Volume IV, Issue I The Newsletter of The Buckeye Conservancy Spring 2003

Preserving open space through family stewardship of natural resources in Humboldt County.

By Marlan Stover

The Stover Ranch, formerly the HookerRanch, is located 12 miles north ofhighway 299 in the Redwood Valley. Thecounty road, called Baer Road, providesaccess to the valley. At the Barnum Ranchthe road branches, with Hoopa Road goingeast over the hill to Hoopa Valley. StoverRoad continues down Redwood Creek,ending at Stover Ranch near the mouth ofLack Creek. The mouth of Lack Creek is15 miles due east, as the crow flies, fromTrinidad.

Stover Ranch is bordered on the west bySimpson, on the east by Soper Wheeler.Redwood National Park, formerly theLyon’s Ranch, is on its north side. To thesouth, the property owners includeBarnum, residents of the former SeventhDay Adventist’s Colony with numerousprivate land owners. Also to the south,property in the Lack Creek and RedwoodCreek drainage is owned by the BLM. Weare in the buffer zone of Redwood NationalPark.

The land is mostly hilly with a mixture ofgrazing and timberlands, includinghardwood. Redwood Creek borders part ofthe west side of the ranch for about 2 miles.Lack Creek flows through parts of thesouth end of the ranch. There are alsonatural springs on the ranch. The altitudevaries from around 527 feet above sea level

The Stover Ranch: A Legacy for Seven Generations

The Stover Brothers, Marlan & John with Lady & Blue - 2003.

near Redwood Creek, up to almost 3000feet on Hoopa Mountain, which is onStover Ranch.

John Henry Hooker, a direct descendantof Thomas Hooker, the founder ofHartford, Connecticut, came to Californiain 1850 from upstate New York, hisbirthplace. After success with mining nearGrass Valley, he and Jacob Hetrick, his

partner, went into the sheep business. Theybought sheep from the ranchers in the area,grazed them until they reached CarsonCity, Nevada, sold the wool and the sheepand then repeated this process.

In 1870, they came to Humboldt Countylooking for sheep country. When they sawthe Bald Hills area, they felt it wasexcellent sheep country and decided to

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stay. They took up claims near HoopaMountain.

Later, they purchased land from JonathanLyons, Barryman Lack, Alonzo Norton,and Joseph Garrett, among others. JosephPorter Albee, probably the first whitesettler (around 1855) on property borderingRedwood Creek that was to become partof the Hooker Ranch, had been killedduring the Indian Wars of 1862.

At this time, Mr. Hooker was single. Hissister, Rhoda Ford, came from Dannemora,New York with her husband and childrento keep house for him. Her husband John,an Irish immigrant, had been crippled inthe Civil War. His five brothers had beenkilled in battle. In California, John tookup residence in the old soldier’s home inYountville, where he died. Rhoda and Johnare thought to have had 5 children. Rhoda,her children and ranch hands homesteadedadjoining property which John Hookerpurchased. Thus the acreage increased.

Ranchers in the Redwood Creek - BaldHills area ran about 15,000 to 20,000 headof sheep. Most, if not all, put their woolinto a pool. Mr. Hooker, referred to as ascientific rancher by his peers, was wellknown for the quality of wool he haddeveloped. He and Jonathan Lyons, therancher next door, entered fleeces in theUniversal Exposition in France in 1901 andeach won a gold medal. The local ranchersjoked that Lyons and Hooker entered eachother’s fleeces to win. Also, Mr. Hookerwas given 10 cents per pound extra forputting his wool in the pool. (Incomparison: in 1939, the price of woolwas 25 cents per pound. In the 1970’s itsold for around 90 cents per pound.)Buyers would purchase the pool to get hiswool. At that time, he was shearing 3,500head of sheep.

In the 1880’s, John Hooker married AmeliaCowan. She had three daughters. He alsopurchased the shares of his partner, JakeHetrick. In 1897, Mr. & Mrs. John Hookergave one half of the ranch to his sister,Rhoda Ford, and her family. The other halfof the ranch went to Mrs. Hooker’sdaughters. Mrs. Hooker died shortlythereafter. Hooker’s nephew, John Ford,managed the ranch until he became ill in1901. His brother, George Ford managedthe ranch until his death in 1906 frompneumonia.

In 1906, Hooker’s niece Margaret E. Fordand her husband, Arthur Scott Stovermoved to Hooker Ranch with their fourchildren Margaret (Madge), John, Hudson,and Dot to manage and eventually leasethe Hooker Ranch.

At that time, everything was moved bypack train. They packed in a year’sgroceries and packed out the wool onhorses: 2 - 150 pound bales per horse, oneon either side of the pack. With one fleeceweighing 6 to 8 pounds, each pack horsecarried about 40 fleeces.

The pack train route began in Arcata, toBlue Lake, then through Korbel. It wentup through Angel Ranch turned north ontoBald mountain, down into Redwood Creekto the old Baer Ranch where it forked. Onebranch ran east into Hoopa, the othercontinued down the river through what isnow the Stover Ranch to Trail Ridge wherethe route went north along the ridgethrough the Bald Hills. Somewhere in theBald Hills, the pack train branched off eastinto the Klamath. The pack train campedat Lack Creek. They also camped on thenorth end of the ranch at “the line gate” onthe north end of Exhibia pasture.

The original Hooker house wason Redwood Creek. Mrs. Hookerdisliked the location because theywere beside the pack train trailand she thought it was too noisy,and without privacy. When thishouse burnt down they rebuilttheir home on upper Lack Creek,a few miles from HoopaMountain.

John Hooker died in 1907 in BlueLake. Arthur Scott Stover and hiswife Margaret bought out RhodaFord’s heirs. Their two olderchildren, John and Madge Stoverhomesteaded in the HoopaMountain area. Madge enjoyedthe companionship of BessieMoon who visited her oftenduring her homestead years.Bessie Moon was the daughter ofCharlie Moon, one of twoChinese that were not run out ofHumboldt County during theexpulsion of the Chinese.

When Arthur & Margaret movedto Hooker Ranch, John was about

9 or 10 years old. The Stover childrenattended school, by horse, on the Lyonsranch in the spring and summer. Johnstopped his schooling in the fifth grade,Hudson in the third grade. Margaretgraduated from the 8th grade. Prior to that,the children had attended school in BlueLake. Their father, Arthur had been theBlue Lake’s blacksmith before he movedto Hooker Ranch.

After returning from W.W.I and thetrenches of France, John Stover marriedAlene Gastman, granddaughter of AlbertTrask, one of Arcata’s early developers,and Henry Gastman who came fromGermany to Trinidad with his friendCaptain Loeffelholtz. John and Alene hadtwo children, Marlan Stover (1920), andJohn Stover Jr. (1923).

Marlan was a premature baby. Accordingto Ada Moon, Bessie Moon’s youngersister, when he was born the neighboringNative American women came to see JohnStover’s baby, as they had never seen awhite baby before. After they saw thepreemie, her mother commented that“white people must love their children

Alene Stover & Sons Marlan & John Jr.1923.

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very, very much because that was theugliest baby I’ve ever seen.” A neighbor“Jerky” Hayton loaned Angora goats toprovide milk for the tiny baby.

Arthur Scott and his family built their mainranch buildings alongside Redwood Creekin the early 1900’s. This gave better accessto the pack trail and eventually the roadwhich was completed in 1918. A trip totown on the road by wagon took 2 days.The pack train was a single long day’s trip.“The car took 2 hours or 2 days, dependingon how many flat tires you had.” accordingto John Stover Sr.

In 1924, the house burned to the groundalong with most of the family possessions,including a Gastman family trunk whichhad sailed around the horn from Germany,and some Trask family belongings whichhad been portaged across the Isthmus ofPanama when they sailed to Humboldt Bayfrom Boston. That same year, Alex Bristolfrom Hoopa, built a house for Arthur Scottand his family. Arthur’s son John andfamily lived in a tent until the other housewas built in 1925.

In 1927, Alene moved to Arcata with hersons Marlan and John Jr. so they couldattend school. John, Hudson and Madgestayed and worked on the ranch. In theearly 1930’s, John and Hudson moved toArcata with Alene and the two boysbecause of illness, and the ranch was leasedto Myers and Angelo and their wives.Arthur Scott, Margaret, and Madge movedto Blue Lake.

Myers and Angelo lasted for 2 years. BillFord, Margaret E. Stover’s brother, movedto the ranch in partnership with his sonEddie who supplied the financial backing.In 1938, John, Alene, and Hudson decidedto lease the ranch when Bill and Eddie Fordleft in 1939. They moved back that spring.Marlan and Bill stayed with theirgrandfather, now a widower, and AuntMadge in Blue Lake and went to school inArcata by school bus.

During the next few years, John, Alene, andHudson bought out the adjoiningproperties. Alene had graduated frombusiness college in San Francisco and wasa driving force in the business decisionsand management of the ranch. Sometime

in the early 50’s, they changed the namefrom Hooker Ranch to Stover Ranch. And,sometime in the early 50’s electricity cameto Redwood Valley.

During the ranch’s history, from 1870 to1950, sheep were the main source ofincome, particularly the sale of wool.Cattle contributed minimally. However,when Marlan went back to college in 1950,the sale of his cattle helped pay for hiseducation.

During WWII, Marlan enlisted in the navy.He went to carpenter’s school, wasstationed in Toledo, Ohio for 2 years thenwas sent to Saipan in the South Pacific.While in Toledo, he visited his childhoodfriend Helen Arnold in Kalamazoo whereshe was attending Western MichiganUniversity. When Helen graduated theymarried and moved to Toledo where theirfirst child, Tom was born. Helen andTommy returned to California and lived atthe ranch until Marlan came back from theservice. Helen and Marlan lived andworked on the ranch for five years. In 1947they had a daughter, Judy.

As of February 11, 2003, I completed myterm as your Board Chairman. It’s beenquite a ride. The birth and evolution ofthe Buckeye Conservancy and the growinginterest in our mission have been fastpaced—especially the last two years. Nowthat I’ve had a little time to reflect, I’d liketo share a few thoughts.

Scanning back over our relatively shorthistory, we should all feel good aboutseveral things.

• First, we have a solid organization—from our membership to our board andstaff. It is vital to have this structure andsupport as we pursue our mission andprovide for the group’s succession.

• Second, in the early going there was nota lot of clarity, even on the Board, aboutwhat the Buckeye was—and was not.I’m sure some mystery remains in thefar corners of Buckeye territory, but I

believe there is now much betterunderstanding of our mission and ourapproach both inside and outside theorganization.

• And speaking of our mission, there hasbeen good progress although much of itintangible. Our name is known andrespected. Our voice is being heard andour message is being well received (arecent example being the Buckeye ForestProject). The mills of change grindslowly but they are beginning to turn ina positive direction. Someone remarked,“We are the right group at the right time”.I believe that is so.

• Finally, I must say this is the most astuteBoard I’ve ever been a part of. The rangeof talents, the dedication and theintegrity of this group are unique. It hasbeen my distinct privilege to serve astheir Chairman—as well as yours.

What, you might wonder, am I going to dowith my new found “spare time”. First,I’m still a Director so I’m not completelyoff the hook. Beyond that, I will bereturning to a project that is dear to myheart. Since 1997, I’ve been visitingranches and ranchers, trying to capturethrough interviews and photographs thestory of hill ranching in Humboldt County.My goal is to publish a book sometime inthe next couple of years. My sincere thanksto all of you who have supported me inthis effort.

In closing, I want to wish my successor,your new “fearless leader”, Pete Bussmanall the very best. I commend hiswillingness to take on the extra duties andI know he will do the Buckeye proud. Andas they say, Pete, “I’ll be right behind you”.

Andy Westfall

CHAIRMAN STEPS DOWN – BUT NOT OUTcontinued on page 4

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When John Stover Jr. returned from thearmy, he married Barbara Hodge ofEureka. John Jr. worked on the ranch, buthe and Barbara lived in the AdventistColony. Marlan built a home for his motheron the ranch in 1947. When she moved intoit, this created an empty house for Bill andBarbara to move into on the ranch withtheir infant daughter Kathy.

Also, in 1947, John, Alene, and Hudsonsigned a timber contract with CurlyEmmerson and Jalmer Berg. Joe Walkerdid most of the logging.

In 1950, Marlan decided to finish college.He and Helen and children left the ranchand he attended Humboldt State. Theirthird child, Libby was born. Then, heattended San Jose State. Upon graduation,he taught secondary school (industrial arts)in Santa Rosa. Two more daughters wereborn in Santa Rosa, Louise, and Alene. Healso received a Masters in Industrial ArtsEducation from San Francisco State. JohnJr. managed the ranch for several yearsbefore he became a gunsmith. He andBarbara had a second daughter, Karen.Later, he earned his teaching credentialsfrom Humboldt State and taught metalshop at Arcata High School andMcKinleyville High.

In the 1960’s while their sons were not onthe ranch, John, Alene, and Hudson sold allof the sheep and quit ranching. They thenleased the ranch first to Mr. Nonella; thento the Hunters from Southern Humboldt.

In 1968, Marlan took an early retirementfrom teaching and he and Helen and their3 younger daughters Libby, Louise, andAlene, returned to the ranch. Tommy wasat this time an MP in Saigon and Judy wasin college. Uncle Hudson gave Marlan$10,000 to buy sheep. Not long after that,Hudson died.

When Joe Walker died, U.S. Plywood tookover the logging process on the ranch. And,Simpson was logging along RedwoodCreek on the west side of the ranch. Sixtytrucks a day went through Stover Ranchto the mill on Redwood Creek or to town.Those companies managed to log most ofthe area in about 15 years. ChampionInternational took over for U.S. Plywoodand continued to log, though on a morelimited basis. In the 1970’s Championreturned and began re-logging timber U.S.

Plywood had alreadylogged. The elder andyounger Stoversdecided to take overthe logging in order tostop what was takingplace on their land.With the help of thelaw offices of Stokes,Steeves, Callahan, andWarren the loggingwas curtailed.

In 1972, Marlan soldthe sheep because ofdeclining predatorcontrol. In one year hislosses to coyote were30%. Also, he andHelen were theteachers, principal, andbus driver for the tworoom schoolhouse,Greenpoint School.John Jr., who had lost his wife Barbara tocancer in 1970, was at this time acommercial fisherman working out ofTrinidad.

When the timberlands were returned, theStovers leased out the pasture lands to PaulGuintoli and Lee Larsen. Paul still remainsto this day. In 1976, Marlan and Helenmoved to Arcata to care for both of their agingparents. After Alene’s death, then AuntMadge’s in the late 70’s, John Jr. became thecaregiver for his father. Within little morethan a year, the elder Stovers, the thirdgeneration to work the ranch, had gone.

Also in the 1970’s, the Stover family signedup for the Williamson Act to help preservethe ranch and defray taxes. Both thestanding timber tax and the inheritancetaxes after Hudson Stover’s death wereproof that neither was designed to helppeople retain their property.

However, in the 70’s, we had two fortunatehappenings that gave us hope. The firstoccurred when we began working withJames Able Forestry Consultants andestablished a long term forestry plan. TheStover brothers formed their own loggingcompany along with Tom Stover, WillBessette, and Albert Moser. The secondwas our contact with an estate attorney,Richard Daly, who set up our partnershipand family trust.

Since the Ranch is in the buffer zone tothe park and contains Redwood Creek andLack Creek watersheds, we are monitoredby the Park and work continually withother agencies as well. As with many oldfamily holdings, the ranch’s survivaldepends upon income from outsidesources. Due to increasing regulation andrestrictions, the current trend for “highestand best use” appears to be subdivision anddevelopment. This concept is painful forthe family to contemplate.

The Stover family is working to save theranch in its natural state for posterity aslong as is possible. John Jr., Marlan, andHelen have 7 children, 16 grandchildren,and a new generation of great-grandchildren. They would like to leave totheir heirs, the seventh generation; a placethat is much like it was one hundred andfifty years ago.

Hooker House 1914. Hudson, Madge and John Stover.

Buckeye Is “On Line”

Make sure you check out The BuckeyeConservancy’s web page! We are at

www.buckeyeconservancy.org.

Posted on the web page is everything fromour mission, to membership information, aphoto gallery, past and current Buckeyenewsletters, articles about Buckeye,reports, a “What’s New?” page whichincludes upcoming meeting informationand contact information.

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By Johanna Rodoni

Coho Recovery – Tools for the Landowner wasthe subject of a Buckeye Conservancy workshopheld on Friday, March 7, 2003, at River LodgeConference Center, Fortuna, California, forprivate landowners, watershed groups, resourcemanagers and fish and wildlife personnel todiscuss the effects of Coho listings onstewardship of open spaces on the North Coast.

The goal of the workshop was two-fold. Oneobjective was to let private landowners andwatershed groups know about the tools ofgovernment that are available to assist in thestewardship of Coho salmon on workingforests, farms, dairies and ranches. The secondobjective was to collectively develop a visionfor preserving working open spaces and Cohosalmon. The workshop had over 80 attendees,and importantly included nearly two-dozenrepresentatives from such agencies as NOAAFisheries, US Fish and Wildlife Service,California Department of Fish and Game,Natural Resources Conservation Service, NorthCoast Regional Water Quality Control Board,California Department of Forestry, HumboldtCounty Board of Supervisors and HumboldtCounty Resource Conservation District.

The daylong workshop had a packed agenda.Following registration and a sumptuouscontinental breakfast, Program Chairman SteveHorner welcomed the crowd and gaveintroductory remarks beginning with, “Todaymore than ever, private landowners areresponsible for the protection and maintenanceof wild Coho salmon throughout northernCalifornia. Private landowners are uniquelysituated to combine the objectives of activeforest, range and agricultural management withenhancement of wild Coho salmonpopulations.”

“The Buckeye Conservancy believes that if asa society we’re to preserve fish and high qualitywater, then we’ve got to preserve agriculturalland use,” Horner said.“ As a group, weprobably can’t control the economy. However,we can protect open spaces by providingincentives to agriculture and rejectingshortsighted regulation that discouragesagricultural land use by placing undueeconomic hardship on its owners. It’s up to usto provide a holistic vision that protectswatersheds and a way of life,” Hornerconcluded.

Don Koch, Regional Manager, CaliforniaDepartment of Fish and Game, addressed thegroup next. He said he learns a lot from privatelandowners in his district and the key to habitatis private land ownership. He also expressed

concerns of what the impact the State budgetwill have. The North Coast is a leader inchampioning restoration and many eyes are onus, he said.

Gail Newton, California Department of Fishand Game and Greg Bryant, NOAA Fisheriesgave an overview of State and Federalprocesses for Coho Salmon listing andrecovery. Gail said the Coho Recovery Teamis going through the State watershed bywatershed seeking input from the landownersto develop recovery plans that will work in theirwatershed as opposed to a “cookie cutter”approach. She said the department is puttingemphasis on private lands and recognizeslandowners are good stewards and needcertainty.

Greg gave a brief history of NOAA, whichstarted in 1876. He spoke about the roadmaintenance manuals and training sessions. Histake home message: “Access to private landsis key to Coho recovery.”

The Landowner Panel addressed contributionsof private landowners to Humboldt County’seconomy and salmon habitat, and how Coholisting affects their operations. Moderated byJohn Regli – Professor Emeritus, Agricultureand Economics, College of the Redwoods, thepanel included representatives from Ranching– John Rice; Dairy – Chris Cahill; Timber –Mark Moore; and Farm Bureau – PamGiacomini.

Regli, in the style of a mini Economics 101course, said producers need to know on a dayto day basis how regulations will affect theirbottom line. He explained “spill-over” costs and“spill-over” benefits i.e.: the public gets spill-over benefits from the open space and habitatthat private landowners provide. The globaleconomy affects the local economy – theweakening dollar is probably good foragriculture, but not for the consumer. He talkedabout how niche markets are a great idea untilevery one catches up and they are no longernovel. Regli ended by saying, “Open space isgoing to be gone if the producer can’t make aliving.”

Rice talked about his day-to-day operation indetail. The sheer hours it takes to just do thework on a large ranching operation leaves littletime to expend attending the myriad ofmeetings necessary to comment on or keep upwith the onslaught of regulatory issues.

Moore talked about how livestock productionalone does not support the number of familiesliving on the land as in the past; thus timberproduction has become a part of their operation.

Cahill said that dealing with manure is a majorconcern for dairy operators because of waterquality. He also said EQIP has been a goodprogram for dairy operators.

Giacomini said Coho “recovery” is theresponsibility of the State in cooperation withthe landowners. Solutions she suggested were:watershed groups; Rangeland ImprovementPrograms; the Dairy Quality InsuranceProgram; and ranch roads inventory program.

The Landowner’s Assistance Panel offeredinformation on Government’s tools for assistinglandowners and was introduced by MarkWheetley, California Department of Fish andGame.

Sungnome Madrone, representing For The Sakeof Salmon, spoke about their problem solvingapproach in identifying landowners’ needs asopposed to litigation and lawsuits. Heencouraged building coalitions to change laws.

Yana Valachovic of University of CaliforniaCooperative Extension Service told the crowdthat they were first formed in 1914 andHumboldt County had the first Farm Advisorposition in the State. They are not a fundingagency, but are “here to help you to helpyourselves”.

Natural Resources Conservation District’sMark Meissner explained that his agencyprovides technical assistance free of charge.They also have cost-share programs available.They do not regulate and their activities arelocally driven.

Sterling McWhorter, President of HumboldtCounty Resource Conservation Districtexplained how the NRCS grew out of the DustBowl crisis of the 1930’s and was formed inour county in 1987 in the Eel River Delta. Anyof their work done on private property isconfidential. Their board of directors islandowner driven.

Following lunch, four land-owner basedwatershed groups gave a history of their groupand highlighted a sampling of their projects andaccomplishments. Representing their groupwas: Dina Moore –Yager/Van DuzenEnvironmental Stewards; Frank Benko – BearRiver Regional Resources Conservancy; SteveSelf – Redwood Creek LandownersAssociation; and Ruth Blyther – Humboldt BayWatershed Advisory Committee.

Coho Recovery and Private Land Go Hand in Hand

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The overriding message that all attendees andpresenters agreed upon is that if Coho salmonhabitat and populations are to persist inperpetuity, the ability of families to make aliving from their lands must also be preserved.Preserving open spaces on the North Coast iscontingent upon the continued economicviability of the businesses that carefully managethe lands as open space.

The workshop participants left with anunderstanding of the role that actively managedforests, range and agriculture lands fulfill inprotecting Coho salmon and the tools available

to assist private landowners in their stewardshipof salmon habitat.

An important outcome of that workshop is acollection of ideas developed in a brainstormingsession that can serve to preserve both Cohosalmon and the economic viability of openspace ownership by family farmers, ranchers,foresters and dairymen and women.

A summary from the brainstorming session isavailable on our web pagewww.buckeyeconservancy.org.

By Johanna Rodoni

The Buckeye held its third Annual Meeting onFebruary 1, 2003 at River Lodge ConferenceCenter, Fortuna. Chairman Andy Westfallreported on the annual Board of Directorsretreat and its intangible values of reflectingon Buckeye’s accomplishments of the past yearand planning for Buckeye’s future objectives.

Following a Treasurer’s report by newlyappointed CFO Bill May, Vice Chair PeteBussman spoke about The BuckeyeConservancy’s visions and goals.

Technical Committee Chairman Steve Hornertalked about his committee’s busy year. Theymade public comment at North Coast RegionalWater Quality Control Board regarding WasteDischarge Waivers and commented at the StateWater Board on the 303D Listing and the Boardof Forestry. Members have been involvedlocally on Williamson Act issues, HumboldtCounty Fish and Game Advisory Commissionand California Fish and Game.

Outreach Committee Chairman Mark Andersongave a run down of their activities – Mixers,Newsletters, workshops, field trips, web pageproduction and The Buckeye Forest Project.

Organizational Committee Chairman Bill Mayreported our memberships exceed 240 andrepresent 300,000 acres. He also discussedBuckeye’s plan to increase membershipthrough outreach to dairy producers.

Conservancy Committee Chairman TomHerman discussed the importance of TBC’srole in helping members who are interested inusing conservation easements as a tool tokeeping productive open space. He reviewedthe history of why TBC became involved inthis endeavor and reminded members thatconservation easements are not our mainmission.

Elections of new Directors followed thecommittee reports. Executive DirectorJohanna Rodoni gave a brief bio of the slateof Directors:

Julie Houtby is V.P. of American Ag Credit.She grew up on Hunt’s Dairy at Metropolitanand graduated from Fortuna High and CalPoly.

Bill May grew up on the May Ranch inBridgeville. He graduated from Fortuna Highand HSU. He is immediate-past president ofArcata Chamber of Commerce. Bill is a CPA.

Mark Anderson is a Registered ProfessionalForester. He received his BS degree fromHumboldt State University. Mark is a foundingmember of The Buckeye Conservancy.

Joe Russ IV has been active in the Cattlemen’sAssociation, Woolgrower’s and the FarmBureau both locally and state wide and servedfor 8 years on the Board of Forestry. Currentlyhe is on the State Board of Directors forCalifornia Chamber of Commerce. Joe is acattle rancher and a founding member of TheBuckeye Conservancy.

John Rice is a rancher in Showers Pass/DairyRidge area. He was home schooled at FortBaker Ranch until high school. He graduatedfrom Fortuna High and Cal Poly. John is past-president of the Humboldt-Del NorteCattlemen’s Association and California BeefCouncil.

Ron Samuelson is Battalion Chief for CDF.He is a tree farmer and rancher in Bridgeville.Ron serves as a state and county director forthe Farm Bureau and sits on the board ofForest Landowners of California. The slate ofDirectors was accepted unanimously.

After the business meeting, members andguests came together for a Social Hour to visitamid an array of historical photographscompiled by various Buckeye families. Thedisplay “Families Ranching For Good” was arare museum of Humboldt County’s colorfulrural culture. Participating families wereLibby George, Marlin & Helen Stover, Roger& Johanna Rodoni, Bob & Val Stansberry,Sterling & Cindy McWhorter, Carolyn &Dana Hunt, Larry & Jackie Ford, VirginiaDwight, Bill McBride, Joe & Karen Russ IV,Jim & Susan Regli, Julie Houtby, Jim & LoisHunt, Graham & Gloria Cottrell, Mary Etter,John & Peggy Rice and Andy Westfall.

A bountiful dinner was served buffet stylefeaturing barbecue beef by Chef Pete Bussmanwith all the trimmings catered by CC Market.

Jolene Brown, one of the premiereprofessional speakers in agriculture was thedinner keynote speaker. Her topic was “Who’sHiding the Humor?” ™

All folks have a sense of humor; it’s just thatsome folks have a bad one. Keepingperspective and finding laughter is not easy,but essential. The rewards extend to betterhealth, improved communications and positivehome and family relationships. During thisfun-filled presentation Jolene identifiedspecific benefits and practices to bring backjoy. With important insight, participation, anda whole lot of fun, Buckeye members andguests celebrated and answered the question,“Who’s hiding the humor?”

“The Family” - Theme of Annual Meeting

The Buckeye Conservancy submitted theseideas to the Coho Recovery Team in hopes theywill recognize the challenges facing familystewardship of open spaces, and consideradopting some of the ideas that will help ensureprotection of Coho salmon and the familyranch, forest and dairy.

The Buckeye Conservancy thanks MarkWheetley of California Department of Fish andGame for his efforts in making this workshopa success. The Buckeye Conservancy alsothanks California Department of Fish andGame and NOAA fisheries for helping fund thisworkshop.

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By VICKIE HORNER

Dressed in a tailored suit, heels andfashionable accessories, at first glanceJolene Brown looks more like a bankerthan the typical Iowa corn and soybeanfarmer. But give her just three minutes andBrown will melt your heart like butter in ahot skillet.

Also a noted professional speaker inagriculture and Certified SpeakingProfessional, Brown presented a workshoptitled “The Top Ten Stupid Things FamiliesDo To Break Up Their Business”™ tomore than 60 members of The BuckeyeConservancy on January 31st at theFerndale, California, Town Hall.

Regardless the type of business, butespecially in agriculture, “You are awalking, talking commercial for thatindustry,” said Brown. “We’re judged, andwe’re a minority population, folks.” Addrunning a business, competition,regulation, the public’s scrutiny andcommunication into the mix and farmersand ranchers have more than their fair shareof work to do.

”I’m not a farmer just for fresh air andexercise. I plan to make a profit at it.” Butfarming or ranching will only be a lifestyleif it is treated as a business, she said.

Family run businesses have assets andliabilities that others don’t: the familymembers themselves. “It’s tough workingwith family members,” Brown said, addingshe has seen too many families argue onthe way to the funeral home over who hascontrol of the business or who should get

what. “In this generational diversity ofneeds and dreams, we have forgotten thatsound business and transitionalmanagement must be based on more thangenetics, tradition, assumptions andemotion.”

Forgetting sensible business practicesperpetuates “The Top Ten Stupid ThingsFamilies Do To Break Up Their Business”™.

Highlights from Brown’s top-10 list:

• Assuming all genetic relationshipsequal good working relationships. Dothose involved want the business tocontinue as a family business? Talkthrough why you are in business tobetter understand the strengths of thebusiness and of its team members.Different generations often see thebusiness from a unique perspective.

• Believing the business can financiallysupport any and all family memberswho want to work together. “Seniorgeneration listen up: take care ofyourself first,” she said. The childrenand younger generation don’t need tostart at the same place the elders haveachieved through years of hard work.

• Presuming a conversation is a contract.Yes, even and especially with familymembers, clarify in writing things likebuy/sell agreements and how muchsomeone can spend before it’s a groupdecision.

• Believing mind reading is anacceptable form of communication.

“We never fire a family member, we justtry to ignore them,” is too often acommunication strategy indysfunctional family businesses, shesaid. Brown suggests asking questionsto better understand who you are talkingto, responding with respect and holdingregular business meetings so familymembers and employees canbrainstorm and solve problems.

• Having no legal and discussed estate,management transfer plan or buy/sellagreement. “Parents do not owe theirkids a business,” she said. They do owetheir children the knowledge of moralsand values, an opportunity for andassistance in obtaining an education anda legal, discussed estate plan.

As a comical, unassuming evangelist forimproving family dynamics, Brownwarned Buckeye Conservancy membersthat if after six years you haven’t made thetransition into managing part of the familybusiness, “you are just cheap labor and alifetime employee.” Her passion for familyfarming comes from knowing what not todo. Raised on a farm by her mother andfather with a passion for Belgian drafthorses, Brown succinctly defined herupbringing as “rough.” Today she is amother and farmer with her husband Keithin West Branch, Iowa, and professional,motivational speaker making as many as60 speaking engagements annually.

Reprinted with the permission of CapitalPress.

Iowa Farmer Teaches Family Business Dos, Don’ts

Buckeye Board of DirectorsPete Bussman – RancherChairman

Val Stansberry – RancherVice Chairman

Bill May – Certified Public AccountantCFO

Jim Able – Consulting ForesterMark Anderson – ForesterTom Herman – Attorney, ForesterSteve Horner – ForesterJulie Houtby – Ag FinanceBill Kleiner – Consulting ForesterSterling McWhorter – RancherJohn Rice – Rancher

Joe Russ IV – RancherRon Samuelson – CDF, RancherAndy Westfall – Businessman, Rancher

STAFFJohanna Rodoni – Executive DirectorMonica Willburn - Clerical

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PO Box 5607 Eureka CA 95502

Buckeye Forest Project “team” meetingL-R: Sitting-Mark Collins, Ken Hoffman, Nancy Reichard, Yana ValachovicL-R: Standing-Clarence Hostler, Ken Moore, Richard French, Gerald Marshall, Bob Stansberry,Sally French, Rich Eliot, Jim Able, Andy Westfall, Pete Bussman, George Brightman.

Printed on recycled paper