Volunteer of the Year Awards

Volunteer of the Year 2021 -- Charlie Kemp

Charlie and Molly Rider

Nature Coast Back Country Horsemen’s 2021 Volunteer of the Year awardee is Charlie Kemp. Charlie has enthusiastically given his time and expertise to better our organization. He has acted as a liaison with SWAMP (mountain bike group in Croom) and FFS. Although Charlie is not a ‘horse’ person but rather a ‘bike’ person he strongly supports his wife Vicki as an equestrian. He and his sidekick Molly Rider regularly travel Croom trails by either biking, hiking or on his quad (with a valid permit) to address and correct trail issues.

He identifies problem trail issues, creates safe and sustainable alternatives and submits these plans to FFS for their input and approval. He created plans for Smith Prairie Trail Head (where NCBCH won the prestigious Back Country Horsemen of America’s Double Diamond Award), worked with the FFS biologist to reroute the extremely eroded portion of the access trail out of Tucker Hill Trail Head to create a sustainable and safe trail.

He is currently on NCBCH’s board.

Becky Card-Swerdloff presented Charlie with a personalized biking shirt. Emblazoned with NCBCH’s logo and his Volunteer of Year status it also has a nod to his passions – his bike and Molly Rider! Thank you Charlie for all you do!

Volunteer of the Year 2020 -- Gary Macintosh

We would like to congratulate Gary Macintosh, our 2020 Volunteer of the Year, and thank him for all he has done for our Forest! Gary has almost single handedly taken care of the East Croom equestrian trails for years. He takes time from his busy schedule at his bed and breakfast, Our Father’s Haven Bed and Breakfast to address, remedy and maintain any issues with the equestrian trails in East Croom. He is one of our long-time members and has been a board member on both NCBCH’s and BCHFL’s boards.

Volunteer of the Year 2019 -- Bill Ehrlich

Bill Ehrlich has quietly gone above and beyond our standard volunteer. At this time he is one of our only active certified sawyers permitted to do chainsaw work within Florida State Forests so whenever the need arose to remove trees and debris blocking our trails he would be there. If he saw problems while riding, he would go out afterward and address the issues. We applaud Bill and wish to thank him for his dedication to the equestrian trails in the Croom Tract of the Withlacoochee Forest by presenting him with our 2019 Volunteer of the Year award.

Volunteer of the Year 2018 -- Bob Hopta

Bob Hopta is our machine man that we call upon to help clear the trails of large items. He has been more than willing to hitch up, load up and move his backhoe and front loader to address issues wherever and whenever the need arises on our trails. He also seems to enjoy traveling our trails looking for issues whenever he has free time. We want to thank Bob for his machine, time and efforts to keep our trails free and clear of hazards by awarding him the 2018 Volunteer of the Year award.

Special 10th Anniversary Volunteer Awards

Mary Lou Patton, Kathy Thompson, Truman Prevatt

Mary Lou Patton and Rebecca Fulcher

Volunteer of the Year 2017 --Deb Shaughnessy

Ann Hopta - Volunteer of the Year 2016

It was a delightful surprise when I was awarded the Volunteer of the Year award. Surprised as we have such a great group of volunteers and delighted to be recognized for something I enjoy doing. We have a hidden jewel in our forest and our organization is chalk full of volunteers wanting to keep it great. Every little thing each person does to help maintain our trails adds up. From the riders that snip branches or pick up trash as they ride to those that have the ability to take machinery into the forest for the larger jobs, I applaud you and say thank you for loving this forest as much as I do. As you all know it takes a group to maintain a forest as large as ours and this award really belongs to the entire group of volunteers. Message From Ann

Joe Casisa - Volunteer of the Year for 2015.

Volunteer of the Year 2014 -- John Holzwart

Congratulations and many thanks to John Holzwart our Volunteer of the Year for 2014. In John's case it should be more like Volunteer of the Decade. Announce a work day and John is the first person who signs up. We have seen him at workdays in Croom, Citrus, Lake Townsen, Bear Hammock, the Greenway and no doubt other places. John is an active recon in Croom and also cleans and refills the water tanks every week at Twin Ponds trailhead in Croom. John, we thank you for your tireless efforts in caring for the equestrian trails and our equine's welfare.