Good day Nature Coast Back Country Horsemen,

I hope everyone has managed to stay warm this past week. While these temperatures may be a walk in the park for our northern friends, for us year-round Floridians this is definitely COLD! ❄️

We’d like to thank everyone for their understanding regarding last month’s meeting reschedule. We fully support the City of Brooksville and the Brooksville Enrichment Center in their work with the Red Cross to open the facility as a warming shelter during cold spells. Unfortunately, it just happened to conflict with our January meeting.

January Elections Results

During our January meeting, we held club elections. With no additional candidates nominated, the following officers and board members were unanimously voted to continue serving for the 2026 season:

• President: Charlie Kemp
• Vice President: Bob Hopta
• Treasurer: Lorri Kindberg
• Secretary: Ann Hopta

Board of Directors:
Bill Ehrlich, Donna Allen, Marth Casisa, and Valerie Ansel

Thank you all for your continued dedication and service to NCBCH.

Guest Speaker Recap

We were fortunate to welcome an outstanding guest speaker from Forestry—Invasive Species Specialist Harrison Rose, also known as the “Weed Slayer.” A native Floridian with a true passion for our forests, Harrison shared his extensive knowledge of invasive plant species affecting Florida, with a special focus on the Withlacoochee State Forest. His presentation was both informative and entertaining, and we truly enjoyed getting to know another dedicated member of the Forestry Service team.

February: Invasive Species Awareness Month

Speaking of invasives, February is Invasive Species Awareness Month, and Caesar’s Weed continues to be a major focus area for Forestry. This month, we are encouraging members to participate in a self-led weed-pulling initiative.

• Visit any trailhead or area where Caesar’s Weed is prevalent (see photos below).

• Collect and bag as much as you’re able.

• Take a photo of yourself collecting and bagging the plants.

• Dispose of the plants in your household trash bin. If you collect more than you can dispose of, a board member will arrange pickup.

Photos may be sent to barefootcustoms@aol.com or via Facebook Messenger to Nature Coast Back Country Horsemen. We’ll compile all submissions into a collage to share with Forestry.

This effort counts toward volunteer hours as basic trail work. The Tucker Hill Recreation Area—both north and south connectors—has plenty of Caesar’s Weed, so it won’t be hard to find.

📅 Join Charlie Kemp at the Tucker Hill trailhead on Saturday, February 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. He’ll be pulling weeds and will have plenty of bags on hand.

We hope this flexible, self-led approach allows more members to participate on their own schedules—so let’s all pitch in and make February a successful Weed Pickin’ Month!

Next Meeting – February 19

Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, February 19, at the Brooksville Enrichment Center (temperature permitting 😁) at 6:00 p.m. sharp.

Our guest speaker will be Becky Swerdloff, who will share her experiences with the Liberty and Mounted Police, focusing on control, safety techniques, and becoming a more aware and effective rider. This will be a hands-on, interactive presentation—please bring a bridle and a bit.

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Charlie Kemp

Nature Coast Back Country Horsemen President

727-560-9990