BEDFORD – Butch Stidam, of Medora, and his horse “Blue”, recently received the Forest Service’s Eastern Region Volunteer and Service Award for Enduring Service.
Stacy Duke, Recreation and Wilderness Program Manager for the Hoosier National Forest presented the award to Stidam in recognition of their over five years and 1,000 hours each of volunteer service at the Forest.
“In the beginning, Mr. Stidam was a watchful trail rider, reporting back to wilderness staff on any trail concerns or downed trees. He was such an asset that we suggested he serve as an official Forest Service volunteer and incorporate his help on trail projects that needed support. As it turned out, his horse Blue also wanted to help and has served as a lead horse to our mules on several projects over the years,” said Duke.
Most recently and most notably, Mr. Stidam and Blue provided essential support and contribution to the E. Bass Pond Trail Re-route Project in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness. This complex project (1-mile re-route in wilderness backcountry) involved extensive logistics and Mr. Stidam and Blue were essential to successfully implementing and completing the work on the ground. Working closely with local Forest Service staff and mules, as well as packers and mules from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest through the Pack Stock Center for Excellence program, required added situational awareness and safety measures, all of which Mr. Stidam could be relied upon to follow and support. For this specific project, Mr. Stidam served as a volunteer through a partnership with the Society of Wilderness Stewardship and the Hoosier National Forest, providing over 80 hours of volunteer service.
“Butch is everything the Forest Service needs in a volunteer and is indispensable to our recreation program and wilderness area on the Hoosier National Forest. His commitment to service is admirable and he has been our most reliable and trustworthy volunteer,” Duke proclaimed.
For more information on volunteering at the Hoosier National Forest visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/hoosier/workingtogether/volunteering or sign up for our monthly newsletter at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/u5vkE5q The Forest Service is currently recruiting volunteers to provide visitor information at the Wilderness Welcome Center.
