2026 FHAW Annual Fall Conference

Treehaven Information—Information Technology UWSP

The 2026 Forest History Association of Wisconsin Conference at Treehaven begins early on September 25 with a hearty 7:30 a.m. breakfast, where attendees will also pack their box lunches for the day’s field tour.

After gathering for registration at 8:30 a.m., participants will be welcomed with a brief introduction to Treehaven—UW–Stevens Point’s renowned field station—and an overview of the day’s focus on forest history, management, and industry across the Northwoods.

At 9:00 a.m., the tour sets off with its first stop just outside the door: the Treehaven parking lot, home to the Wisconsin Forestry Center’s Forest Operations Immersion Training Program. This six‐week, 240‐hour experiential certificate program gives students hands-on experience with the equipment and practices used in tree felling, merchandising, and forest road construction.

The group will then travel to the CASE Construction Proving Grounds at the Tomahawk Customer Center, where staff will share how logging technology has evolved over the decades and reflect on the site’s origins in the Drott family woodlands.

The tour then continues to the Steigerwaldt Family Tree Farms, a Northwoods institution since 1957. Here, attendees will learn about the family’s long-standing commitment to growing Fraser fir, balsam fir, and white pine—species that have shaped both the landscape and the region’s holiday traditions. Lunch will follow at noon, with the location to be announced.

The afternoon begins at 1:00 p.m. with a visit to the Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company’s King’s Dam. Built more than 150 years ago to support pulp production, the dam is now operated by the Tomahawk Power & Pulp Company and continues to serve the region through hydroelectric generation.

The final field stop brings attendees to the Great Pinery Heritage Waterway, a 108‐mile navigable trail along the Wisconsin River and its tributaries. This waterway traces the historic logging river runs that once powered the state’s timber economy.

By 4:00 p.m. the group returns to Treehaven, where a 4:30 p.m. social hour awaits—complete with historic logging folk songs performed by Matt Christoff. The day concludes with a 5:30 p.m. banquet at Treehaven, followed by more music and a special presentation by Christoff, celebrating the stories and spirit of Wisconsin’s forest heritage.

The second day of the 2026 Forest History Association of Wisconsin Conference begins on September 26 with an 8:30 a.m. check‑in, accompanied by morning snacks and time to reconnect after the previous day’s field tour. At 9:00 a.m., FHAW Board President Jim Kerkman opens the day’s program with remarks that trace the Association’s origins and highlight the enduring significance of white pine—its role in the American Revolution, its influence on the early economy of the young nation, and its lasting imprint on Wisconsin’s forest heritage.

Next the spotlight turns to Treehaven itself. Butch Vallier, a descendant of the property’s former owners, shares the story of how the land transitioned from family stewardship to becoming a cornerstone of UW–Stevens Point’s natural resources program. A brief Q&A follows, offering attendees a chance to explore this history more deeply.

A mid‑morning break provides time to stretch, visit, and enjoy the setting before the next session begins.

After the break, local Rhinelander historian Kerry Bloedorn presents the story of the Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company (WVIC), a uniquely Northwoods innovation that shaped the logging and paper industries. His talk explores how coordinated water management and industry collaboration transformed the region’s economic landscape.

Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m., paired with the FHAW general membership meeting.

The afternoon program resumes at 12:30 p.m. with FHAW board member Matt Carothers, who traces the complex history of the Tomahawk Mill lands— from Owens‑Illinois to Tenneco, to PCA, to Tomahawk Timberlands—and examines how today’s successes have emerged despite the challenges of parcelization and fragmentation.

A representative from UW–Stevens Point’s Treehaven or the Wisconsin Forestry Center then discusses forestry education and the evolving role of academic training in preparing the next generation of natural resource professionals.

The final presentation of the day begins at 2:15 p.m., featuring a representative from Timber Professionals Cooperative Enterprises (TPCE). As the first logger‑ and trucker‑owned cooperative of its kind in the United States, TPCE offers a compelling model of collaboration, shared investment, and innovative business planning within the forest products sector.

Closing remarks at 3:15 p.m. bring the day’s sessions to a thoughtful conclusion, wrapping up a program rich in history, industry insight, and the enduring spirit of Wisconsin’s forest community.