Next Meeting
Twilight Tours 2023
June 24 4:00pm Dan and Barb Hanson Tree Farm
74 Washington Cemetery Road
Raymond, WA
July 22 2:00pm Pacific Chapter Annual Meeting and Picnic
Bring side dish and chair
RSVP by July 15
Greg Pattillo Tree Farm Picnic Grounds
2000 Mallis Landing Road
Raymond, WA
August 24-26 Pacific County Fair
Visit Pacific Chapter Booth
Menlo, WA
10:00 am-9:00 pm
July 22, 2023 Annual Meeting and Picnic
Where: Greg and Sue Pattillo’s Picnic Grounds
Address: Pattillo Tree Farm, 2000 Mallis Landing Road, Raymond, at the picnic area on the road above the house.
Directions: From Hwy. 101, turn east on Hwy. 6 (toward Chehalis), go 1 mile turn then right on Bloomhardt Road. Go 1½ miles - AMOST to the golf course but turn left onto Mallis Landing Road just 50 feet before road comes to a “T”. If you come to the stop sign, back up 50 feet and turn left onto Mallis Landing Road. Go up Mallis Landing Road approximately one mile. Watch for orange tree farm tour signs.
From the east on Hwy 6, go 0.7mile past Entering Raymond sign (just past Case’s pond) and turn left onto Bloomhardt Road. Go 1½ miles - AMOST to the golf course but turn left onto Mallis Landing Road just 50 feet before road comes to a “T”. If you come to the stop sign, back up 50 feet and turn left onto Mallis Landing Road. Go up Mallis Landing Road approximately one mile. Watch for orange tree farm tour signs.
Agenda:
- 2:00 Meet and Greet
- 3:00 Election of Officers and Board Members
- 3:15 Pacific County Fair Booth
- 3:30 SW WA Family Forest Field Day August 13
- 4:00 Potluck Dinner. Hotdogs and beverages will be provided, please bring a side dish and chairs if you need chairs
Remembering Bob Falkner
December 16, 1955- September 12, 2022
Tribute prepared by Washington Tree Farm Program, which has set up an Educational Fund in Bob's name.
"We will be known forever by the tracks we leave..." This ancient Plains Indian Proverb is so appropriate for remembering the deep "tracks" Bob leaves within our Washington Tree Farm community.
Bob grew up in Greenacres, Washington, near Spokane, never having been involved in tree farming. That all changed in 1978 when he married Lynette Habersetzer! She had grown up on a family tree farm homesteaded by her great-grandparents in 1888--that's one year before Washington became a state. In Bob's words: "After meeting and marrying Nettie, I began to understand what it meant to continue a legacy. She taught me to truly love the land.” Bob took the importance of that legacy to heart as it truly defined many aspects of his life and how he and Lynette chose to raise their four children: Kate, Tim, Mary Beth and Elly.
Bob’s love of the land took on a more concrete role after Lynette's father, Victor, passed away in 1982. At that time, management of the tree farm was passed on to her mother, Ruth, who in turn encouraged Bob to learn about tree farming. Ruth quickly took Bob underwing, sharing her detailed knowledge ranging from what piece of land was where to the vital importance of political advocacy and everything in between. She passed on not only her knowledge, but also her passion to Bob, who met the tree farming challenge head on. He had graduated from the University of Washington School of Business and he quickly supplemented his business knowledge with forestry education by enrolling in the Small Woodland Owners classes at Centralia Community College where he met other folks who owned and managed timberland. They provided him with first-hand experiences and a great deal of wisdom.
In his early stages of learning, Bob and Lynette hosted a twilight tour where Bob noted that he didn't know much about tree farming. While standing in the woods on Picnic Hill, experienced voices from fellow tree farmers spoke up saying, "We'll teach you, Bob!" And the entire forestry community did just that. Their camaraderie helped encourage Bob to sign up for the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Program where he graduated with Class lX in 1988. He credited those two years in the program with increasing his awareness of natural resources, exposing him to different cultures, economics, political systems, and international trade. Quickly deciding he wanted to take on a leadership role in the tree farming community, Bob joined the Lewis County Farm Forestry chapter where he served on the Board of Directors from 1987- 1991.
Over the years, Bob was instrumental in helping reactivate the Pacific County Farm Forestry Association and served as its president from 1989-1995. He also served as the Washington State Farm Forestry Treasurer from 1990-2000 and was on the Steering Committee for the Northwest Woodlands Owners Council. During this time, he also spearheaded efforts to establish the Life Member program through WFFA, providing a title that so many of us wear with pride. He and Lynette were members of the Washington Contract Loggers Association and the Washington Forest Protection Association for many years. Their efforts to manage Custer Creek Tree Farm and educate the community about land stewardship were recognized on a county, state, regional, and, ultimately, national level when they were named the 2003 National Outstanding Tree Farmers by the American Tree Farm System. Following this distinction, they served on the National Operating Committee for the ATFS, sub-committees for Outreach and Education, and the National Public Affairs Committee from 2003 -2006.
Educating the community about tree farming through Elderhostel visits, twilight tours, Family Forest Field Days, and Project Learning Tree tours were Bob's favorite activity. He loved opening the tree farm for any type of educational program--in fact this last August 4th, the Pacific Education Institute held a workshop on Custer Creek Tree Farm, welcoming local teachers to learn about options for teaching about forestry and nature in their classrooms. Even with his failing health, Bob was there to visit with folks and so happy to have them learn about this tree farm he had come to love so dearly. One last 'set of tracks' left behind for future generations...
Bob is survived by his wife, Lynette, their children: Kate, Tim, Mary Beth (Haselfeld) and Elly; his son-in-law, Greg Haselfeld; and his grandson, Bennett Haselfeld. His family is so grateful for the outpouring of support they have received from the tree farming community during their time of grief. Bob truly loved being a part of this community and it is a role the next generations at Custer Creek Tree Farm look forward to continuing.
To honor Bob's memory, the Washington Tree Farm Program is accepting donations in his name to help fund future educational programs - something he was so passionate about. You can contribute to the "Bob Falkner Forestry Education Fund" at: https://www.watreefarm.org/products/.