Meet Our Contributors

Contributors

Mel Woods

Mel Woods is the Owner of Blue Boat Art, one of the Lake area’s go-to for drone photos and video. Her Lake Life Portrait Sessions are one of the hottest new experience gifts you can give your Lake lover.

Her work has been featured in several area magazines, on Lake TV and on live TV as the official drone pilot for the 2021 Lake Race, in real estate listings, art stores, and more.

She holds an FAA drone pilot certification and a bachelor’s degree in visual communications. She lives at the Lake and loves capturing Lake life.

See her work at www.blueboatart.com, and follow @ BlueBoatArt on social for photos and videos from around the Lake. JULY/AUGUST 2022

Judy Goppert

Writing is a way of life for Judy Goppert. She began her career as a radio jingle writer, then upon graduation from college with a degree in Writing from Missouri State University, worked as copywriter for a variety of advertising agencies in Springfield and Kansas City. She had the opportunity to write for some high-profile clients, including Tyson, Helzberg Diamonds and Lodge of Four Seasons. As reporter and editor of a local smalltown newspaper, she spent over 15 years interviewing and telling the stories of unique people in all walks of life.

She is a published author of two gift books and is currently a freelance writer for a wide variety of magazines, including HERLIFE New York, SIMPLYkc and Lee’s Summit Lifestyle. Spending time at the Lake with her husband is a frequent, favorite pastime. They stay aboard their Sea Ray cruiser which is docked at a marina. An avid outdoors girl, she enjoys drawing upon her personal experiences to write about the nuances of everything wonderful about Lake life.

Al and Connye Griffin

Al and Connye Griffin retired to do what they enjoy, taking photos of their new home and writing about the people and places here. Al was a forensic photographer for more than a decade before moving to Missouri where he’s had the opportunity to focus on art and commercial photography.

His varied work can be found at www.algriffinphotography.com. Connye likes to knit words together and does so daily. She spent 37 years teaching and still loves to learn and teach. She does both through Al and Connye’s collaboration www.oureyesuponmissouri. com. Al’s photography can be seen throughout the magazine.

George Denny

George Denny’s family has been coming to the Lake of the Ozarks for more than seven decades. Moving here in the late 60’s, he graduated from School of the Osage. He works for Vacation News magazine, a Lake Media publication, where his photos have been on more than 250 front covers.

George may be best known for his watersport and aerial photography, as well as his photography at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout. He was nominated into the inaugural Lake of the Ozarks Shootout Hall of Fame in 2013.

Horseback riding is a great way to explore nature and the quieter side of the Lake. When you are ready to get away from the hustle and bustle of the water, head inland and saddle up. A great family activity, horseback riding will bring joy and relaxation to your spirit.

Thouvenel Stables, Osage Beach

Karna Thouvenel has owned the stables located at the main entrance of Margaritaville Lake Resort since 2014, and changed the name to Thouvenel Stables. Reservations can be made on the same day of your ride in person at Guest Services which is located at the Main Lobby just up from the barn where the big blue flip flop is.

“I have been riding horses for as long as I can remember,” Karna said. “I don’t remember ever ‘learning’ how to ride a horse. It’s something I have always known how to do. I guess kind of like how you know how to walk. You don’t remember how it got started, but all you know is you know how.”

Karna’s father, Cloyd Thouvenel, was an avid horseman and rode a lot. He rode by himself, rode with his kids, grew up using horses in the field, and he even tilled up their garden with a team of ponies. He also broke several horses to ride and was a team roper, so Karna went to rodeos and jackpots with him sometimes. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as they say.

“I learned to team rope from my Dad, and my three children, Kyle, Kole, and Luke, also did the sport of rodeo,” Karna said. “As they got older, school sports kind of took up our weekends and things changed, but my daughter, Kylie’s, love for horses continues. She owns her own horses and still goes to rodeos.”

Thouvenel offers trail riding for ages seven and up. They have a ramp to get on the horses in case anyone feels they are unable to put their foot in the stir-

Story by JUDY GOPPERT