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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoPlainText><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The Oregon Department of Forestry issued this news release Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Major Media Distribution<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Nov. 19, 2012 News Contact: Cynthia Orlando<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> 503-945-7421<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> Mike Barsotti<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> (503) 510-6069<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Influential Oregon family forest landowners earn “Tree Farmer of the Year” title for 2012<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Bill and Joan Arsenault of Elkton, OR., were selected Oregon's Outstanding <b><i>Tree Farmers of the Year</i></b> for 2012 at Oregon Tree Farm System’s Annual Awards Luncheon at Portland’s World Forestry Center today. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>The Arsenault's own and manage 277-acres of forested property in the Elkton area of Southern Oregon. In addition to regular pre-commercial and commercial thinnings for stand improvement, reforestation with Douglas-fir and interplanting as-needed, the Arsenault's work to control invasive species like blackberry and scotch broom on the property, maintain roads for fire suppression access, and provide for numerous public and educational tours. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Tireless advocates with prior honors<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Bill and Joan Arsenault have previously been named Douglas County Tree Farmer of the Year three times (1989, 1995 and 2011). Over the years the Arsenault's have hosted many tours at their Paradise Creek Ranch property for groups including the US Fish and Wildlife Service, The Board of Forestry’s Committee for Family Forestlands, and a watershed group interested in their stream enhancement work. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>"Bill Arsenault has been a strong and influential voice for the stewardship of forestlands in Douglas County and Oregon," said nominating forester Rick Barnes, a member of Oregon’s Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Selection Committee. "He’s been a tireless advocate for bringing science to bear on the Forest Practice Act rules. He's also been an outstanding voice for family forestland owners, one of the most influential and articulate family forest landowners in the state of Oregon,” adds Barnes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>The Arsenaults have been zealous supporters of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds. They’ve also made their Paradise Creek Ranch property available to Elkton High School to use for several natural resource classes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>On Monday, the Oregon Tree Farm System recognized their accomplishments as well as those of eight other family forest landowners representing various Counties. In attendance were Dr. Thomas Maness, Dean of OSU College of Forestry, Meg Mitchell, Deputy Regional Forester with the Forest Service, and Oregon Department of Forestry State Forester Doug Decker. The three state and federal organizations are major supporters of family forest landowners working to improve the health of their forests.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>About The American and Oregon Tree Farm Systems<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) is a nationwide organization that started in the Pacific Northwest in 1941. </span><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>ATFS includes 27 million acres of certified forestland managed by America's family forest owners who are meeting the highest standards of sustainability and managing their lands for water, wildlife, wood, and recreation.</span><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><span style='color:black'>The Oregon Tree Farm System (OTFS) promotes the conservation and growing of forest resources in a sustainable manner on Family Forests. This forest landowner-led organization partners with state and federal natural resource agencies and organizations to promote active forest management for a wide array of economic, environmental and social objectives.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>For more information<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>To learn more about Oregon Tree Farm Systems: <a href="http://www.otfs.org/">http://www.otfs.org/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-family:"Times","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'># # #<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>