My Inyokern Community Site
Neighbors of the Month January 2009
CONGRATULATIONS LARRY & LORRY WAGNER
The Neighbor of the Month can be anyone you know. This could be that special person who always has a smile or kind word or is willing to help when you need a hand. This honor will include a photo posted on this page and a caption or short biography.
It's the smiles that make Inyokern the Sunshine Capital of America!
Neighbor of the Month archives:
It's the smiles that make Inyokern the Sunshine Capital of America!
1909 Inyokern Centennial 2009
1909 Inyokern Centennial 2009
Larry and Lorry Wagner of Sierra Dawn Arabians are enjoying their 30th year in north Inyokern. They are trainers and breeders of quality Arabian riding horses. Larry has spent many years building local landmark structures in the Indian Wells Valley and Kern River Valley areas.
This Neighbor of the month selection began with "the story of the misplaced plaque." Lorry was president of the Inyokern Chamber of Commerce from 1994 to 1996 and was awarded a past president's plaque. Due to a series of mishaps the plaque was never delivered. After waiting patiently for some twelve years she sent a letter to the Chamber of Commerce inquiring about the plaque. The current Chamber president brought the letter to the January 2009 meeting and in an attempt at humor introduced it as "very old business." It was decided that anyone who could wait twelve years for anything had to be a great neighbor. By unanimous vote the Chamber of Commerce selected the Wagners as neighbors of the month for their contributions to Inyokern and the Chamber of Commerce.
The Wagners live in this beautiful custom home in Inyokern. Using Arabian architecture as her inspiration, Lorry designed the home that was built by Larry and friend Tim Binns.
The home is on 30+ acres and about 20 acres of that is undeveloped. The 10 acres adjacent to the home includes barns, pasture and a small reservoir for the irrigation system. The horse barn is an elaborate concrete tilt-up structure built by the Wagners and includes custom welded horse shoe door hardware and hinges.
Lorry says the world opened up for her when she began representing the Arabian horse on the international stage. As a member of the International Arabian Horse Association and the World Arabian Horse Organization, Lorry has traveled to conferences in Bahrain, Turkey, Australia and Poland.
She noted that those attending these conferences put aside international differences and worked toward the common goal of developing acceptable international standards for breeding, import and export of the Arabian horse. In addition to ranch duties Lorry maintains four websites. She also cares for her 97 year old mother Winifred whom she refers to as her inspiration.
SDA Dunes Sirocco at Sierra Dawn Arabians.
The reservoir and gazebo to the right are located east of the house. The majority of the ducks are wild and Canadian geese have wintered at the Wagner's reservoir. The pastures are irrigated from the water in this reservoir.
Fellow Arabian horse enthusiast Penny Wardlaw of Santa Barbara gave this beautifully decorated gourd to Lorry this past Christmas. Their mutual friend artist Carol Walter of Bakersfield created this piece using wood burning techniques.
The Wagners consider it an honor to have been of service to Inyokern and feel a sense of pride when representing our community. The Chamber of Commerce is working to ensure the story of the misplaced plaque has a happy ending! This month's neighbors of the month recieved a gift certificate from Torres Steakhouse and an invitation to dine with the Inyokern Rotary Club. Thank you Larry and Lorry for being great neighbors.
