2026 Steve Stinson Legacy Forest Owners Field Day schedule and descriptions

A hard copy of the descriptions and schedule will be provided when you check in upon arrival. Please check this final schedule as unforeseen changes may occur.

Class descriptions

Afforestation and reforestation

Instructor: Eric Lamfers, Quercus Forestry
Learn about the specifics you need to take into account when establishing trees in disturbed sites, as well as the process involved in converting pasture or prairie into forest.

Basic forest measurements

Instructor: Elsa Haun, WSU Extension
Learn measurement techniques such as diameter, height, and density to help quantify what you have and identify needs and opportunities based on your objectives. Tools will be provided.

Cowlitz Ridge Tree Farm property tour (1.25-mile walk)

Instructor: Ann Stinson & Lou Jean Clark, Cowlitz Ridge Tree Farm
Tour the forest with second generation landowners, Ann Stinson and Lou Jean Clark. Tour stops include mixed-species forests, plans for a precommercial thinning, recent logging, and a forest bathing experience.

Cowlitz Ridge Tree Farm property tour (2.5-mile walk) *2 hours*

Instructor: Doug Stinson, Cowlitz Ridge Tree Farm
Tour the forest with the 93-year old patriarch, Doug Stinson. Learn how he has made decisions about stewarding this land over the last 52 years. Tour stops include a natural spring, mixed species forests, laminated root rot areas, recent logging, and a forest bathing experience. **Group will be capped at 25 participants. Arrive early to claim your spot on the tour!**

Forest diseases and insects

Instructor: Rachel Brooks, WA DNR
Learn about major pest and pathogen risks to forest health in western WA and how to manage them while still meeting objectives for your woods.

Forest soils – rainfall simulator

Instructor: Josh Himsl and Kris Mills, USDA NRCS
Live demonstration of the NRCS Rainfall Simulator, highlighting impacts of different management activities on Forest Soils.

Introduction to chainsaw maintenance and safe use

Instructor: Andy Perleberg, WSU Extension
This course will focus on maintaining and using a chainsaw safely. The parts and functions of the saw, basics of field maintenance, and an overview of necessary personal protective equipment will be the bulk of the discussion, with some time for left for safely assessing cutting situations and developing cut plans. This course is meant as an introduction to safe chainsaw use, not as a comprehensive guide. Please DO NOT bring your own chainsaw.

Native plant walk

Instructors: Samantha Lathan, WA DNR, and Sarah Stewart, WSU Extension
New to the area or new to the forest and wondering what tree is what? In this introductory-level class, you’ll learn about the most common native trees, shrubs, and groundcover in western Washington, how to identify them, and their growth characteristics.

Noxious weeds: ID and best practices for weed management in small forestry

Instructor: Casey Risley, Lewis County Noxious Weeds Program
Learn how to identify common invasive weeds in your forest, and both chemical and non-chemical methods to effectively control them.

Riparian buffers: Their importance and management advice

Instructor: Landon Shaffer, WA DNR
Streams and their associated riparian forests are some of the most unique and biologically diverse habitats found in our forested environments. Join us to discuss the role they play in the landscape and local ecosystems and learn how best to manage these areas for long-term health, function, and productivity.

Root disease

Instructor: Rachel Brooks, WA DNR
Learn about local root disease identification, disease cycle, and management. Also discuss local research with Willamette Valley ponderosa pine in root diseased areas on this site.

Saw milling – milling and marketing your logs

Instructor: John Henrikson, Wild Thyme Tree Farm
Learn about what happens after you harvest. We will discuss the various types of mills you might sell to, the types of lumber your trees can be transformed into, and the process of selling logs to a mill.

Seedling selection, handling, and planting

Instructor: Dan Friesz, WA DNR
Learn the essential steps for establishing trees on your property. This session covers site analysis, stock selection, site preparation, planting techniques, and follow-up care.

Shiitake mushroom log production

Instructor: Kevin Zobrist, WSU Extension
Growing shiitake mushrooms on logs is a millennia-old practice and a great way for forest owners to produce delicious mushrooms from their forest for personal use or even commercial sale. This class will cover the basics of growing shiitakes with best management practices for the Pacific Northwest based on WSU research trials.

Tapping into bigleaf maple

Instructor: Jared Busen, Agroforestry Northwest
Learn how to tap bigleaf maple for sap to produce a delicious, high value syrup. See the tools of the trade, how to tap and process the sap and try some syrup. We’ll focus on hobby or small scale sugaring and discuss how to scale up to commercial levels and what the new rule changes around sugaring mean for you.

Thinning for ecosystem health

Instructor: Kevin Zobrist, WSU Extension
Learn how to assess a stand to see if it needs to be thinned and how to develop a thinning prescription to improve health and resilience.

Wildfire preparedness for home and forest

Instructor: Dan Friesz, WA DNR
Learn about what actions landowners can take on their property to prepare for and mitigate impacts from wildfires.

The birds in your forest

Instructor: Vanessa Tisdale, WA DNR
Let’s look at common habitat features and some of our birds that live there. Ground-nesters, shrub/understory dependents, birds in the canopy, and dead wood- dependents. Let’s go look!

Wildlife habitat enhancement

Instructor: Ken Bevis, WA DNR
Everybody likes wildlife, but beyond the basic habitats provided on our land, what else can we do to enable or even encourage wildlife to survive and thrive. Covered topics include habitat piles, log surrogates, nest boxes, and more!

Wildlife species and their habitats

Instructor: Ken Bevis, WA DNR
Learn about the wildlife species that call Southwest Washington forests home and what their habitat needs are.

Working with a consulting forester

Instructor: Eric Lamfers, Quercus Forestry
When should you hire a consulting forester, and what can they do for you? We will cover the hiring process, the consulting forester’s role, and the expertise they bring to helping landowners meet their forest management goals.

Writing your forest story

Instructor: Ann Stinson, Cowlitz Ridge Tree Farm
We all have stories to tell about our forests, about our favorite places, about mistakes we’ve made, about how the forest tends us. Learn ways to get started writing and possible places to share or publish.

Class Schedule – Updated 8/21/2026

Note: the schedule is always subject to last-minute changes due to unforeseen circumstances like instructor cancellation. If updates are necessary, they will be posted here.

Gates open: 8:00

Please check in at the check-in table. Exhibits will be open and refreshments will be available.

Opening remarks: 8:45-8:50

WSU Extension and Cowlitz Ridge Tree Farm will open the event and welcome participants to the property.

Session 1: 9:00 – 9:55

  • Station 1: Tapping into bigleaf maple
  • Station 2: Thinning for ecosystem health
  • Station 3: Noxious weeds: ID and best management practices
  • Station 4: Writing your forest story
  • Station 5: Forest soils – rainfall simulator
  • Main Pavilion: Wildfire preparedness for home and forest

Session 2: 10:05 – 11:00

  • Station 1: Tapping into bigleaf maple
  • Station 2: Riparian buffers: Their importance and management advice
  • Station 3: Basic forest measurements
  • Station 4: Wildlife species and their habitats
  • Station 5: Shiitake mushroom log production
  • Main Pavilion: Saw milling – milling and marketing your logs

Session 3: 11:10 – 12:05

  • Station 1: Afforestation and reforestation
  • Station 2: Riparian buffers: Their importance and management advice
  • Station 3: Noxious weeds: ID and best management practices
  • Station 4: The birds in your forest
  • Station 5: Forest soils – rainfall simulator
  • Main Pavilion: Root disease

Lunch break: 12:05 – 12:55

Exhibits will be open. Visit the lunch tent to pick up your meal if you pre-purchased one, or pack a lunch and enjoy it in the shade under a tent!

Session 4: 12:55 – 1:50

  • Station 1: Wildfire preparedness for home and forest
  • Station 2: Forest diseases and insects
  • Station 3: Cowlitz Ridge Tree Farm tour – 2.5 mile walk (2 hours)
  • Station 4: Wildlife habitat enhancement
  • Station 5: Shiitake mushroom log production
  • Main Pavilion: Saw milling – milling and marketing your logs

Session 5: 2:00 – 2:55

  • Station 1: Working with a consulting forester
  • Station 2: Forest diseases and insects
  • Station 4: Wildlife habitat enhancement
  • Station 5: Introduction to chainsaw maintenance and safe use
  • Main Pavilion: Cowlitz Ridge Tree Farm tour – 1.25 mile walk

Session 6: 3:05 – 4:00

  • Station 1: Working with a consulting forester
  • Station 2: Thinning for ecosystem health
  • Station 3: Native plant walk
  • Station 5: Introduction to chainsaw maintenance and safe use
  • Main Pavilion: Seedling selection, handling, and planting