picnic tables were either completely replaced with new treated lumber or had a few boards replaced. These new boards had to also be stained.

*A guided first day hike was offered at Black Oak Lake, however with a winter snow event no one showed. ( Jan. 2022)

Campground guest numbers were down slightly from last year with that being expected across the state as things have re-opened after COVID restrictions have been mostly lifted.

We had in all four campgrounds 1,664 individuals to camp 1,469 nights.

We estimate 21,750 people visit Shimek Forest. (This number is estimated based on how many people I see using the forest. These numbers are high during spring/fall riding, mushroom hunting and hunting seasons.) I would like to note that I have been noticing more people hiking this last year.

I want to thank the Friends of Shimek Board and Volunteers for all you do!! I greatly appreciate it! A special thank you to those that pick-up litter trail side when riding or hiking. It was a great year and I look forward to the happenings this year.

Note added by FOS: WOW! Much improved parking sites for trailers in the Lower Campground. I'm sure many equestrian campers will appreciate those! Thank you to Patrick, Bill, Dave, Ben, Eric, Heath and Forester John Byrd for all they have done this year to maintain and improve the facilities at Shimek.

As we start rolling through 2023 watch our Facebook and Blog page for more improvements and activities during this year.

Thank you to Patrick for a breakdown of last year's accomplishments and photos, to Lora for posting the information on Facebook, and all that took time to help along the way. Many hands makes light work.

Kathy

President/Editor

Photos courtesy DNR Technician Patrick Thomas

The Lick Creek Unit Road entrance - Use Caution

 

Snow and Ice

1/23/23 -AM: CAUTION!!!! Roads into Shimek Forest are snow covered and with a little melting today they will get even slicker and harder to drive upon. These photos were made by DNR Technician Patrick Thomas this morning. The first is the entrance to Lick Creek. We would all do well not to pull a trailer in there. The second photo is the entrance to Donnellson Road. The weather report states we could experience more snow starting Tuesday night. Spring is coming, but just not quite yet.

It won't be long before warm weather will be here. Start planning your spring adventures and camping season.

Until then, stay safe, stay warm.

Kathy

President/Editor

Friends of Shimek Newsletter 2022

Friends of Shimek

2022

 

I’d like to take a few minutes to Recap the accomplishments of Friends of Shimek during the past year.  It doesn’t seem possible we are staring at a new year already.

The early months of 2022 were cold, snowy, icy, slick, and sloppy all at the same time.

 Rain was a big factor from April through June keeping the dirt trails closed.  However, the Wet Weather Trails remained open for riding and hiking. We are very fortunate to have them to enjoy during the rainy season.  The DNR staff to an amazing job keeping any downed trees and debris cleared on these trails.

A new 911 sign was placed at the entrance of the Lick Creek Unit. Yes, Shimek Forest has an official address. (Shimek State Forest – Lick Creek Unit, 1176 Highway 2, Farmington, IA 52626. No, it’s not a mailing address rather an address for emergency services such as medical, police, or fire services. 

 

Due to Covid restriction, workdays were not scheduled for safety purposes. Finally, in May a workday could be scheduled with many workers showing up to lend a helping hand.  Additional stalls were constructed. The interior walls were completed. Gates were hung.  Some old hitching rails were removed and replaced with much nicer sturdy ones.  Trash was cleaned out of the firepits and around the camp sites. 

  

 

 

A Huge Thank You to all volunteers who assisted Forester John Byrd, Technician Patrick Thomas, and the DNR crew that contributed time and effort in accomplishing so many improvements that day!  It takes group effort to accomplish these tasks to make the Lick Creek Unit a better place to ride and shelter the animals. 

As 2022 gives way to 2023 we will be having changes within the Friends of Shimek board officers.  We want to say Thank you for your service and a job well done to two of our board members who will be leaving their positions.

Ringo Covert – has resigned his position as President at the close of this year.  He has been a great leader and was crucial to the board in making decisions that help further the mission of Friends of Shimek.  His knowledge and ability to lead will be greatly missed.

Thank You, Ringo, for all your hard work, your positive influence on all people you encounter, and your ability to work through every situation.  You have been an inspiration to all the board members, past and present.

Bonnie Moothart – has resigned her position as Fundraising Coordinator.  She has been phenomenal in organizing, creating, and orchestrating fund raisers to provide funds to further the improvements to the Lick Creek Unit.  Bonnie, Thank You, for all the expertise in the area of fund raising and for being a big part of volunteering on workdays.  You will be greatly missed.

With that being said, we have acquired three new board members as of November.  They are Lala O’Hara, Teresa Murray, and Herman (Sonny) Gipe.  We will be posting more information about these three on the blog and in the next newsletter.

They will be a great asset to the board.  Each of them brings new ideas, encouragement, and a willingness to work toward the main goal – maintaining and assisting the DNR staff in preserving Shimek Forest.

As always: May your troubles be less, your blessing more, and may nothing but happiness come through your door. (BG)

Until then,

Stay safe, be kind, and smile because it looks good on you.

 

Kathy

Editor