2017 Tree Farmer of the Year
Jerry was proactive in his management decisions, immediatley upon purchasing his property, to help defend the area from the mountain pine beetle epidemic and the high risk of wildfire in the area. To get the management accomplished Jerry calmed fears of the landowner association, took some liability upon himself, helped coordinate access and the harvest of the timber in the land development area. To follow through with his forest management he hired a forester to administer the thinning, slash burning and fuel treatment on his acreage. He continues his management implementation to be a role model to his forested landowner neighbors as well as his son who has purchased acreage to expand the overall Tree Farm for generations.
Quotes provided by Jerry's logger, leasee and local county commissioner.
"Jerry respects and admires the area he lives in and he is dedicated to keeping his forest healthy. Jerry's objective is to have a healthy forest, as well as utilize his property for multi-use. I enjoyed working with Jerry when I logged his property. I am proud of the way the forest looked after the logging was completed." Jake Shook, Jake Shook Logging, Newcastle, Wyoming
"When Jerry first took ownership of his property it had meadows so over grown with pine trees you could not even ride a horse through them, the trees where up to 10' in diameter and as thick as dog hair, in meadows that fifty years ago I hayed as a teenage boy. The forest is like your lawn it needs management." Randy Rossman, Leasee
Wood: Jerry started the timber improvement portion of his management plan (4/2013) by signing a timber harvest contract soon after he purchased this ownership. Over a three year period, commercial harvesting was completed on about seventy five percent of his forested land. The majority of his harvest was a shelterwood harvest leaving approximately fifty square feet of basal area stocking. Other areas (less then five percent) was removal of pine from or near aspen stands or seed tree harvests. One hundred sixty six loads of commercial logs (5300 tons/702 MBF) were removed from this ownership. Results of this timber sale met the owner's objective of promoting forest health. The area mountain pine beetle epidemic was brought under control and fuel loading was reduced. The harvest will result in increased timber and foreage growth, more ground and surface water supply, and a diversity of forest stands for wildlife. Also, the aesthetics of the property have been improved.
Water: An increase in the amount of water reaching the ground from results of the timber harvest can be seen in the increased forage production and the increased water in the springs and ponds located in the harvest areas. Jerry has also worked on improving spring water availability for both livestock and wildlife. He improved the functioning of three springs near the Sweetwater Creek running through his ranch.
Jerry has made several improvements to help wildlife species. He has improved forage quanity, quality, and species diversity through his timber harvests and thinning. Jerry's improvements to his springs have already supplied an increase in water availability. Jerry has plans to improve more quantity and quality of water in his springs, ponds, and dams. Jerry has an annual weed control program to improve range and forage diversity and production. Jerry has plans to improve the aspen sand conditions on his ranch.
