Watch Faces of the Forest:
Meet the Defrees Family of Oregon

Watch Faces of the Forest:
Meet the Defrees Family of Oregon

Man looking up into trees

For more than 100 years, the Defrees family of Baker City, Oregon, has been raising beautiful ponderosa pine. The horses have given way to four wheelers, but not much else has changed. Even though the latest generation of Defrees went off to become doctors, lawyers and scientists, the ranch draws them all back home whenever they can get there. It’s what they do together. It’s who they are together. It’s more than the family business. At the Defrees’ ranch, the business is family.

 

I certainly have fallen in love with this place, and I want to honor it.

Landowner looking out to his land

I certainly have fallen in love with this place, and I want to honor it.

Lyle Defrees, 3rd Generation Forester

Landowner looking out to his land
Northeast, OR Sumpter Valley

A family ranch in Northeast Oregon, Sumpter Valley has been in the family for over 100 years.

Defrees' Family

A family of foresters who take pride in caring for their land.

Shot of mountains and pine trees

Proper forest management leads to healthy trees, good ground cover and forage on the ground. 

I really think people should feel good about using forests products. It's renewable. It's sustainable. It's environmentally friendly. It's biodegradable. It checks all the boxes for a consumer product.

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