In January 1971 the Roberts Snowmobile Club was formed to:

1. Promote the sport of snowmobiling.

2. Promote awareness of snowmobile regulations and establish

Village ordinances favorable to snowmobiling.

3. Establish, mark and maintain safe trails.

The club began with 19 members and quickly grew to 30 by the end of the first year. Elected officers were: Frank Hatch, president; Ervin Nielsen, vice president; Jim Winzer, secretary and Dave Helders, treasurer. The name Knight Riders was selected and club patches were ordered. Annual dues were established at $2.50 per individual or $5.00 per family.

1971-72 - Marlyn Pearson, president; John Denucci, vice president; Linda Jourdeans, secretary and Mercin Leverson, treasurer. A "board of directors" was established, consisting of past president Frank Hatch and officers Sig Christianson, Dave Helders, Ervin Nielsen and Vernon Evenson.

Membership increased to 39, and the club joined the St. Croix County Snowmobile Association. They also joined the "Roberts United Organizations and participated in Roberts Good Neighbor Days by entering a unit in the parade and operating their first "dunker". The club’s "Charter" was written and they initiated the process of becoming "incorporated". A club trail leveler was built and their first annual "poker ride" was held.

1972-73 – 22 Members. John Denucci, president; LeRoy Dull, vice president; Connie Dull, secretary and Bob Hueftle, treasurer.

The Knight Riders held their first annual "family day" (a winter picnic with snowmobile games) and on February 12, 1973 the club was officially and legally incorporated as a non-profit organization.

1973-74 – 20 Members. LeRoy Dull, president; Tim Franklin, vice president; Connie Dull, secretary and Lil Christianson, treasurer. Tom Becker and Mel Ireton were elected to the board of directors.

The club formed a local chapter of the "National Snowmobile Patrol" and established the Roberts’ portion of the new 85 mile long St. Croix County snowmobile trail.

1974-75 – 29 Members. Fred Jourdeans, president; Dennis Crawford, vice president; Linda Jourdeans, secretary and Lil Christianson, treasurer. Bill Snoeyenbos was elected to the board of directors.

In addition to regular family memberships, a number of local businesses supported the club through the purchase of "Commercial Memberships". The club erected and maintained a permanent, free standing community bulletin board next to the Post Office/Laundromat building on Main Street. In April, 1975 the club joined the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs.

NOTE: Few club records remain for 1976 through ’85, however during this period, the club sponsored a Jr. Knight Riders Club, eliminated one of its two annual poker rides and moved the annual summer camp-out from Bone Lake to Trego.

1975-76 – The club’s roster grew to 45 regular and commercial memberships.

1976-77 – 36 Members

1977-78 – 39 Members

1978-79 – 18 Members

1979-80 – 15 Members

1980-81 – 15 Members. Dennis Crawford, president; Evie Steinmetz, secretary; Jerry Blomker, treasurer and Larry Hoff, county. rep.

1981-82 – No record

Poker Ride netted $293.90

1982-83 – 12 Members. Bill Snoeyenbos, president; Jerry Blomker, vice President; Liz Croes, secretary; Judy Snoeyenbos, treasurer and Larry Hoff, county rep.

Poker Ride netted $244.11

1983-84 – 16 Members. Jerry Blomker, president; Fred Jourdeans, vice president; Connie Dull, secretary; Dennis Crawford, treasurer and Dave Steinmetz, county rep.

Poker Ride netted $293.79

1984-85 – 9 Members, same officers as 1984.

Poker Ride netted $311.72. The club assisted the Roberts Village Board to develop a village snowmobile ordinance to officially permit snowmobile travel within the village limits.

1985-86 – 11 Members. Evie Steinmetz, president; Dave Helders, vice president; Dennis Crawford, secretary; Linda White, treasurer and Larry Hoff / Don Gerhardt, county reps.

It was decided at our Jan. 16^th meeting, due to our dwindling number of members, that rather than hold elections each year, we’d just rotate officer positions through the list of members. A drawing was held to start the rotation, with the above noted results. However, in the Fall of ‘86, the club sponsored a very successful 1^st annual membership drive, and normal elections were resumed the following year. Dues were raised from $5 to $10 per family.

1986-87 – 29 Members. Larry Hoff, president; Tom Shemon, vice president; Dennis Crawford, secretary; Linda White, treasurer and Dave Steinmetz, county rep.

The Jan. 8 treasurer’s report indicated a balance of $235.93, including over $100 in the "shake-a-day" jackpot. As a result, a motion was passed to limit the "shake-a-day" pay-off to just $25. Despite no snow, the Poker Ride still managed to clear a small profit. Also due to no snow, all St. Croix Co. snowmobile clubs were asked to contribute $50 each to help offset the trail groomer’s expenses. Club members designed and fabricated a new self contained dunker, with integral wheels and towing hitch.

1987-88 – 37 Members. Jim White, president; Dave Cave, vice president ; Dennis Crawford, secretary; Lisa Hood, treasurer and Dave Cave, Tom Johnston and Jerry Neibauer, county reps.

A new "funded" trail was approved and developed between Roberts and River Falls. Our club agreed to maintain the portion north of Hwy. N. The annual Poker Ride was the most successful to date, awarding $300 in cash prizes and nearly 100 door prizes. Despite sub-zero temps. and high winds, 20 hardy members participated in the club’s weekend ride to Luck and back. After 12 years, it was agreed to dismantle the club’s bulletin board (on Main Street), due to its state of disrepair. The club’s first Knight Riders shirts & jerseys were produced, and the club sponsored it’s first annual 4x4 Truck Pull during Good Neighbor Days.

1988-89 – 52 Members. Jim White, president; David Cave, vice president.; Tom Shemon, secretary; Lisa Hood /Don Gerhardt, treasurer and Dave Cave county rep.

The club’s third annual Fall membership drive was a very successful pig roast held in the village park. "Knight Wipes" hankies, featuring an imprint of the county trail map, were produced and sold by the club and the club purchased a new P.A. system for the Park Bldg. $70 was donated to St. Croix County Food Shelf.

1989-90 – 33 Members. Jim White, president; Dave Cave, vice president and county rep.; Cathy Lindus, secretary and Don Gerhardt, treasurer.

The club donated $735 toward the purchase of a new "Trail Master" grooming sled, and "trail fund" donation jars were placed in the three local taverns.

1990-91 – 25 Members. Dennis Crawford, president; Tom Johnston, vice president; Cathy Lindus, secretary; Larry Lindus, treasurer and Bob Dreher /Dave Cave, county reps.

Starting this year, snowmobile law enforcement duties were transferred from the County Sheriff’s Dept. to the DNR. The club was saddened by the loss one of its long time members, Dave Steinmetz who died in a snowmobiling accident near their new home in Burnett County.

1991-92 – 32 Members. Tom Johnston, president; Bob Dreher, vice president; Dennis Crawford, secretary; Jeff Lewis, treasurer and WayneSoderbeck, Bob Dreher and Dave Cave, county. reps.

To conform to new DNR regulations regarding snowmobiling within the village limits, the club erected "Snowmobile Route" signs on every street in Roberts, and placed "Village Ordinance" signs on the trail entrances into town. A news article appeared in the Ellsworth newspaper describing how well the snowmobile trails are marked through the Roberts area. The club donated $100 to the SCC sponsored Sr. Class Party.

1992-93 – 38 Members. Bob Dreher Jr., president; Larry Lindus, vice president; Cathy Lindus, secretary; Jeff Lewis, treasurer and Dave Cave, county rep.

The club donated $1000 to a local youngster for a bone marrow transplant operation, through the "Children’s Organ Transplant Association". We also donated $625 to the Lions Club to upgrade the tractor/truck pull track in the village park. With several new young families in the club again, it was decided to re-introduce "Family Fun Day" and hold it on Twin Lakes.

1993-94 – 38 Members. Bob Dreher Jr., president; Don Anderson, vice president; Barb Haas, secretary; Dennis Crawford, treasurer and Dave Cave / Tom O’Connell, county reps.

Donated $100 to the Blue Ribbon Coalition and $50 to Roberts Little League.. The club’s first annual MS Society Pledge Ride was a "county loop" ride, which raised nearly $1200 for MS. Dues was raised to $15 per family. The club was again saddened by the loss of one of its long time members, Etta Johnston, who died in a snowmobiling accident in Michigan.

1994-95 – 53 Members. Officers same as ’94, except Bob Dreher Jr. and Tom Shemon, county reps.

The club leased and refurbished an old building in Roberts to store the club’s dunker, trail signs and other equip., christening it "The Fort". The County Association purchased an additional Trail Master Drag and contracted for grooming with two new 4WD tractors. Family Fun Day was permanently rescheduled to the day after the Poker Ride, so that the left over poker ride food could be used up. The 2nd annual MS Pledge Ride was canceled due to lack of snow. $530 was donated to the SCC playground fund.

1995-96 – 49 Members. Dave Becker, president; Larry Lindus, vice president, Barb Haas/Edie Anderson, co-secretaries; Joe Smith, treasurer and Kevin Soltis, county rep.

The St. Croix Casino in Turtle Lake became the new destination for the annual MS Pledge Ride and 20 riders participated. Donated $200 to Hazel Mackin Library and $414 for new tables for the Roberts Village Park Bldg..

1996-97 – 50 Members. Dave Becker, president; Kurt Krueger, vice president; Joann Krueger, secretary; Joe Smith, treasurer and Bruce Mann /Kevin Soltis county reps.

The club agreed to limit officers’ terms to a maximum of two consecutive years. A new Kitty Cat snowmobile was raffled off at the Poker Ride, the Hudson Star Observer published a nice article about our club including member interviews and $500 was donated to the St. Croix Youth Recreation program. 47 riders participated in the annual MS Pledge Ride to St. Croix Casino in Turtle Lake and over $1300 was raised for MS.

1997-98 – 54 Members. Kurt Krueger, president; Arlen Wente, vice president; Joann Krueger, secretary; Bob Ricci, treasurer and Kevin Soltis /Bob Dreher Jr., county reps.

A new 1998 Ski-Doo Formula S was raffled off at the club’s annual poker ride. The club’s annual MS Ride was canceled due to lack of snow, however over $1200 in donations was still raised for the MS Society. The club donated $250 to the Summer Rec. Program, $150 to the Roberts Police’ Youth Bike Rodeo, $100 to the SCC sponsored Sr. party, $50 to The light House Youth Center and the club supplied volunteer workers for the St. Croix County Fair’s Truck Pull.

1998-99 – 44 Members. Kurt Krueger, president; Arlen Wente, vice president; Jeff Matz, secretary; Joann Krueger, treasurer; Bob Ricci, county rep.

In Sept., ’98 the Knight Riders and Hammond Snowdrifters co-sponsored the first of 3 annual "Central St. Croix Snowmobile Swap Meets" and the annual poker ride was revised to be a week-long event. The annual MS Pledge Ride raised $750, despite being canceled for lack of snow for the 2^nd consecutive year.

1999-2000 – 43 Members. Joann Krueger, president; Jeff Matz, vice president; Emily Drafall, secretary; Kristy Flynn, treasurer and Kurt Krueger, county rep.

After 28 years, the club decided to discontinue its dunker concession due to liability concerns. The Knight Riders assumed responsibility for producing and distributing the county trail maps and the annual MS Pledge Ride destination was changed to Cumberland, and raised $1350 for MS.

2000-01 – 39 Members. JoAnn Krueger, president; Mike Pizzi, vice president; Emily Drafall, secretary; Kristi Flynn, treasurer and Tom Sheman, county rep.

The Knight Riders purchased an emergency rescue sled and donated it to the Roberts-Warren Fire/Rescue Squad, donated $100 toward the SCC sponsored Sr. Party and the first annual "Knight Rider of the Year" award was presented. 25 riders participated in another exceptional MS Pledge Ride, raising $1300 for MS.

2001-02 – 28 Members. Mike Pizzi, president; Doug Drafall, vice president, Mike Oldenburg, secretary; Joann Krueger, treasurer and Kurt Krueger, Arlen Wente & Bob Dreher Jr., county reps.

Major trail relocation work was required due to several new housing and business developments in the Roberts area. The club again produced and distributed updated county trail maps, however the trails never opened this season in Western WI due to no snow, and all club rides were canceled. The Knight Riders’ 30^th Anniversary was celebrated on April. 13 at PR’s Place in River Falls.