Tree seedling auction benefits Grant County Food Bank



Mason Springs Fire (part of Canyon Creek Complex),

photographed the evening of August 13, 2015

Oregon Department of Forestry’s John Day Unit is raising money for the Grant County Food Bank by auctioning off two tree planting packages. Each auction package includes 500 mixed conifer seedlings (ponderosa pine and western larch) donated by the Malheur National Forest and planting by ODF’s John Day Unit staff. The auction is also intended to help local residents affected by fire. The one requirement for bidding is that the trees be planted on lands burned by the Canyon Creek Complex.


It is a sealed bid auction, with bids due at the John Day ODF Office by 4:30 p.m. Monday, February 29, 2016. Minimum bid for each package is $100. The two highest bidders will be contacted to coordinate the delivery and planting schedule for the seedlings. Those interested should come to the ODF office located at 415 Patterson Bridge Road in John Day to submit a bid.

One in five households in Oregon lives in hunger. Of those households, 42 percent contain someone who is disabled and unable to work, retired, or staying home to care for a child or disabled person. Overall, an average 270,000 people each month eat meals provided by Oregon Food Bank pantries - 92,000 of those are children. Every $10 donated provides 30 healthy meals.

All proceeds from the auction will go to the Grant County Food Bank, and may be tax deductible. ODF’s John Day Unit is sponsoring the auction as part of the Governor’s Food Drive. The theme this year is “Together we can solve hunger!”  Working together has helped those affected by the Canyon Creek Complex in the recovery process and in healing the community.

For more information on bidding for the seedling packages contact Rob Pentzer, John Day Unit Forester, at 541-575-1139.

Oregon Department of Forestry selects Mike Shaw as new Central Oregon District Forester

Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has selected Mike Shaw as the new District Forester for the Central Oregon District (COD).  Shaw replaces George Ponte who recently retired after more than seven years as District Forester and 26 years with the Department.  COD provides wildfire protection and administers the Forest Practices Act on approximately 2.2 million acres of private and non-federal public land throughout eleven counties in Oregon.  As District Forester, Shaw will manage 35 permanent employees and 90 seasonal firefighters in offices in Prineville, Sisters, The Dalles, John Day, and Fossil.

Shaw has been with ODF for sixteen years, starting as a Forest Practices Forester in the Toledo Unit of the West Oregon District.  He served in a similar position in Wallowa, prior to promoting to Unit Forester for the Wallowa Unit.  In December of 2014 Shaw left northeast Oregon to work as ODF’s Eastern Oregon Assistant Area Director.  Shaw’s prior experience in both Protection and Private Forests Divisions and in various locations within the agency will provide a good foundation as he assumes his leadership role in the Central Oregon District.  In addition to his experience in these positions Shaw has served on ODF’s Incident Management Team 1 as Situation Unit Leader and as Planning Section Chief.  Shaw is a graduate of Oregon State University, holding a bachelor’s degree in Forest Management.

The interview committee chose Mike Shaw from a pool of qualified candidates based on experience and answers to interview questions.  Candidates were interviewed by a panel of Central Oregon District employees and a diverse panel comprised of local stakeholders, agency cooperators, ODF administrators and Travis Medema, ODF’s Eastern Oregon Area Director.  “I am really looking forward to working with a great group of employees and furthering the mission of ODF in Central Oregon”, states Shaw.  “The past three fire seasons have been particularly challenging and I am excited for the opportunities these challenges may afford as we move into the future.”  Mike has made his home in central Oregon with his wife and children, where they are integrating into the community and exploring the area.  Shaw is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys skiing with his family during the winter.

George Ponte worked in various positions around the state prior to becoming the COD District Forester, he started his career in the Western Lane District.  Before working for ODF Ponte spent a couple fire seasons working for the Douglas Forest Protective Association (partner agency to ODF) and some time with the US Forest Service.  George held positions as Stewardship Forester, Unit Forester, and Assistant Area Director and in positions on ODF’s Incident Management Teams.  Since 1996 George and his wife Michelle, whom he met while working at Western Lane, have called central Oregon home.  Significant fire activity in central Oregon has kept Ponte busy for the last several years, this upcoming summer he is looking forward to watching thunderstorms from his deck with his wife without the worries of how many fires are starting.  However, he has assured COD employees that we will see him from time to time.