Landowners

Wayne Wangsness bought his first farm near Decorah in 1964 and has been adding to it ever since, now stewarding 72 acres of woodland, 55 of which are enrolled in the Tree Farm program, on a farm of more than 400 acres. Wayne's current management plan was written in 2021, but his commitment to the land goes back decades: the oldest plan on file for his property dates to 1981.  
 
Wayne does almost all of the crop tree release on his farm himself, work his forester says he does so well that he rarely needs to be asked twice. Over the last 10 years alone, he has completed more than 43 acres of timber stand improvement. His forest history includes clearcut and selective harvests dating back decades, direct seeding of 29 acres in 1998, and 7.4 acres of clearcut replanting in 2021. He protects all of his forest ground from grazing, and his goals for the property - lumber, recreation, and habitat - reflect a true multiple-use approach to land stewardship.  
 
Wayne's stewardship extends well beyond his own fence lines. All of his crop ground is farmed organically, and the property includes a farm pond and 50-60 acres of prairie grasses and pollinator habitat alongside the working woodland. His forester notes that Wayne has personally introduced him to other landowners and encouraged his own son to put a forest management plan in place, spreading good forestry practice throughout his community.  
 
"He is innovative, passionate, and - as the Tree Farm sign says - always watching out for our woods, water, wildlife, and recreational opportunities," wrote Greg Heidebrink, Wayne's forester, in his nomination. The Iowa Tree Farm Committee will present Wayne with the Iowa Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year award at his farm in Winneshiek County on September 9 during this event.