Gary Welsch of Marinette County was selected as the 2023 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year.  Gary’s story begins with a young man and young forest resource. In 1967 his parents purchased 80 acres that had been previously enrolled under the Tree Farm program. He would ultimately grow up with the young red pine plantations and aspen sprouts that were present on the property in 1967. Some of his earliest memories on the property include replanting red pine in areas of plantation that had died out, maintaining fire breaks, and in some years simply watching the trees grow. As most of the property was very young forest, there was little to do in the way of active forest management many years. Gary and his father continued their maintenance of the property together for the next 30+ years until Gary assumed full responsibility for management in 1999.  Following the recommendations in his management plan, Gary has completed three separate timber harvests by the close of the 2000’s decade. These harvests improved the health of his forest resource, generated revenue for Gary, and provided a valuable forest product to both a reputable harvesting contractor and a local paper mill.  

In addition, Gary would volunteer for and eventually host a Wisconsin Woodland Owner’s Association (WWOA) – Phoenix Falls Chapter field day at his property in 2001.Gary has a very strong affinity towards this organization as folks within its ranks helped him get his feet under him when it came to undertaking management on his property. Gary’s experiences in the early 2000’s led him to where he is at today with under taking his next round of management prescriptions .

As we enter the 2020’s Gary is currently planning his 4th timber harvest on the property, which will thin his red pine plantations for the 2nd/3rd time depending on the age of the plantation. Gary is still very active in WWOA and a regular attender of all the in-person field days they offer. As Gary enters his 56th year on the property, he can certainly look back and say he has run the full course. From a young man, to ultimately being one of the top Tree Farm’s in the area, Gary and his property have seen some significant changes over the years. In a way, Gary and those red pines he grew up with are very much the same – their presence will be seen and felt on the landscape for generations to come.  

 

. Gary knows every inch of his property and is always on the look out for potential issues or ways he can improve things to further his objectives. Whether it is searching out and eliminating unwelcomed thistles, repairing a small wash out that crops up after a summer thunderstorm, or simply transplanting red pine seedlings throughout portions of is property to further species diversity, Gary is a sentinel for conservation on his forested landscape. He takes this a step further by always seeking to learn more through interactions with other landowners and natural resource professionals. Instead of simply relying on what has always worked in the past.  Gary’s attention to detail is what makes him an Outstanding Tree Farmer.