We are gearing up for one of our most fun events of the year, Tree Planting Day. This year, Tree Planting Day is scheduled for February 29th. The trees that grow in western Oregon are dormant in the the winter and that makes this time of year perfect for planting seedlings. At Starker Forests, we plant nearly 500,000 seedlings each year. Tree Planting Day was established in the early 1990’s to offer young Scouts the opportunity to plant seedlings and earn a merit badge. The event is open for registration to boy scouts, cub scouts, girl scouts and brownies and other friends of Starker Forests.

Each participant is given ten trees to plant. We have helper tree planting instructors from the Philomath High School Forestry Class. Groups of tree planters will be paired with a high school student “professional” tree planter. The species of trees are mixed but the most popular is the Douglas fir, Oregon’s state tree. Douglas fir grows well in western Oregon and is a preferred species for structural lumber and wood frame building. We also plant other species, such as western hemlock, grand fir, western red cedar and spruce.

To make sure we have a really fun event, our friends from Boys Scout Troop 2 in Corvallis build a “kitchen” where they prepare hot chocolate and hot dogs. After planting their seedlings, tree planters can come to the kitchen to enjoy a warm drink and some food. Finally, participants can stop at our t-shirt table to pick up a Tree Planting Day t-shirt.

We cross our fingers for good weather, but we remember that real tree planters plant trees in all kinds of weather, including rain. After this day, everyone can agree that they are real tree planters now.

Have you wondered how private forests in western Oregon are managed to provide timber, wildlife habitat, recreation and clean air and water? Join us for a free, guided forest tour! The 2019 Starker Forests Summer Tours begin on Wednesday, July 3rd. Each Wednesday in July and August, we will host a tour to the forests of the Oregon Coast Range. Additional Georgia Pacific Sawmill Tours are on July 10th and 24th and August 7th and 21st. For more information and to sign up go to: www.visitcorvallis.com/articles/2019-starker-forest-tours.

Starker Forests, Inc. announced today the appointment of Randy Hereford as President and Chief Executive Officer. Formerly VP Timber & Chief Forester, Hereford has served the forest management company in increasingly responsible positions since he began in September 1978.

Hereford holds Forest Engineering and Forest Management degrees from Oregon State University. He serves currently with state and national forestry organizations including National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO), Oregon Forest & Industry Council (OFIC), and OSU Institute on Working Forest Lands. He is also a board member of three forest protective associations – West Lane, Linn, and West Oregon (past president). He is a member of the Council on Forest Engineering (COFE).  In addition, he is a member of Society of American Foresters (SAF) and is an SAF Certified Forester

According to Bond Starker, Chairman of the Board, “Randy has been a dedicated and valued member of our forestry staff for over 40 years. He has served as a senior member of our management team, and we are especially impressed with his ability to inspire and develop our younger foresters.”

Hereford replaces Jake Gibbs who resigned in early May.

Starker Forests, now in its fourth generation of family ownership, will continue to be guided by our core values – environmental, economic and social sustainability – and by our strong commitment to community service, ethical conduct and the advancement of forestry education and research. We are Forest Landowners and Managers since 1936.

Take a Starker Forests Tour and tour a gorgeous working forest!

Forest Tours: July 3, July 17, July 31, August 14, August 28

GP Mill tour and Forest Tour: July 10, July 24, August 7, August 21

Free guided tours of beautiful Starker Forests are available in July and August. Starker Forests Tours are about three and a half hours long. The tour involves, among other activities, a 1/4-mile walk, where you will learn about the different practices of forest management that Starker Forests applies.

Special, all-day tours happen three times this season. On these days, you’ll tour the Georgia Pacific Mill in the morning, followed by the guided tour of Starker Forests in the afternoon.

The Starker Forests and Georgia Pacific Mill Tours are free. Reservations are required. Call Visit Corvallis at 800-334-8118 or 541-757-1544 to make reservations. For those signing up 10 or more people, please call to make arrangements to take tour on a different day of the week. (We like to leave the Wednesday tour available for those reserving for smaller groups, pairs, or by themselves.)

Afternoon Tour Details

• Meet in the lobby of the Corvallis Comfort Suites Inn (1730 NW 9th St.) at 12:45pm. The tour leaves at 1pm.
• Tour returns to the Corvallis Comfort Suites Inn about 4:30pm.
• Remember to dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes.
• If you need to cancel, please call Visit Corvallis to let us know. Call by the Tuesday before your tour, by 5pm, if you need to cancel.

Georgia Pacific Mill Tour Details

• Meet in the lobby of the Corvallis Comfort Suites Inn (1730 NW 9th St.) at 10:30am. The tour leaves at 10:45am.
• No children under 12 are allowed on the Georgia Pacific Mill Tours because the mill is a working mill.
• Guests on this tour must remember to wear closed-toed shoes like sneakers or hiking boots, and long pants. No open-toed shoes like sandals, or shorts or skirts, are allowed.
• Tour returns to the Corvallis Comfort Suites Inn about 4:30pm.
• Remember to dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a sack lunch to enjoy between the mill tour and forest tour in the afternoon.
• Unfortunately, it’s not possible at this time to sign up for only the Mill tour or only the Starker Forests tour on these all-day tours.
• If you need to cancel, please call Visit Corvallis to let us know. Call by the Tuesday before your tour, by 5pm, if you need to cancel.

2019 Complete Starker Forests Tour Schedule

Forest Tours: July 3, July 17, July 31, August 14, August 28

GP Mill tour and Forest Tour: July 10, July 24, August 7, August 21

Gary Blanchard could have retired a long time ago. But he’s still on the job at Starker Forests, providing a living link between the company’s past and its future.

From our friend Helen Higgins, CEO, Corvallis Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis.

Barte Ball Starker

October 11, 2017

Fire season and regulated use are over. We will start opening gates for drive in hunting starting today. The gates will be open as we get around to different areas. Please be patient as it may take a couple days to get to them. All the gates that are going to be open should be open by Friday afternoon. Please make sure you have your permits to access our lands and remember to be safe and courteous to others!

October 3, 2017

We are still waiting for ODF to declare an end to fire season on the West Oregon District, where most of our lands are located.

September 5, 2017

Smoky greetings to our Starker Forests recreation and hunting permittees,

Red Flag Warnings continue across most of Oregon today, as well as continued extreme heat warnings and air quality alerts. Conditions on the ground remain ideal for new fire starts and extreme fire behavior on existing fires. Human-caused fires have continued to be an issue on Oregon’s forestlands. Please do all you can to help prevent human-caused wildfires. Know and follow the fire restrictions and closures for where you are located or will be traveling. To find that information on ODF-protected lands, go to http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Restrictions.aspx.

There is a good news – bad news scenario shaping up for later in the week.  We could get some moisture in some areas, but there is a chance it could come with lightning.  The forecast this morning indicated that we could move out of the Red Flag conditions for very dry and unstable conditions, to a Red Flag for thunderstorm on Thursday.

We are at a critical drawdown level for the ODF West Oregon District this morning.  This means fire fighting equipment and personnel are elsewhere.  With the significant growth of the Eagle Creek fire in the Columbia River Gorge, ODF West Oregon District sent two engines that way this morning.  ODF is slowly getting some of their other resources back from other fires (that have timed out after 14 day assignments), but the call for resources on all of the fires is still outpacing our ability to meet all the needs.  Many of the other large fires that have been on the landscape for a while saw significant growth yesterday and last night.

Starker Forests lands remain open to walk-in recreation and hunting.  Please help us continue to have no fire starts on our lands this year.

July 26, 2017

Due to increasing fire danger the Oregon Department of Forestry has, on July 17, 2017, ordered new regulations on forestlands protected by the department in our area.  All Starker Forests lands are covered by these regulations.

Under this order it is unlawful to be in violation of the following restrictions:

• Possession of the following firefighting equipment is required while traveling, except on state highways, county roads and driveways: one shovel and either one gallon of water or one operational 2½ pound or larger ABC rated fire extinguisher.
• Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads.
• Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires.
• Non-Industrial chain saw use is prohibited.
• Use of motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, is prohibited, except on improved roads.
• Use of fireworks is prohibited.
• Cutting, grinding, and welding of metal is prohibited.
• Mowing of dried and cured grass with power driven equipment is prohibited, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
• Also prohibited throughout fire season are backyard debris burning, the use of exploding targets and the use of tracer ammunition.
• Sky lanterns are prohibited year round in Oregon.

Take Starker Forests Tours in 2017 and tour a gorgeous working forest!

Free guided tours of beautiful Starker Forests are available in July and August. Starker Forests Tours are about three and a half hours long and begin when you’re picked up in front of the Corvallis Comfort Suites Inn lobby at 12:45 and transported to Starker Forests for your tour. The tour involves, among other activities, a 1/4-mile walk , where you will learn about the different practices of forest management that Starker Forests applies. Remember to dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes! You’ll return to the Comfort Suites Inn around 4:30 pm.

Seating for the tours is limited so reservations for all Starker Forests Tours are required. Please call Visit Corvallis at 800-334-8118 or 541-757-1544 to make your reservation. Please be sure to call Visit Corvallis if you need to cancel, so we can make room for those on the waiting list. Please try to call by the Tuesday before your tour, by 5pm if you need to cancel. For those signing up 10 or more people, please call to make arrangements to take tour on a different day of the week. (We like to leave the Wednesday tour available for those reserving for smaller groups, pairs, or by themselves.)

Special, all-day tours happen three times this season. On these days, you’ll tour the Georgia Pacific Mill in the morning, followed by the guided tour of Starker Forests in the afternoon. You’ll be picked up at the Corvallis Comfort Suites Inn at 10:30am and whisked away to tour the mill. Afterwards, it’s off to the forest for the guided tour. Bring a lunch with you to enjoy on the drive! You’ll be back by around 4:30, as usual, and dropped off at the Comfort Suites Inn.

No children under 12 are allowed on this all-day tour, as the Georgia Pacific Mill is a working mill. Guests on this tour must remember to wear closed-toed shoes like sneakers or hiking boots, and long pants. No open-toed shoes like sandals, or shorts or skirts, are allowed. Unfortunately, it’s not possible at this time to sign up for only the Mill tour or only the Starker Forests tour on these all-day tours.

Complete Starker Forests Tour Schedule

• July 5
• July 12
• July 19 – Georgia Pacific Mill Tour
• July 26
• August 2 – Georgia Pacific Mill Tour
• August 9
• August 16 – Georgia Pacific Mill Tour
• August 23
• August 30