Kathy Weber - President
I was introduced to horses at a very young age. My first solo ride was at age 4 or there abouts. My Dad had purchased the most ugly yearling paint POA that we named Silver. Silver still needed to be broke. After several months of working with him, Dad felt confident this four-legged critter would be safe for our adventures. My older brothers got to ride him first. I kept begging (like most 4-year-olds) for Dad to please let me have a turn. Dad finally gave in and threw me up on Silver. The first lap around the yard was fine. Then Silver took off running at a full gallop up the road toward the neighbor's house. I was hanging on to what little mane he had and was enjoying the ride. My Dad caught up to us about a quarter mile from home. Oh boy was Dad upset with Silver. I managed to be still sitting right where he had placed me on Silver's back grinning ear to ear. Needless to say, Silver needed a little more work, and I had to wait patiently for my next adventure. That was the start of my love for horses. Silver and I had quite a bond for many years to come.
My first encounter of Shimek was the gravel road that led into the upper campground. The last curve was one giant washboard. It was a challenge to get a loaded trailer around that curve without unloading. There was a wooden corral where the day parking area is now located. The lower campground did not exist. I was so thankful when that curve was paved with concrete. There have been many improvements added over that past several years. The Friends of Shimek work very hard with the DNR to keep the campgrounds clean and neat. They also assist with maintaining the trails for fallen trees and dispose of any trash left behind by users of the trails.
Shimek has become my refuge when I need to get away for some quiet time. I love its beauty, and its uniqueness. It's a place to get refreshed, relax, and meet new friends. We are truly blessed to have this wonderful forest so close for all to enjoy.
Shimek is where I really got acquainted with Debbie Miller. Fortunately, we only live a few miles apart so we can meet frequently at Shimek for a day of riding. She has shown me many of the trails that I didn't know existed. It has been through Debbie that I have met all the board members either on the trail, sitting around a campfire, or at a potluck dinner. I am honored to be asked to serve on the Friends of Shimek board. My hope is to be a useful member.
Marsha Achenbach - Vice President
My parents moved to Keosauqua in 1976. While visiting them sometime in the late ‘70s, we took a “drive” (us older ones may well remember the “Sunday drives” that were common way back), and found the Lick Creek unit of Shimek State Forest. I do remember the upper campground, but not the lower camp; either we did not drive far enough in, or it wasn’t there yet.
Years passed; the fact there were horse trails reasonably close stayed in my mind, but I didn’t visit Shimek again until the mid 90s. We had gotten involved in endurance competitions (50 and 100 mile races) and most of the non-winter seasons were taken up with that activity. One year, our daughter Jen and I made a trip down to visit my parents; this time coming with 2 horses, and camped at Shimek. Visited my parents and rode the trails; rather fast as we were on seasoned horses, so got most all the trails that we could find to get an idea of the system layout. The next year, Bob and I repeated that visit/camp/ride trip.
As my parents aged and showed signs that they would need help in the near future, we made the decision to move back to Iowa from Wisconsin.
The existence of the horse trails at Shimek was a prime factor in this proposed move; did need trails nearby!! In retrospect, would like to have found a property closer to Shimek, but bought a small farm west of Keosauqua and moved in late summer 1997.
The existence of the horse trails at Shimek was a prime factor in this proposed move; did need trails nearby!! In retrospect, would like to have found a property closer to Shimek, but bought a small farm west of Keosauqua and moved in late summer 1997.
Once the move was done--- by Bob with our 4 horse trailer as a “moving van” over many trips back and forth, I started hauling to ride at Shimek multiple times a week as long as the snow didn’t shut me off the access road. As I worked evening shift, most riding was in the morning or weekends. I recall seeing this lovely young woman on a lovely big Appy out on the trails; years later actually met Pat Pollpeter. Also can recall a couple other young women out riding and eventually met them: Debbie Miller and Ann Bennett.
About 12 years ago at one of my trips to our Amish farrier, Devon Weaver, he mentioned that a place a bit west of us was for sale again. I lamented that this time I hoped someone with horses that actually rode them would buy the place. He said that it was further off, but he had met a couple new to the area that had Arabs (we still had a couple then). He remembered their last name and the area they lived; so I found a phone number for Ray and Lora Conrad. Decided, what the heck, and called to invite myself over to meet their horses!! Really glad that I did as Lora and I have been riding together ever since.
Although I ride most horse trail systems in Iowa and some in Illinois and Missouri; Shimek remains my favorite place to ride.
Debbie Miller, Treasurer
I can remember when there wasn't a lower campground and there was a single road in the upper campground with no loop. Where the day parking is now used to be a corral built similar to our hitching rails. We kids thought that it was cool to balance and walk around the top pole. It was an accomplishment to make it around without falling! That's where we tied our horses instead at the campsites. There was another hitching rail that was just a straight line about where the stalls are now.
I don't remember designated camping spots with gravel and fire pits like we have now. No daytime parking; and there weren't any toilet pits either. The saddle club had a traveling porta potty we'd bring to the campground and for which they'd dig a hole. We also had a traveling chuck wagon we used to put our food to serve at our potlucks, which I loved. Probably why I suggested one in the Fall.
The Donnellson Saddle Club is the reason we now have water in the campgrounds. I think they use to haul water so when Rathbun Water was coming through, they came up with the funds to bring the water in.
Times have changed. I remember we hauled horses in pickup trucks and backed in the ditch in the upper campground to unload. There used to be card playing under the awning, especially if it rained. We also use to meet motor bike riders. I remember one time the club was on a ride and one of the members asked them to shut off their bikes until we rode through. I was thankful because my pony was spooked as well as others.
The time I remembered the most was when the saddle club members got lost on the trails and we were supposed to be out on a short ride because the ladies were planning on making pizza and dessert pizzas over the fire. Then it got dark....nobody had a flashlight and people were using their matches to try to find the trail. My dad put me in front of him because I had a white pony that he could kinda see otherwise you couldn't really see your own horse's ears. If there was a low limb, everyone would holler back to the person behind them "low limb" because you couldn't see it. We didn't have to worry about it after one of the big guys couldn't get low enough and took it out.
We ended up coming out at a place that to this day I think I know where it's at on the gravel road but I sure wouldn't know how to get there by horse. We rode the gravel road and came out by the curve before you enter the border of Shimek on the East side of Shimek on highway 2. We then rode all the way down highway 2 in the ditch to get to the entrance of Shimek and then rode another three miles up the gravel to the campground. To this day, I'll still say that was the longest ride of my life and if I'm riding towards evening, I always carry a flashlight.
I met Ann Bennett when a coworker, Diane Holmes, suggested I meet Lori Field and Ann because she thought we'd get along. Diane had her horse Buddy in training with Ann and suggested I take my problem child horse Sonny to Ann so I first met Ann when I took Sonny for some training. Ann then introduced me to Lori Field.
I remember the first time I met Marsha Achenbach was on a warm January /February day when Lori Field and I went riding. We started a fire and cooked hamburger brats and had some hot chocolate. Marsha was the only other rider out there and Lori knew Marsha and introduced me and I remember not promising to remember her last name of Achenbach. We invited Marsha to join us and there's been many times since when Marsha's trailer is the only other one there.
Neal Hartman and his sister Lala O'Hara I met through Marilyn Harris who was also in the Donnellson Saddle Club so I've known Marilyn all my life. Marilyn and Don Harris' dad Joe Harris and his friend Arnie Mitchell were responsible for a lot of the trails we have today.
I first talked with John Byrd over the phone when one of his co-workers gave me his number. I was thanking his co-worker for all the good work they'd been doing and he thought I should call John because he said John wasn't used to hearing that. When I did call John, he said he wasn't used to hearing they're doing a good job, usually more in the complaining line. So when Ann called to see if I'd consider being Treasurer, I gave her John's name and number to call. Lora Conrad I met by a campfire at Shimek about six years ago. Ringo and Brenda Covert I first met at a volunteer work day at Shimek.
We are truly blessed with having Shimek so close to home and I'm blessed with all the good people I meet along the way...including on our Volunteer Work days.
Lora Conrad, Secretary/Grants Officer
When my husband Ray and I moved to Iowa from the sunny south 18 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 was 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 this group I've 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 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.)
Another person I met through the Great River Group and then renewed that acquaintance at Shimek through Friends of Shimek is Bonnie Moothart. She and her husband Doug have been key figures in all Friends of Shimek has done. I met Debbie Miller one year around a campfire at Shimek and met Neal, Lala, Jo, 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.
Jo Watson, Member at Large/Volunteer Hours Coord.
I've always remembered fondly the times of going to Shimek with my daughter. I am unsure of how I initially heard about the Friends of Shimek group. I do remember my thoughts following my first volunteer work day: "What a group!" All were welcoming and appreciative. I felt so much commitment to taking care of, improving and protecting Shimek. Special appreciation to Marsha Achenbach and Lora Conrad for sharing their vast knowledge of trails and flora. Literally and figuratively, I would be lost without them.
I have been volunteering since 2015 with FOS. I am grateful to be a member of the Board of an organization whose work today is supporting the future of Shimek forest and trails.
Neal Hartman, Member at Large
“I grew up in Burlington and lived my life on family property that boarded horses so I grew up around horses, and other activities. I showed horses in 4-H, and local shows as a kid. I joined FOS because I wanted to help keep trails open and cleared. I have been riding at Shimek since we were kids, but have also ridden in Colorado, South Dakota, New Mexico, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, Arkansas, and Tennessee. I have been going to Cross Country Trail Ride in Eminence, MO for the last 40 years. It was there that I lead my younger sister Lala around on a pony”.
Herman (Sonny) Gipe, Member at Large
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 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. 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
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.
John Byrd, DNR Advisor to FOS Board
In the summer of 1996 I started as a seasonal employee at Lake Anita State Park. My initial decision was to become a park ranger --- I did not think anything about forestry. I spent one more year at UNI while talking to advisors from ISU and taking classes that I needed for transfer. So, in the fall of 1997 I enrolled in ISU, now seeking a degree in Forest Resource Management. Through the next 2 years I worked for a professor who was studying biomass in hybrid poplar for use as fuel in power plants.
This was very interesting work dealing with genetics to find the most productive poplar trees through cross pollination and grafting techniques. As interesting as all the lab and field work was, I was still looking graduation in the face with no job offer.
In November of 1999, I interviewed for a position at Pathfinder’s RC&D in Fairfield. The position was for a consulting forester that would assist private landowners with tree planting, timber sales, forest management, and many other aspects of managing timber and land. The job was a dream come true plus now I had a job to move into the next month when I graduated. From December 1999 until April of 2005 I worked with many landowners and things were great. I learned a lot about southeast Iowa and forestry. An opportunity became available for me to advance my career as Area Forester at Shimek State Forest.
This is the point where it can be said that we know the rest of the story, but there are always opportunities for me to learn more with the diverse amount of management required in Shimek State Forest. My hopes and aspirations for Shimek are to make it the model for how things should be managed for the multiple use concept and to serve as a demonstration for anyone wanting to manage their land/timber.
John works with the Volunteers (left). ...OR...
He gives Volunteers their work assignments. (right)
Since I am not an equestrian, working with FOSvolunteers has added another dimension to managing the forest for multiple uses. The volunteers have helped tremendously to improve trails and resources for equestrians while assisting us to protect Shimek resources.
Contact John at Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Phone 319.878.3811 | Fax 319.878.3821 | john.byrd@dnr.iowa.gov 33653 Route J56 | Farmington, IA 52626
Contact any board member by sending an e-mail to FOShimek@gmail.com . The message will be forwarded to the individual.
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