News and Updates for LCSWA Members

Seven Linn County forestry 4-Hers have been awarded scholarship money through the Linn County Small Woodlands Association. The students shared a total of $1,600 in scholarship money that is raised through the annual Linn County Small Woodlands seedling sale. The money is used to purchase 4-H activity tools and supplies and other academic uses. Judging was done Tuesday, March 23. 4-H advisor Fay Sallee hosted the event. Students receiving money are Andrew Bradford, Gabriel Bradford, Elizabeth Kincade, Emily Kincade, Ryan Henry, Conner Tye and Haley Tye.  Judging was based on the students’ award application, annual record books and an interview. Covid precautions were in place for the day. Judging this year’s event were Steve and Katie Kohl, Bob and Mary Brendle and Larry and Nancy Mauter. 4-H forestry students and their families are among the volunteers who work at the annual seedling sale.

  Linn County Small Woodlands Association Board of Directors meeting Wednesday March 3, 2021 Location: Cota-Melcher barn off Berlin Ridge Road Attendance: Tim Otis, Jim Cota, Katie Kohl, Bonnie Marshall, Lee Peterman, Larry Mauter, Shirley Holmberg, Jonathan Christie (via zoom) Mike Barsotti (3 p.m.) Meeting called to order at 2:30 p.m. by board President Tim Otis Minutes of Dec. 2, 2020 — Lee Peterman move, Tim Otis 2nd, approval of minutes from 12-2-2020 with correction of day of meeting to Wednesday, not Thursday; unanimous approval. Old Business  Annual meeting results — Tim Otis and board members agreed COVID-driven post card annual meeting was “well organized” and success. About 60 ballot returned with total membership about 110. Shirley Holberg and Jim Cota elected to thee-year terms ending in 2024.  Discussion followed. Tim Otis said Jim Merzenich has asked to vacate board seat. Motion suggested that board refuse resignation and vote to keep Merzenich on board

By Tim Otis LCSWA President Carpe Diem (Latin: Seize the day , phrase used by the Roman poet Horace to express the idea that one should enjoy life while one can.) A few years ago I read the book “The Wild Trees,” by Richard Preston.  In it, he tells the almost unbelievable story of Steve Sillett (and a few other botanist’s) exploration of the largest and tallest trees in the world.  These are the coast Redwoods of Northern California.  They explored and measured the height of these trees by climbing them.  Many memories and emotions washed past as I read this book.  I was repeatedly amazed that these young explorers did not think “there is nothing new to learn,”did not believe that there was no new place to explore.  They went where others refused to go.  They invented new ways to climb these massive trees with ropes.  On May 11, 1998 Steve Sillett and Michael Taylor pushed, crawled and fell through a part of the Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park, in search of large redwood trees, or

By Bonnie Marshall LCSWA Director The 26 th Annual Linn County Small Woodlands Association Seedling Sale is one for the books — with record sales and Covid challenges. Almost 250 pre-orders were delivered via curbside pickup within 5 hours by our dedicated and masked volunteers.  As one satisfied customer told us after the sale, “We hit it out of the park” with our well-planned and executed Covid-safe delivery of seedlings.     Fay Sallee, volunteer coordinator, was as diligent as ever rounding up Linn County Small Woodland members, 4-H members and their families, and scholarship recipients.  Despite fewer volunteers, social distancing requirements and expanded work areas, our volunteers rose to the challenge with long hours (a 13-hour day for some) and staggered shifts.  Early Friday morning Don and Carol Cree, Jack Lowers, Jim Cota, and Lance Marshall picked up seedlings at the various nurseries while some of Friday’s 33 volunteers helped set up tables in preparation for the see

By Larry Mauter LCSWA director Long before the term “influencer” became common lexicon, Sherm Sallee was one. Sallee, long-time Linn County Small Woodlands Association member and first editor of The Quarterly Bark, died March 4, 2021. He was 78. Sallee was born Dec. 17, 1942 in Enterprise, Oregon. He was a 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force. He served in Vietnam. Among his many woodlands-related passions — Sallee and wife of 54 years Fay — supported the Linn County Extension 4-H forestry program. He was a 4-H leader for more than 35 years. Sallee and Fay also started and for two decades coordinated the annual Linn County Small Woodlands Association seedling sale. “Among the many legacies that Sherm left behind, one was the seedling sale, now in its 26 th year,” said Bonnie Marshall.  “When my husband and I took over the helm five years ago, we were fortunate to experience first-hand Sherm’s organizational skills, encouragement, and mentoring,” Marshall said. “He e

  Long-time Linn County Small Woodlands Association member Sherm Sallee died Thursday March 4. A 20-year veteran of the US Air Force, Sallee was born Dec. 17, 1942 in Enterprise, Oregon. A remembrance service at the Happy Valley Tree Farm is planned for Saturday, June 26. Details to follow. Sallee and wife Fay started the annual seedling sale to raise scholarship money for Linn County forestry students and 4-Hers. The 26th annual sale was held last month. Sallee was active in forestry education issues, 4-H, and the Linn County Fire Protection Agency. He started the Quarterly Bark newsletter and is an editor emeritus of the publication.