{"id":965,"date":"2018-08-01T14:33:17","date_gmt":"2018-08-01T21:33:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southernoregonbusiness.com\/?p=965"},"modified":"2019-07-17T14:37:11","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T21:37:11","slug":"love-the-forest-love-the-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southernoregonbusiness.com\/love-the-forest-love-the-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Love the forest; love the people"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\n\nPaul Barnum\nExecutive Director, Retired\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\nI love Oregon\u2019s forests of all kinds \u2013 from freshly planted to majestic old growth \u2013 but the biggest attraction\nfor me has always been the people.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\nGrowing up in eastern Oregon, I spent many summers working in agriculture: bucking hay, driving pea trucks\nand pea combines, operating a grain elevator. And later in Astoria, I worked in fishing: on the docks tossing\ntuna, in canneries fileting salmon, and in rendering plants making pet food. You really haven\u2019t smelled\ngrossness until you\u2019ve worked in a rendering plant.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\nWith the realization that Oregon is dependent on natural resources, going to work in the forest sector in 1991\nfor Weyerhaeuser was an easy move. I never looked back.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\nThroughout my career, including the past 10 years as OFRI\u2019s executive director, I\u2019ve worked with wonderful\npeople: folks who care about the land, its resources and the future of this state. That extends to everyone \u2013\nfrom tree planters, to foresters, to scientists, to mill workers \u2013 all the way to the leaders in executive suites.\nAll along the way, they have helped me to be a better communicator and ambassador for the sector.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\nAs I turn the page to life\u2019s next chapter, it is the people I will miss the most. Thank you all for your support\nover the years. I\u2019ll see you on the trail.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the forest \u2013 always,

– Paul Barnum <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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