Name:
Allison Valerio
County:
Union
Years of MWM Service:
5
Acres of Forest Land:
400
Year of Submission:
2021
Volunteer Work:
Description of Activity:
Wildlife-friendly fencing/remove wire cross fencing
Type of Assistance:
Number of People:
7
Number of Hours:
100
Description of Activity:
Interview & Tour of property for Oregon Tree Farmer of the Year
Type of Assistance:
Number of People:
4
Number of Hours:
6
Email:
Describe in more detail any volunteer activity that was particularly meaningful to you.:
#1 Working with Baker Resource Coalition, hired High School and college students to work/learn on the ranch for 2 weeks. Main project: rebuilding a wildlife-friendly fence along the highway using tamarack posts recycled from the property (some over 100 years old) and pine poles. No wire used.
Secondary project: Removing old, wired, cross fences on the property to improve wildlife safety. Hands on work and discussions highlighting forest management practices and wildlife habitat improvement.
#2 Met with judges for interview regarding our nomination for Oregon Tree Farmer of the Year, 2020. In-depth conservation about our management plan, wildlife management, creek restoration, ongoing and future plans, projects, and succession plan for the ranch.
Tour of property to show wildlife-friendly fencing; mastication and thinning projects; transplanting/micro-placing adult trees; bridge built over Widsom Creek (class 1 stream); road and erosion management.
Both activities were meaninful for different reasons:
#1 On our project working with the students, many were returning from the previous year to work with us again. Having the opportunity to continue a project started the year before gave great satisfaction to all parties. Enthusiam from the students seeing the progress made and future projects started and planned reinforced the reality of a living and changing environment. Many were excited about the mastication and transplanting projects in their infancy and curious about their future success.
#2 Meeting with the judges for Oregon Tree Farmer of the Year gave us non-biased feedback on our management plan, goals, and current activies. They reinforced our need to document in more detail what we are doing daily to manage our forestland and wildlife habitat, and were enthusiastic about our progress. Some of our projects are new to the field and were met with praise. We learned quite a bit from them and thoroughly enjoyed the feedback and input. Note: Out of 8 nominees, we were awarded Runner-Up at the July conference. An honor not expected.