Chainsaw and GPS classes September 2008

There was a Chain Saw certification class and a GPS class hosted at the Eagle Creek Horse Motel (www.eaglecreekhorsemotel.com) which belongs to Roy & Linda Cornett in Sadieville, Ky (northern Scott Co.) the weekend of September 20 and 21. It was attended by representatives from several horse groups such as the Ky. Horse Council, ELCR, TREK, Ky Back Country Horsement, Northern Ky. Horse Network, Northern Ky. Back Country Horsemen, Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen, Mammouth Cave Trail Riders, etc. The attendees were from literally all over the state. This is the first of what is likely to many more due to its great success.

It is important that membership of the various horse groups are accredited in such areas of expertise as a part of the partnerships that they have with the various land managers who allow equine access to their land holdings for trail riding. The more expertise the members have, the more value in dollars their labor garners as a part of their volunteer efforts in the field. There are a lot of grants that require local contribution toward the project to be successful. Local volunteer efforts are important in making that happen. For example, an individual without any certification is credited on a basis of $8.00 per hour. Get the chain saw certification and it goes to $25. Get the trail design, construction and maintenance certification and it goes to $40.

The more volunteers that we have in the state with the GPS expertise, the quicker we will be successful in getting the first lady Jane Beshear's goal of the Cross Kentucky Trail(s) realized.

The GPS class was instructed by Earl Smith and Ben Krebs of the local planning office in Georgetown along with the loan of the local 4-H's GPS equipment that they have for our youth to use. They did an excellent job of bringing the attendees that were a little "long in the tooth" along in understanding the technology of today. Don Barnes of southeast Ky. taught the chain saw class. He did an excellent job of instilling in the attendees that we did not know anywhere near as much about chain saws and their use as we thought we did. For example, is your chain guard in place on your chain saw? I will wager that 95% of you don't even know what that is. Do you realize that your sprocket needs to be changed on a regular basis?

It was a very well spent weekend. If and when you see the courses offered again take note and attend them. You will find it time well spent.

Roy Cornett

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