In the spring of 2019, the Friends with consent of the Park Superintendent approved the development of a cultural exploration public hike at the Doeppenschmidt/Weidner farmstead on the “far-side” of the Honey Creek State Natural Area. 

A number of tasks needed to be accomplished to make the grounds around the farmstead ready for the public.  The first was to clear out cedar from around historic structures such as the cistern and the sheep dip.  On Saturday, March 16, 2019, Eagle Scout candidate Marc Choucair and seven of his friends and fellow scouts volunteered to clean up around the Doeppenschmidt Farmstead, focusing mainly on uncovering the sheep dip that was almost completely hidden by brambles, previously felled cedar, and actively growing cedar.  In the last photo below, the volunteers are, from left to right: Benjamin Gonzales, Benjamin Bates, Gautam Ramireddy, Marc Choucair, Andrew Monreal, Nate Gulde, Devon Hooper, Bernardo Reyes, and scout liaison Dave Kibler.  Dr. Choucair, Marc’s mother, enthusiastically pitched in as well and provided snacks.  Dave Kibler, the Friends’ main liaison with local scout groups and cedar assassin par excellence, brought his chain saw and took out several 6-inch diameter cedars growing right next to the sheep dip that were threatening the concrete integrity of the dip.  After clearing the sheep dip of all cedar and brush and following a quick lunch, the volunteers moved to another area of the Doeppenschmidt Farmstead to help clear an old trail of encroaching cedar, in preparation for the public hikes planned for the area.

Once the cedar was cleared, road base was needed to shore up structures, such as the sheep dip, that were being undermined by erosion.  On October 3, 2019, nearly 60 tons of road base were delivered to the farmstead, ready to be spread by Park staff.

Cedar-clearing (March 16, 2019):

Delivery of road base (October 3, 2019):