From Staff Reports
Saddle up for the 29th annual trail ride for Haven House Saturday, Sept. 23. Ted and Cindy Evans will host the fund raising event, rain or shine, to benefit the local shelter for battered women and their children.
Registration for the annual ride will begin at 8 a.m. at the Evans farm, located eight miles north of Poplar Bluff on County Road 402, just past Pine Cone Estates. Riders will have time to register, collect their T-shirts and enjoy a continental breakfast. The organized rides for both gaited and non-gaited horses leave promptly at 10 a.m. for several miles through the beautiful Mark Twain Forest.
While families in crisis may come to Haven House from any area, the vast majority of those receiving shelter and advocacy services are from Butler, Ripley, Stoddard, Wayne and Carter counties.
Financial backing for the ride is provided by the Missouri Foundation for Health, Minton Environmental Consultants, Modern Woodmen of America and Whitworth's Gift Chest Jewelers.
As the shelter's board of directors gathered for the final planning meeting recently, they recalled past rides where they've volunteered.
Mary Rose Stricker, who was instrumental in establishing the first ride 29 years ago, continues to volunteer with the shelter and serves as the trail ride chair.
"I would really like to thank the community for continuing to support this fundraiser for 29 years," Stricker said. "It shows how caring and loving the residents of Butler and the surrounding counties are. Individuals, businesses and churches from all the communities continue to support us year after year. We have been exceptionally fortunate to have had wonderful weather for the past 28 years and I am hoping this year will be the same. All riders realize the rides continues rain or shine," Stricker said.
She recalls in years when the skies have looked cloudy, they clear up. "I think someone is on our side," Stricker said.
Jerry Hillis remembers the first ride he attended as a Haven House board member.
"We pulled out cold sandwiches for the riders and I thought we can do better," Hillis said.
Each trail ride since, Hillis has purchased and cooked barbecue to be serve to the riders and the volunteers.
Board Treasurer Becky Wilcox of Doniphan said, "Haven House has been of tremendous service to Ripley County, as well as most of the adjoining counties. We truly appreciate the support."
Board President Bradley Minton of Dexter said, "We have come to rely on all the riders to help raise money for this important work by asking their friends, family and coworkers to sponsor them. For a minimum donation of $25, each rider not only gets breakfast, lunch and guided trail ride, he or she also gets a great T-shirt commemorating the event."
Iron Mountain Station will again be providing lunch time entertainment.
Prizes for the three riders bringing in the most money include a $1,695 Circle Y Flex Lite Western Saddle compliments of J&L Tack and the Haven House board of directors; a $1,000 gift certificate to Gray Farm & Feed compliments of Gary Farm & Feed and Minton Environmental Consultants and a $900 14K White Gold ring with white and chocolate diamonds, compliments of Whitworth's Gift Chest Jewelers.
For more information, call Haven House at (573) 686-4873.