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