More than 11,600 individual trees, shrubs, and grasses were distributed Saturday, Feb. 5, at the Linn County Small Woodlands Association’s 27th annual Seedling Sale. The sale attracted 215 pre-orders. Pre-orders were assembled on Friday, hand-counted, and then wrapped in sawdust and newspaper. With a squad of about 40 volunteers, all pre-orders were completed in about 6 hours.

It appears that this year’s sale is a record sale in total plants sold and customers. Profits from the event pay for forestry-related university scholarships for Linn County students and county 4-H forestry scholarships. In 2021, $6,600 was awarded to these students.

Two of last year’s 4-H scholarship winners, Kaden Holt, 13, and Katie Fortner, 12, were volunteering at this year’s sale. They are both long-time 4-H members and participate in the Forestry, Entomology, Swine, and Beef projects. When asked about what they enjoyed most about Forestry, they had very different answers. Kaden is interested in being a forester or wildlife preservation ranger. Katie was instead interested in taking everything in saying, “My favorite part of Forestry is that I get to go outside and learn about plants in the forest.”

Local Woods Fair accompanies in-person Seedling Sale

The Local Woods Fair returned this year with fourteen local vendors featuring artistic birdhouses, walking sticks, wood bowls, and other products.

Jody Einerson, Woods Fair coordinator, and Brad Withrow-Robinson, Extension forester, hosted a booth that aimed to provide forestry knowledge to the public. They provided interested landowners with resources to help them better manage their land and answered questions about forestry and wildlife. They also worked to help connect the public to Extension programs such as Forestry and Natural Resources, 4-H, Master Gardeners, Home & Community Health, and Small Farms. More information on these programs is available on the extension website and in the OSU extension newsletter, Growing.

Along with OSU Extension were various other informational booths from the South Santiam Watershed Council, Oregon Department of Forestry, and Oregon Forest Resources Institute.

We’d like to thank Jody Einerson of OSU Extension, Ernest C. Shuyler Tree Service (CCB 204796) 541-258-3654, and Elliot Webb owner of EWY’s Tree Service for granting interviews.

Mike Barsotti, LCSWA vice president, shared time Friday with two 4-H volunteers, Emily and Elizabeth Kinkade. Barsotti said the experience working with the 4-H students was a good one. “Getting set up for the seedling sale is an all-day job. Having the privilege of working with Elizabeth and Emily Kinkade was a joy,” said Barsotti. “They were constantly thinking of how to collect the plants in a more efficient way, full of energy, and just fun to be working with.”

Bonnie Marshall, who is serving her sixth year as Seedling Sale Chair, was rightfully exhausted after the event but was very proud of how it went. “I was excited to see such a good turnout Saturday for both our sale and the Local Woods Fair; it was a little hint of returning to normal soon.” She was also very grateful for the volunteers who made the sale possible.

“I never cease to be amazed at how much our extraordinary volunteers can accomplish in one and a half days. I can’t thank them enough for all they do to make our seedling sale so successful year after year.”

-Bonnie Marshall

LCSWA Treasurer, Shirley Holmberg, said final financial results from the sale will be presented at the LCSWA board meeting in March.

Covid policies, including masks and social distancing, were in place this year to ensure the health and safety of volunteers and attendees. Last year’s sale was limited to pre-orders and curbside pickup due to Covid, meaning that protocols were crucial to allow this year’s indoor sale event.

Contributors
Reporters: Conner Tye & Gabriel Bradford
Videography: Ryan Henry
Photography: Ryan Henry & Larry Mauter
Copy Editor: Emily Kinkade
Layout Editor: Andrew Bradford