Oregon Tree Farm System gives Wisdom Creek ranch top honor

TREE FARMERS OF THE YEAR: Ted and Mary Brown and their family, who run Wisdom Creek Tree Farm near Union, won the 2008 Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year, presented by the Oregon Tree Farm System at a ceremony in Portland Monday. From left to right: U.S. Forest Service Deputy Regional Forester Cal Joyner, State Forester Marvin Brown, Ted Brown, Sandy Brown and Mary Brown. Submitted photo

The Oregon Tree Farm System on Monday recognized Ted and Mary Brown during a ceremony at the World Forestry Center in Portland.

Ted and Mary Brown purchased the Wisdom Creek Tree Farm in 1957 and expanded in 1978 to the farm’s current size of 756 acres.

“Our main goal for the land is to maintain biodiversity,” said Ted Brown.

The Browns’ land, which forms the southern border of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, is rich with diverse species of wildlife.

Local chapters of the Oregon Small Woodlands Association select the County Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year in Oregon. The Oregon winner is selected by a team of professional foresters from the public and private sectors.

The Oregon Department of Forestry, an active partner of the Oregon Tree Farm System, helps landowners manage their forestlands to ensure that family-owned tree farms achieve economic, environmental and social benefits.

More information on the Oregon Tree Farm System is available at www.otfs.org.

Additional information about the Oregon Department of Forestry is available at www.oregon.gov/ODF.