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Dale Claassen, Reforestation Forester

Years working in the woods: 32
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.