The goal for Norm Strotman and his newly-formed Willow Creek Snowmobile Club is simple: to get more people around the area involved in the sport.

Strotman, the club president, as well as the other founding members, will hold their first public meeting on Thursday at 7 o’clock at the Willows Restaurant in hopes of conjuring up volunteers as well as to promote information on the club.

“We are trying to increase the sport of snowmobiling in the Bradford area. It’s a great family activity, and it gives people the chance to get out of the house when most people are complaining about the weather and saying they have nothing else to do,” Strotman said.

There was an increased emphasis on forming the club this year, according to Strotman, because of a decrease in state funding to the Allegany National Forest that was previously used for grooming and care of the trails.

“We plan on taking care of grooming the trails from the ANF at the New York/Pennsylvania border all the way to Westline Trail 1A,” Strotman noted.

And while most of the desired efforts of the Willow Creek Snowmobile Club will be to give local snowmobilers a better ride, it’ll also help the local economy.

“People from Ohio, New York and Southern Pa. all come here to snowmobile on our trails,” Strotman asserted. “Those people then use businesses and hotels so it is important that we try to maintain and keep some good trails.”

The Club has already taken a big step in its endeavors by securing agreements with the Bradford City Water Authority as well as Collins Pines — the timber division of Kane Hardwoods — to use their lands.

Those two agreements will allow nearly 20 miles of trails to be added to the system.

“This is great news for us because they are two huge landowners that operate some nice roads and big trails,” Strotman said.

In addition to Strotman and his brother, Joe, Norm named Chris Yerdon, Erin Strotman, John Vanerstrom, Corey Black and Doug Yohe as being instrumental in helping the club take off.

He also credited Matt Coast from Jim Coast Sales and Service in Duke Center for helping the club to purchase a 2020 Can-Am Defender groomer. It is equipped with tracks, special lighting, and a hydraulic plow.

Strotman and the club also purchased a 6×12-foot drag from a company in Wisconsin to “cut and churn” the snow. It then passes underneath the compactor pan, which compacts the snow and smooths it out for fresh trails.

He and the group have been posting most of the club’s communication to its Facebook page, but information can also be found at https://willowcreeksnomobi.wixsite.com/wcsc.

“It’s hard to believe, but there is enough snow in the Willow Creek area that we plan on starting Friday,” Strotman said.