North Bend family’s tree farm earns regional honor

Published 12:28 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

NORTH BEND – Neva Kusak was reading a newspaper back in the mid-’70s when she stumbled upon a notice about free classes hosted by Weyerhaeuser Co. that taught residents the ins and outs of forestry.

A few days later Neva and husband Tony attended the meeting and within hours decided to plant trees on a 60-acre plot of land they owned along 436th Avenue Southeast in an effort to conserve the land for the generations of family to come.

Last week the Kusak family was honored for their efforts by the American Tree Farm System when the group named the family’s property Regional Tree Farm of the Year for South King County. A total of six were nominated in the state.

The award brings full circle a 30-year cycle that has seen the property grow from a former dairy farm to a lush forest.

“It’s really been a blessing for our family to watch the maturation process and watching the forest reclaim the land,” said Chuck Kusak, son of Neva and Tony.

The American Tree Farm Society, based in Washington D.C., has honored farms around the county for the past 25 years with the award. Farms and their owners are chosen for their outstanding commitment to responsible forest management and are recognized for spreading the practice of sustainable forestry, according to the organization’s Web site. Winners of the regional award are entered into the state and hopefully national competition, to be held later this year, and vie for National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year.

The Kusak family purchased the first 23 acres of the property in 1936, adding the additional 37 acres through the years. In the past the property was used as a dairy farm, for cattle grazing and a home, said Chuck. In fact, he added, the home was originally homesteaded in 1901.

Although the Kusak family has never lived on the property, Chuck’s mother, three other siblings and the extended family still utilize the farm, mostly on the weekends.

For the complete story, pick up a copy of this week’s Record