Wisconsin landowners growing tomorrow's forests
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Photo credit: DNR
North Central Regional Tree Farm Inspector of the Year,
inspectors notes,
and more....
Jesse Sebero of Marinette County was selected as the 2026 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year.​
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Jesse Sebero’s tree farmer story goes back several generations. He is the fourth generation practicing conservation on portions of this property. Jesse owns 586 acres that he actively manages, some of which was apart of the original farm that was cleared by his great-grandfather in the 1920s. Jesse's father was a logger so naturally he was exposed heavily to the woods. Jesse followed in his father's footsteps to the woods by becoming a forester. Because of all the great management through the years, Jesse's northern hardwood forest has some of the best sugar maples in Marinette County!
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Click below to learn more about Jesse's forest management and to see previous Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year.
Our Wisconsin Outstanding Tree Farm recognition was finalized at the end of July when field judges visited two outstanding nominations. Unfortunately, only one could be selected as the top Tree Farm in the state for 2026. The judges all agreed it was a very tough decision. Our outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year for 2026 is Jesse Sebero and his family from Marinette County. The Sebero family manages 586 acres of forest land via the Managed Forest Law including some of the best quality sugar maple in Marinette County. Congratulations to the Sebero’s. They will be our hosts next summer for our annual Landowner Field Day. We look forward to a wonderful day touring their tree farm. Steve Kaufman, DNR Forester at Oconto Falls is the nomination forester. Congratulations to Steve as well.
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Runner-up to the Sebero tree Farm is the beautiful tree farm of Chuck and Carolyn Kuhnmuench on Lake Marie in the Town of Minocqua, Oneida County. Chuck and Carolyn have been managing their forestland for 36 years. Congratulations to Chuck, Carolyn and their family. The nomination forester is Matt Carothers. Nice work with this nomination Matt.
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We have an excellent winner of the Wisconsin Educational Tree Farm of the Year in 2026 with the Seno KRLT Conservancy Inc. Located in Kenosha County, the Conservancy is dedicated to sustainable forestry, natural resources education, conservation and land preservation. The Seno Woodlands Center annually hosts the Southeast Wisconsin Woodland Owners Conference. The late Mark Lesko and Stacy Santiago are the nominators for this award.
It is with great appreciation we celebrate the retirement of Shirley as our Tree Farm Administrator
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At our December Tree Farm Committee meeting we celebrated the retirement of our long-time Tree Farm Administrator Shirley Bargander. Shirley previously retired from the Wisconsin DNR Division of Forestry years ago but stayed active in Tree Farm. She was dedicated to the Tree Farm program throughout her time in the Division and especially after retirement. In fact, Shirley first became a Certified Tree Farm Inspector in 1985! In 2004 she took a more active role with the Wisconsin Tree Farm Committee on its' Recognition Sub-Committee. She was elected WTFC Vice-chair and then WTFC Chair until 2015 when she became the Wisconsin Tree Farm Administrator.
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Click below to learn more about Shirley and her outstanding career and the huge role she has played in forestry and Tree Farm.
Matt Carothers New Administrator and 2026 Inspector
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With the start of 2026 we are very happy to introduce you to Matt Carothers our new Wisconsin Tree Farm Administrator. Additionally, previously to hiring Matt as Administrator, Matt was selected as our State Inspector of the year for 2026 and subsequently selected as the Midwest Regional Inspector of the Year. As one of four regional Inspectors of the Year, Matt is in the running for National Inspector of the Year. Congratulations Matt on both accounts!
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Click below to learn more about Matt and his experience and Tree Farm Management experience.
