Thares named Wyoming Tree Farmer of the Year

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Jim Thares, who owns the Cambria Canyon Ranch north of Newcastle, has been named the Wyoming Tree Farmer of the Year for 2019 for the American Tree Farm System. 
Thares, according to the release from the local tree farm group, embodies what a Wyoming tree farmer is all about by focusing time and energy on forest management of his property north of Newcastle. 
“Jim is a proponent of active forest management because he knows that forest management directly impacts the quality of wildlife habitat,” the release states. “Jim’s current primary goal is to enhance wildlife habitat with his forested land.” 
According to the release, the Oil Creek fire in 2012 affected a large portion of the land purchased by Thares in 2013, leading him to make post-fire rehabilitation a goal to reduce erosion, fuels and weed issues. 
“The weed control on thousands of acres due to the fire also helped the wildlife habitat enhancement objective of Jim’s,” the release states. 
Water development on the property has also been a goal, according to the release. Thares has worked on erosion control and woody draw thinnings to enhance the water quality and development, which will “ultimately help wildlife using the property.”
Thares is also a sponsor of the Wyoming Tree Farm science fair awards promoting projects on forestry and wood utilization to help enhance forest management. He also helps sponsor a disabled veterans turkey hunt jointly with the Wyoming Tree Farm program.
“Jim was also nominated and is in the running for the Regional Tree Farmer of the Year,” according to the release. 
The Wyoming Tree Farm Program has an overall goal to promote the practice of sustainable forestry with private forest owners by utilizing the American Forest Foundation Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification system and the Forest Stewardship plan guidelines, according to the program’s website. This includes technical assistance from local, state and federal government and industry to put “sustainable forestry on the ground.” 
The American Tree Farm System is a national program for woodland owners who are committed to sustainably managing their woods for wood, water, wildlife and recreation. 
“Each state program is run by a diverse group of partners such as state agencies, non-profit organizations, volunteers, foresters and landowners,” the website states. “The Wyoming Tree Farm was established in 1989.” 
According to the website, a Wyoming Tree Farmer is a forested landowner taking care of this forest, whether it be for timber or to manage it for recreation or wildlife purposes. 
“Taking care of the trees and forest on their land is not only a privilege for these landowners but a hobby for which they have much passion about,” the website states. “They spend more time taking care of their trees and forest than is actually needed, but they do it because they enjoy it and they want to promote sustainable forestry.”