TIMBER CREEK THERAPIES
one patient at a time
A UNIQUE EQUINE THERAPY CENTER HELPS PATIENTS WITH DISABILITIES, WHILE A BOBCAT SKID-STEER LOADER AND ATTACHMENTS KEEP THE FACILITY IN TIP-TOP SHAPE
Nestled among native Iowa grasses and trees is a sanctuary for individuals seeking therapy to recover from traumatic injuries, work on rehabilitation or redeem a last wish. Timber Creek Therapies near Panora, Iowa, gives hope and empowers individuals to regain their sense of freedom. The therapy center is also home to a Bobcat® help maintain the facility.
skid-steer loader and attachments to
Cindy McCarty is the director of Timber Creek Therapies and has devoted much of the last 13 years to the organization and its supportive charity, Timber Creek Charities — a 501(c)(3) publicly supported, non-profi t entity — to make a difference in the lives of thousands of patients and their families. She’s a trained speech/language pathologist who, with her husband, Bill, started Timber Creek Therapies. Cindy also founded Timber Creek Charities to help patients who lack adequate insurance or funds to pay for physical, occupational and speech/language therapies.
skid-steer loader and multiple attachments — purchased by Bill McCarty at Haley Equipment in Carroll, Iowa. While Krakau didn’t grow up on a farm, he knows a thing or two about operating the Bobcat loader.
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BOBCAT LOADER AT WORK There’s a long list of chores that needs to be done daily to ensure the facility is in top-notch shape for visitors and patients. In addition to being a side walker, Merv Krakau is responsible for maintaining the grounds, which he does in earnest with a Bobcat®
“It’s the only one (loader) I’ve run,” he says, “and it’s easy to operate, very user-friendly. It’s a versatile piece of equipment. We put the bale fork on the Bobcat loader and move the bales around, which makes it nicer and easier.”
Other uses for the Bobcat loader include excavating with the backhoe attachment, using a bucket to move sawdust or cleaning manure to load it into a spreader and, with animals, there’s always a need for fence repairs.
“Fencing is always an issue,” Krakau says. “We have the auger and it helps us dig the holes for posts for our fence lines. That’s helpful because that’s a lot of work to do by hand.”
Cindy points out that among the surrounding timber are locust trees with long thorns that are a health hazard for the horses. After the Bobcat loader clears the trees, Krakau attaches the industrial grapple and grabs the trees and hauls them away. Next, the loader and a BrushcatTM
rotary cutter cut overgrown
grass and small trees, which Krakau says is helpful to keep it from interfering with the electric fencing. He says the mower goes underneath the fence to clear weeds, preventing it from causing a short circuit.
Bobcat skid-steer loaders have been a part of Bill McCarty’s life since he had them on his farm when he was young. He says he has always liked Bobcat loaders because they are the original loader in the compact equipment industry.
ABOVE: Timber Creek Therapy Center Director Cindy McCarty and employee Merv Krakau keep the Center’s Bobcat skid-steer loader busy with daily chores and maintenance projects.
WORKSAVER FALL 2013
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