2020-21 Tree Farmer of the Year | Member Photos | News | About Benton County Chapter
Welcome to the Benton County Small Woodlands Association! We are an active chapter that holds regular tours of each others’ tree farms, lectures, and other educational events to support responsible forest management, network, and share our knowledge.
Our monthly meetings are held virtually the first Monday of each month from 4pm – 6pm; contact any board member for the Zoom link.
We also have a Facebook Group where you can share comments, observations, and pictures with BCSW members—join the conversation!
Mini-Tour Report: Wildflower Hike
Photo Credit: Mike Albrecht
On May 8th the Benton County chapter of the Small Woodlands Association hosted a wildflower hike, one of several outdoor gatherings held by the chapter over the past several months. The hike was attended by a dozen people and was led by Mike Albrecht.
2020-2021 Benton County Tree Farmer of the Year
Congratulations to Ed Easterling, Benton County’s 2020 Tree Farmer of the Year! Ed established Crestmont Farm in 2005 on 775 acres of intensively managed, heavily-harvested industrial forestlands with the objective of balancing wood production and habitat management. He immediately began working with consulting foresters and others to maintain and enhance the forest plantations while looking towards restoration of the property’s other resources. Over the past 15 years, Ed and his team have transformed industrial timberlands just west of Corvallis into a community resource.
While we have not been able to have the 2020 Tree Farmer of the Year event due to gathering restrictions, we hope to hold this tour in the fall of 2021.
Member Photos
Check out Shiver River Farm’s blog at http://shiverriver.net
for more wildlife sightings from their trail camera this summer. I’m going to have to set one of those cameras up on my place!
Why are Dave and Sarah smiling? It’s fire season and they have a water wagon. 
“Another Day at the Office” Photo Credit: Pat Boren 
2019 Tree Farmer of the Year Tour at Shiver River
News
Benton County OSWA Chapter News & Events
How 2020 Labor Day Firestorm Developed – Chris Dunn
Oregon fire scientist, Chris Dunn, presented an overview of the 2020 fires and the history of fire in Oregon. This YouTube video is a recording of the Benton County Small Woodlands 2020 annual meeting. Small woodland owners are in the 2021 fire season and things are not looking good. This video explaining the 2020 firestorm […]
In Memoriam – Farewell to Gary Springer 1948-2021
Gary was a long time OSWA member and staunch advocate for Oregon’s small woodland owners. Starker Forests: Gary Springer touched many with his humor, love for forestry Legacy.com: Gary Thad Springer (October 4, 1948 – May 25, 2021)
Gazette Times Front Page – Saving Damaged Trees
BCSW Owners Greg Peterson & Nancy Hathaway generated some great PR for woodland owners!
The Quarterly Bark Newsletter
The Quarterly Bark is the joint newsletter for Benton, Lane, Linn, and Lincoln County OSWA chapters. You can access current and past editions here.
Archives
About the Benton Chapter
Benton Chapter Board of Directors
Benton Chapter has an active board of directors. Feel free to contact them for information on this chapter and its activities and events. More information is also available on the chapter’s Facebook Group.
For general inquiries, please email bentoncoswa@gmail.com.
- President – David Ehlers @ 541-231-7094
- Treasurer – Jane Brandenburg
- Secretary – Diana Blakney
- Membership – Sarah Edwardsson @ 541-745-2062
- OSWA Rep – Nancy Hathaway @ 541-758-5510
- Program Chair – Pat Boren @ 541-929-2144
- Education Chair – Rita Adams @ 541-752-3324
- Tree Farmer of Year Program Chair – David Hibbs @ 541-752-3245
- Member at large – Dena Oakes
- Member at large – Darrell Oakes
- Member at large – Ed Easterling
