01.13.09

Fort Harrod BCH Enlists Oxen to Help Clear Trail Areas

Posted in Adventure Tourism, Bluegrass Region, Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen, Kentucky, Volunteerism at 10:38 pm by Thomas

Harrodsburg, KY, January 12, 2009 – A local team of oxen, owned by Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen (Ft. Harrod BCH) member Brian Rogers, will work with trail enthusiasts on February 7-8, 2009 to clean out an old dump site at Eagle’s Nest Equestrian Trails in Harrodsburg.  The site primarily contains old tires which work crews will dislodge and load onto a sled pulled by the trained steers.  

Rogers’ oxen currently are used for light farm work including pulling a chain drag, pulling logs, moving stones and feed, and more.  The two-and-a-half year old pair has been working in yoke for the past two years and travel annually to participate in the Midwest Ox Drover’s Gathering in Scotts Michigan. 

“By using oxen to remove the debris we hope to limit the impact on the environment and minimize damage to the vegetation.  This is also a great way for us to incorporate the use of draft stock in our trail maintenance efforts,” stated Emily Dennis, President of the Ft. Harrod BCH.   

The tires will be removed from the Cornishville Road area of Eagle’s Nest to a proper disposal location.  Eagle’s Nest Trail Boss, Dennis Blackburn, is currently working with other Ft. Harrod BCH members and the local community to identify a low cost or no cost recycling or disposal alternative for the tires. 

Eagle’s Nest Equestrian Trails is closed for both January and February to reduce impact and erosion to the trails.  The scheduled work days are to be conducted on foot and without horses. 

Individuals wishing to join the trail clean up efforts will be shuttled from the pavilion at Eagle’s Nest to the clean up site.  Clean up efforts begin at 10 a.m. with a midday lunch break featuring potluck chili.  Participants are asked to bring prepared chili to mix and heat at the work site or an appropriate side dish and their own non-alcoholic beverages.  RSVP to confirm attendance by contacting Dennis Blackburn at 859-613-2665 or hardrockfarm@gmail.com.  

For more information or to join the Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen contact Emily Dennis at edennis@fewpb.net or 502-330-8798 or Dennis Blackburn at hardrockfarm@gmail.com or 859-613-2665.

03.29.08

Certified Tourism Ambassador­™

Posted in Bluegrass Region, Tourism at 10:16 pm by Thomas

I completed my Bluegrass Tourism Ambassador Program on Thursday and am waiting the results of my test to see if I have earned the designation of Certified Tourism Ambassador™ (CTA).  Lexington is among 5 cities so far to participate in the program and classes here in Lexington just started at the end of last year.  This program is designed; “To increase regional tourism by inspiring-front-line hospitality employees and volunteers to turn every visitor encounter into a positive experience”. 

The class is 4 hours long but there is reading material and exercises to be completed before the class that took me about 10 hours over a weeks time to complete.  The reading material is provided in a well put together manual that goes into great depth on everything one would need to know to provide a better experience for tourists to our area.

There are keeping the class size to 20 or so and it was an incredible learning experience and I came away with much.  The cost of the total program was only $20 and that is certainly very inexpensive for all that I got out of it.  I would certainly recommend it to pretty much everybody who has some interaction with the tourism public or simply wants to get a greater appreciation of all the wonderful things that our area has to offer. 

For more information and to sign-up go to CTA Network

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