“We try to partner with local people doing good work, and this project certainly qualifies as that,” POET General Manager Andrew Samp said

The blind has been generously supported by Stacie Jacobson of Stratford. Her husband, Douglas W, “Jake” Jacobson, was an enthusiastic hunter and fisherman. Stacie worked with Darcy Swon, director of Enhance Hamilton County Foundation, to establish a fund supporting conservation projects as a way to honor Doug Jacobson.

The unit is portable and can be taken to locations of hunters choosing. That brings to $11,500 the amount collected on behalf of the project. The total cost of the blind is $18,000, leaving $6,500 remaining to be raised.

There’s an established need for the accessible blind, according to Ryan Rupiper, a member of the Greenbelt Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited, a group advocating for legislation to conserve whitetail deer, and secure the traditions of American hunting for future generations.

“Hunters are already lined up to use the blind, so we want to get it in operation as soon as possible,” said Rupiper. If the remaining $6,500 can be secured, Rupiper says the blind can be ordered and shipped in time for this fall’s hunting seasons.

“The Doug ‘Jake’ Jacobson Legacy Fund was established to honor his love of the outdoors and create opportunities for others to enjoy those same experiences,” said Swon, “The hunting blind lift is a wonderful example of that mission in action, helping improve accessibility and allowing more individuals to participate in outdoor recreation.”

Swon underscored the mission of Enhance Hamilton County, as she continued speaking about Stacie Jacobson’s work in establishing a fund to honor her husband.

“Through the vision and generosity of Jake’s wife, Stacie, the fund is already making an impact through projects such as the Briggs Woods Lake Walleye Restocking Project, Cops N Bobbers, and now the Hunting Blind Lift Project,” she said. “As the fund grows, it will continue creating opportunities for future projects that reflect Jake’s passion for the outdoors and benefit individuals and families throughout Hamilton County.”

The accessible blind consists of an enclosed cabin built on a 10-foot utility trailer, making it easy to move to the most advantageous hunting site, and a powerful hydraulic lift that raises the cabin to an optimal height at the touch of a button. It’s manufactured by Hunterzn of Newmanstown, Pennsylvania.

Founded in 1982, the non-profit Whitetails Unlimited has 120,000 members in 475 chapters in 33 states. The Greenbelt Chapter, with 165 members in several counties across North Central Iowa, was the first Whitetails Unlimited chapter established in Iowa.

POET Biorefining, headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, operates 33 ethanol plants in eight Midwestern states. POET’s Jewell facility began producing ethanol in March, 2009, buys 24,000,000 bushels of locally-grown corn, and ships 90,000,000 gallons of ethanol annually.