Beloved Hoofers adviser retires
By Lauren Ayala
After working for Wisconsin Union Hoofers for nearly eight years, the time has come for Linda Bentz to bid a warm farewell as she moves on to a new chapter in her life.
Serving as a student adviser and later a director for the student-run Hoofers program, Linda oversaw the organization, which provides it members with rich, recreational opportunities ranging from mountaineering to sailing. She acted as a guiding presence within Hoofers by attending various outing events and helping students sharpen their planning skills through marketing and budgeting. Aside from providing support in managing the organization, Linda fostered a sense of community which, for her, made Hoofers more a home than a place of work.
Originally from Illinois, Linda had a career as a teacher and school counselor and also operated a number of small businesses with her husband for several years before coming to the Union. In her free time, Linda was also an avid horseback rider and even rode competitively. “I competed in ‘eventing,’ which combines dressage, cross-country jumping, and stadium jumping,” she explained. When she discovered the open position with Hoofers, Linda
knew it would be the perfect opportunity to combine her professional experience with her personal interests. “When the Union posted a position for an adviser with both a business and equestrian background, it seemed like a perfect fit,” she said.
And a perfect fit, it was. Linda delighted in spending time with students and watching them grow. One of her favorite parts of the job was taking a new student leader under her wing and providing him or her with the support and guidance necessary to get succeed within the organization. “Watching those students grow to the point that they didn’t need me anymore -that’s when you know they had truly grown,” said Linda.
It was this evolution from a student participant to student leader, that Linda enjoyed being a part of the most. Students often initially join a club merely to enjoy their favorite activities with their friends. Over time, however, many of them become increasingly more involved with the organization by taking on positions with more responsibility, like being a club president or serving on the executive board. The experiences that the students gain by their senior year prove invaluable and help prepare them for their future careers. “The hands-on learning that students are involved in through Hoofers is incredible. They manage a huge operation of almost 3,000 members,” said Linda.
As assistant director for Hoofers, Susan Dibbell worked with Linda throughout her tenure and has always been impressed with Linda’s work ethic and devotion to students. Susan truly admires how Linda made the students her top priority by allowing them to take the reigns and make Hoofers their own organization. “Linda was always about making it happen. She never put roadblocks on student ideas and wanted to tackle every hurdle Hoofers encountered,” said Susan.
According to Susan, it was Linda’s personality that made working with her so memorable. Like any successful leader, Linda not only excelled in overseeing a large organization, but in remaining relatable and amiable to her students. She spoke highly of Linda’s playful sense of humor, which balanced perfectly with her professionalism. “The students just loved and adored her. She was always so positive, upbeat and funny. I truly enjoyed working with her,” said Susan.
“She’s someone you never forget, even if you only meet her once,” said Fran Theisen, current president of the Hoofers Riding Club. “Through the time I have known her, she has been everything to me; a mother, a friend, an advisor, the support you need when things get hard, the one who has all the answers or will help you find them, and always the person to sit down and have a laugh with.”
Though she is sad to retire, Linda knows that her time at Hoofers will never really be over. She is, after all, a lifetime member and has plans to attend Hoofers events in the future. “I will miss it all. But Hoofers will always have a place in my life,” said Linda.
