Townsend Family Wins 2024 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year Award

The Townsend family, recently recognized as the West Region Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year, has won the National title for the year of 2024. The family has managed the 277-acre Coburg Tree Farm with passion, innovation, and a deep-rooted commitment to sustainability and family. Located in the Cascade foothills near Eatonville, Washington, Coburg Tree Farm has been a family legacy since its certification through the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) in 1955. It stands as the 9th oldest continuously certified tree farm in Washington State, with three generations of Townsends working together to manage their land for future generations.

The farm’s history dates back to 1954 when Robert “Bob” Wise purchased 160 acres of forested land that had naturally regenerated after a 1924 fire. He named the property Coburg Tree Farm to honor his German heritage. The family has since expanded the farm and passed it down through the generations, each contributing to the management and sustainability of the forest. Today, the Townsend brothers—Steve, Dave, Carl, and Keith, along with their wives — Kay, Jan, Jennine and Yvonne —and their families, follow a 90-year forest management plan focused on sustainable timber production, wildlife habitat preservation, and water quality protection. 

Over the decades, the family has applied creative and unique management strategies as they’ve continued to learn. Coburg Tree Farm is divided into 13 management units, each averaging 20 acres, with a comprehensive schedule of thinning, harvesting, and replanting. They have replanted Douglas-fir, western red cedar, and red alder, and have successfully used techniques such as pruning, pre-commercial thinning, and post-harvest salvaging. An innovative pair-planting experiment involving Douglas-fir and Sitka spruce has led to faster growth of seedlings, with trees 75% taller than netted ones after just five years. 

The family’s commitment to water conservation is evident in their work around Krone’s Creek, a seasonal stream on the property. Through Washington State’s Family Forest Fish Passage Program, they replaced a fish-blocking culvert to support better water flow and habitat connectivity. Their logging practices exceed riparian buffer requirements, the farm’s roads are carefully maintained, and western redcedar was planted along the stream to increase bank stabilization and provide shade. 

Community engagement has also played a vital role in the farm’s operations. The Townsends have hosted numerous educational tours and events for organizations like the Washington Farm Forestry Association (WFFA) and local conservation districts. They’ve hosted elected officials for tours to showcase sustainable forestry and the positive impacts private landowners can make on the landscape. The family’s long-standing involvement in leadership roles within the WFFA, with Keith and Yvonne serving as Co-Vice Chairs of the Washington Tree Farm Program, further highlights their dedication to helping other landowners in their community. 

With their innovative approach to sustainable forestry and active community involvement, the Townsend family has created a lasting legacy at Coburg Tree Farm. Their work ensures that the forest will continue to thrive, providing habitat for wildlife, timber for harvest, and educational opportunities for future generations. The Townsends say it best themselves,

“We learn from challenges and feel the joy of accomplishments; the spirit of Grampa Wise lives on in this beautiful place.”