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Our Forest Stewards

DALE CLAASSEN

DALE CLAASSEN

Reforestation Forester

Years working in the woods: 34
Favorite Forest Creature: Long-Tailed Weasel

Dale manages 60,000 acres of forestland for Hampton, ranging from 200-3,700 feet of elevation in Oregon’s coast range. These forests get 35-120 inches of rain a year plus a decent amount of snow in winter. White German Shepherd, Sam joins him most days in the woods. Dale grew up in a farming family in central Kansas and moved to Oregon to pursue duel degrees in Forest Management and Range Management from Oregon State University.

What's the most important thing to have in the woods?

Good rain gear.

A Cycle of renewal

Dale oversees the planting of nearly one million seedlings each year. Seedlings are grown by local nurseries and planted by hand by professional reforestation crews. Dale selects native species best suited for the diverse conditions found on our Oregon forestlands. Common mixtures include Douglas fir, western hemlock, noble fir, and western red cedar.

forest nursery
DAVE KUNERT

DAVE KUNERT

Forest Engineer

Years working in natural resources: 27
Favorite Forest Creature: Loggers

Dave was raised on a cattle ranch near Sisters, OR. He went to Oregon State University to study civil engineering then discovered–with some dismay–that most civil engineering jobs were in cities. When he learned he could pursue “civil engineering in the woods” at the College of Forestry, he quickly changed gears. A few years later he graduated with a degree in Forest Engineering. Dave started his career with the Oregon Department of Forestry before joining Hampton in 1999. Today, he purchases public and private timber for Hampton, helping to ensure our four Oregon sawmills have enough fiber to operate.

Dave Inspecting Forest

WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO HAVE IN THE WOODS?

Lunch.

A Coastal Timber "Cruiser"

When timber is put up for sale Dave drives out to walk the forest. Before bidding on the timber he first has to determine what it will take to harvest the logs safely and efficiently. This includes road building and slope considerations and stream and habitat protections. Once timber is purchased, Dave works closely with local logging and trucking contractors to get the wood to the mills.

BETH FITCH

BETH FITCH

Reforestation Forester

Years working in the woods: 37
Favorite Forest Creature: Owls

As a kid growing up in Colorado, Beth spent a large part of the time outdoors. Today, Beth oversees reforestation efforts at our Big Creek forest outside of Astoria, OR. She takes over from the time logging ends until the trees are about 15-20 years old, organizing replanting efforts, deciding which species to plant, and making sure young seedlings thrive. Beth works closely with tree nurseries and participates in Oregon State University’s Northwest Tree Improvement Cooperative.

Executives looking at forest

The most important thing to have in the woods?

A compass.

Long-term Stewardship

Beth helps manage over 30,000 acres of Hampton timberland near the mouth of the Columbia River. All the timber harvested from these forestlands is processed by local sawmills.

Alan Kycek

Alan Kycek

Forester

Years working in the woods: 11
Favorite Forest Creature: Roosevelt elk

Originally from Olympia, WA Alan joined Hampton in 2011 and began managing our forestland near Eatonville in 2015. The forest Alan manages provides about 10% of the supply needed by our Cowltiz mills in Randle and Morton, WA. Alan also manages our Eatonville recreational access program. Most Hampton forestlands are open to the public for hunting, fishing, foraging, hiking, and mountain biking.

NEVER GOES INTO THE WOODS WITHOUT:

His yellow lab, a bag of pepperoni and GPS.

Co-worker, Sako.

Pathways to Forestry

Alan has always enjoyed the outdoors and grew up hunting and fishing on private timberlands. When he was younger and first considering a career, he thought to himself, “What can I do to get some gate keys?” A few years later he had a degree in Forestry from the University of Idaho.

view of Woods
Anjolene Price

Anjolene Price

Collaborative Forestry Manager

Years working with forests: 16
Favorite Forest Creature: Porcupine (they have the cutest waddle!)

Anjolene joined Hampton in 2018 and represents our Washington sawmills on several National Forest Collaboratives. She works closely with environmental groups, tribal representatives, recreationalists, community members, and state, local, and federal agency representatives to build a common vision for National Forest land, accelerating landscape scale restoration, creating local jobs, and reducing litigation.

group of forest stewards

Making Connections

Partnership and education are key components of Anjolene’s work at Hampton. She and other collaborative members regularly lead forest and mill tours and provide input to federal managers about the local benefits and impacts of forest restoration projects.

Never goes into the woods without:

Sunglasses and a hat.

Jacob Vail

Jacob Vail

Forester

Years working with forests: 8
Favorite Forest Creature: Black-tailed deer

Jacob grew up in Skagit County, WA and got his forestry degree from the University of Idaho. After graduating, Jacob started working at Hampton Family Forests in Knappa, Oregon and now now helps manage silviculture operations on Hampton’s forestlands in Northwest Washington – forestlands that help supply Hampton’s sawmill in the nearby town of Darrington. Jacob is the fourth-generation of his family to work in the woods. To learn more about Jacob’s work in the woods, follow him on Instagram!

Favorite forestry tool?

Range finder.

Life on the Oregon Coast

Jacob loves living and working in Knappa, Oregon, an unincorporated community located about 14 miles east of Astoria along the Columbia River. He’s an avid outdoorsman and often fishes for rainbow and cutthroat trout on the forestland he helps manage. Jacob is also passionate about working forests and often leads tours of Hampton forestland and harvest operations.

Jacob speaking to forest stewards
Christian Sartin

Christian Sartin

Forester

Years working with forests: 7
Favorite Forest Creature: Winter wren

Christian joined the Hampton team in 2018. With degrees in Ecology and Forestry from Evergreen College in Olympia, Washington Christian “cruises” timber for the company–appraising and administrating private and public timber sales for our sawmills in SW Washington. Christain and his dog, Bo spend half their days in the woods. He loves being in the woods–rain or shine–and appreciates the freedom and trust inherent in the job.

Never goes into the woods without?

A multi-tool.

Co-worker, Bo.

Christian inspecting lumber