Cheryl Ringler Blackorby

Bill and I owned and operated a sucessful real estate company in Dixon until 1991 when we sold the business and semi-retired. Because we loved the awesome rock formations and canyons of southern Illinois, we built a campground catering to horseback riders adjacent to the beautiful Shawnee National Forest near the small village of Eddyville. We operated Circle B Ranch until 1999 when we sold it to allow us to be able to travel more. Our passion is trail riding our 3 spotted saddle horses in forests and mountains all over the USA. We travel extensively and most of the time take the horses with us. Our winters are spent at our home in Apache Junction, AZ near the base of the Superstition Mts. where I lead trail riders on the stunning trails near Apache Junction and do volunteer work with fellow members of the Back Country Horsemen of America on the AZ trail system. Our spring and fall are spent at our ranch 3 miles NW of Eddyville, IL. We attend 5 or 6 organized week long trail rides during the summer plus spend the month of July or August trail riding in the Colorado Rockies, the Tetons and Yellowstone in WY and Idaho. My other hobbies are oil painting, photography and flower gardening. Bill and I do a lot of volunteer for the US Forest Service building and maintaining trails on the Shawnee Forest land which adjoins our property. We've also constructed several miles of horse-ATV trails on our ranch for public use as there are 3 horse campgrounds nearby. Hundreds of riders travel through our property to access the trails in the Shawnee Forest. Over the years Bill and I were very active in trail advocacy issues. In 2015 we again got involved in purchasing and subdividing land which adjoins our ranch for equestrians. Our 6 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren love to come to Gramma and Grampa's where they enjoy fishing, riding horses and ATV's. We enjoy trail riding, gardening, entertaining and having friends visit us. We thank the Lord for His many blessings.