b'VAST Newsspare to get back to civilization in case a breakdown couldnt be fixed out on the trail.Luke often logged over 100 miles grooming trails one way, which increased to 200 miles or more due to backtracking. He always carried a chainsaw to cut brush to forge water bars (the old Tucker groomers did not have a front blade), or to cut an ice reef on a lake crossing (something groomers no longer did after 1988), or to move a downed tree. He also carried a couple of buckets of sand on the drag because the groomers metal cleats worked well in the snowFaces in the crowd from the Country Riders 50th anniversary celebration at the North but not on ice. It is hard to get a runTroy American Legion. From left to right are Clancy and Charlie Dodge, Bill DiCarlo (Past at an icy hill when the Tuckers maxPresident/Vice President) and Jim Sudgens (Past President/Vice President).speed was 3 mph, Luke related. The club still grooms over 100 milespresidents are Brian Cook, Mattfinancial support to keep the club up of trails, but the daily three hours ofGoodyear and Jim Sudgens (apologiesand running.groomer maintenance eventually gavefor not being able to list them all). Looking to the Futureway to a more modern fleet of threeFundraising encompasses a variety Tucker Sno-Cats. To this day, Luke stillof activities, from social gatherings toNo flying car predictions or electric frequently rides the North Countryraffles. For the last several years, thesled endorsements here. But if the with his children and grandchildren,club has raffled off a snowmobile inclubs legacy tells us anything, its that some of whom come from as far awaythe fall and has held a monthly gunthe best way to honor the past is to as Tennessee. raffle. The club, along with severalkeep building for the future, one trail, Lets not forget that when the clubother local Orleans County clubs,one bridge and one winter season at started 50 years ago, trails had tohas also benefited from United Statesa time. No one knows what the next be built from scratch. FollowingDepartment of Agriculture grants,50 years will bring. However, one can old logging roads helped, but fromspearheaded by Ron Merrill, 2009 Trailhope that the next half-century will be the 1970s into the 1980s, DroschersMaster of the Year. Social events alsoas successful as the last.Excavation helped to shape over 40play a significant role in fundraisingAcknowledgmentsmiles of the original club trails, most ofand keeping the snowmobilingThe author would like to acknowledge which we are still riding today. community engaged. Poker andSara Merrill (club Events Coordinator) The Vital Role of Volunteers, Events,vintage sled rides, cookouts, blessingfor the contact information for the Fundraising and Communityof the sleds and season kickoff partiespeople I spoke with for this article. Engagement (e.g., the one held this past year atAlso, Mary Schadtle (club Secretary), Trail maintenance and fundraisingKingdom Brewing) have alwayswho provided binders of club are, of course, instrumental to thebeen on the clubs calendar. Over itsinformation and photos, and Luke success of any club, and the Countryhistory, the club has also participatedPatenaude, Real Desrochers and Riders are no different. Over its 50- in parades in the region and hosted theRon Merrill, who provided valuable year history, the club has benefitedVAST annual meeting at Jay Peak inbackground info.significantly from volunteer efforts,1999. The club would like to give a special whether helping maintain trails year- Another important, if not the mostthank you to a few who have been, round or supporting the many club- significant, contribution to the cluband will always be, part of the clubs sponsored events and fundraisers.over the years comes from the regionsbackbone (apologies for anyone These volunteer efforts are not limitedlandowners who allow the club to useunintentionally overlooked): Fern to building, resetting, rebuildingtheir land. Currently, 247 individualLanoue, Luke Patenaude, Patenaude or redecking bridges; debrushing;landowners are helping to make upFamily, Real Desrochers , Joe replacing culverts; or trail reroutes.the Country Rider trail system. OverDesrochers,Ann Jones, Rene Tetrault, They also involve serving the club in80% of the system is on private land inRobert Tetrault, Tetrault Family, Art administrative capacities as president,the towns of Troy, Jay, Westfield andLimoge, Raymond Limoge, Ernest vice president, secretary, treasurer,Newport/Newport Center. SponsorsChoquette, Jerry Waterman, Elwood events and news coordinators, clubare also an essential part of the clubDuckless, Howard Collins Jr., Bill and directors and trail master, keepingcommunity. They are more than justNancy Cook, Cindy Vincent-Goodyear, those monthly meetings runninga name on a sign; they host meetingsFoster Woodward Family, Charlie smoothly. Among other formerand social activities and provideHammond FamilyWinter 2026 | 7'