Oregon Tree Farm System Names Laird-Shepherd Family As Columbia County’s Outstanding Tree Farmer Of The Year (Photo) - 12/04/25
RICKREALL, Ore. - The Oregon Tree Farm System (OTFS) recently honored the Laird-Shepherd Family as Columbia County’s Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year. The family owns and manages 115 acres of forestland near Vernonia in Columbia County. The honor was bestowed at the organization’s annual meeting held Nov. 15th at the Polk County Fair Grounds in Rickreall.
Honored at the same meeting with statewide Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year for Oregon was Roje Gootee from northern Grant County. Gootee owns the 3,345-acre Rush Creek Ranch, about 2,000 acres of which are forested. She was recognized for her 28 years spent restoring and managing her property for a wide range of conservation objectives, as well as for her leadership in promoting the health of forest and rangelands in the Blue Mountains of Northeast Oregon.
Gootee has restored ponderosa pine forests that were over-harvested by the previous owner, restored abandoned farm fields to forests, improved water quality through restoring riparian habitat and protecting upland springs, controlled invasive weeds, reduced the risk of wildfire, and removed invasive Western juniper encroaching on rangeland and forests.
Beyond her own property, Gootee has helped neighbors develop stewardship plans for their properties and has played key roles in promoting the management of all private and public lands in Oregon’s Blue Mountain region.
Through her natural resource academic studies, USDA Forest Service career in forest and range management, and managing her own property, Gootee has developed invaluable insights on how best to manage Oregon’s dryland forests.
She continues to share her insights through serving on numerous local, state and national private and public natural resource-related boards and commissions. She also works with local landowners and resource professionals.
In addition to honoring the Laird-Shepherd Family and Gootee, OTFS awarded Dell and Linda Jensen a Silver Award for management of their 185-acre John Downing Tree Farm near Marcola in Lane County. While the property has been in the family since 1908, the Jensens took charge of its management when inheriting it in 2022. They have spent a tremendous amount of time and energy in developing a sustainable timber harvest, improving its road system for active management, and converting brushy areas back to Douglas-fir forest.
Others who were recognized include:
Additional County Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year
• Allan and Kathleen Crandall of Yamhill County
Oregon Inspector of the Year – Tim Gurton
Oregon Tree Farm inspectors are volunteer foresters who visit family forest landowners providing insights on how they can meet their forestland goals, and to certify that their forest meets the American Tree Farm System’s standards. Gurton visited and certified 25 landowners.
Pollinator Award – Mary Chamness
This award is given to an individual whose volunteer efforts played a key role in the management of the organization.
Hagenstein Family Forestlands Achievement Award - Steve and Wylda Cafferata
This award is presented to an individual(s) for outstanding contributions in promoting, supporting, and sustaining Oregon’s family-owned forestlands.
About the Oregon Tree Farm System
OTFS is a chapter of the American Tree Farm System which operates an internationally recognized forest certification program overseen by and for family forest landowners to promote sustainable forest management through education, recognition, and assistance.
For 59 years, OTFS has recognized family forest landowners who provide forest benefits and products using sound forestry management. Along with the Oregon Dept. of Forestry they work to promote sustainable forestry in Oregon.
For more information on the Oregon Tree Farm System, visit www.otfs.org
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