Tim Paiser is a member of the Gresham Lions Club, which will sponsor the sixth annual Gresham Lions Club Trail Ride on Memorial Day weekend.
Paiser was born and raised in Gresham, graduating from Gresham High School. He worked in the mill in Gresham for 10 years before buying a farm in the town of Richmond, beginning with five cows and now milking 450. He has 600 acres and rents another 600-700, total herd of cattle of 1,000.
Paiser and his wife of 29 years, Kristy, who works at CRI, have two sons, Travis and Trevor, who work on the farm, and a daughter, Amanda, who works for the Shawano County Highway Department. They hosted the Shawano County Brunch on the Farm in 2000 and 2011. Paiser likes to hunt and snowmobile.
Q How long have you been a member of the Gresham Lions?
A “It’s been roughly 15 years. I was president one year and tail twister one year. My dad (Richard) was a Lions member for 40 years.”
Q How do you help with the trail ride?
A “Committees are in charge of certain trails. I’m in charge of the Saturday trails, which are 12 to 13 miles. My two sons are in the Lions. Trevor, the youngest one, joined at his graduation ceremony. He walked across the stage and got his vest. Travis has been a member about a year. We mark the trails, put up caution signs and cut brush. Some of the trails are on our property. A lot of landowners let us cross their property. A lot of thanks go to all the landowners who give us permission to cross their land, especially the Stockbridge(-Munsee) Tribe, which let us camp on their land, too.”
Q How have the trail rides been?
A “We’ve had from 200 to 300 riders and we’d like more. We got room for more campers. There are three different trails, and at the halfway points we have burgers, brats and refreshments. This is the sixth year and it’s been growing every year. People comment how good the trails are. It’s our main fundraiser for the year. The members donate all their time. We got a lot of young members in our club. All the profits go back to the community.”
Q Why do you volunteer?
A “It’s helping the community and giving back. It makes me proud that both my sons are members. I didn’t have the time to be an active member before, and now that I have time with my boys helping on the farm, I have time to do things.”
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