Standing at the edge of a working timber harvest near Eddyville, Philomath High School students watched as a feller buncher moved through stands of giant Douglas fir and alder — a classroom lesson made real by the roar of machinery and the smell of fresh-cut wood.
The visit was the latest in a series of weekly field trips organized through the school’s forestry class, which partners with regional timber companies including Starker Forests, Thompson Timber and Weyerhaeuser to give students a firsthand look at the industry.
Weyerhaeuser’s Alsea office hosted the most recent outing, with Alsea Area Manager Wade Stringham — himself a Philomath High School graduate — joining Log Sales Manager Tom Lord and Harvest Manager Corey Copeland to walk students through how the harvest unit is managed. The three discussed their own education and career paths and outlined the skills it takes to build a career in forestry.
Tyler Smallwood of Smallwood Logging also joined the group, drawing on his experience growing up in a forestry family to talk about why programs like this one matter.
Stringham said the value of getting students out of the classroom goes beyond job training.
“Classes like this one are the foundation for developing tomorrow’s natural resources and forestry leaders,” he said. “By getting students out of the classroom and exposing them to hands-on skills and real-world knowledge, we’re not just preparing them for great careers here in their own community — we’re investing in the future of Oregon’s forests.”
Anna Ayres, an instructional assistant at Philomath High School who helps coordinate the tours, said the visits give students something a textbook can’t.
“These tours are important because they get to meet the operators who are keeping the industry moving,” she said. “They get to step outside the classroom to engage directly with professionals, see how the forestry and timber industry is evolving, and gain knowledge about potential career pathways.”
Weyerhaeuser’s Alsea team said it plans to keep expanding its field trip partnerships with local natural resources and forestry classes going forward.
2. New putting course opens along Alsea Bay
A new 18-hole putting course is now open in downtown Waldport, offering folks in the region a ready-made reason for a day trip to the coast via the Alsea Highway.
The Bonsai Course is part of Treasure Bay Resort, a larger development that Livesay Development Group of Corvallis has built on the former site of Waldport Middle School along Alsea Bay. The course features manicured greens, rolling hills, sand traps and a dry riverbed winding through the layout — designed by Chris Holvey of Cascade Green Oregon with varying turf depths and alternate hole placements to change the lines and difficulty of play.
The resort’s founders describe it as something beyond standard mini-golf — no clowns, no windmills, just a modern putting experience meant to bring people together. Green fees are $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 7-18 and free for kids 6 and under when accompanied by a paying adult.
The project was built by Amy and Nic Jamros and Jennifer Livesay as a tribute to Jennifer’s late husband, Bruce Livesay, who had long envisioned developing the bayfront property and loved both golf and bonsai trees. A glamping component with 11 geodesic domes and food cart pavilions is planned as a later addition to the resort.
Waldport’s recently expanded bayfront park sits nearby, giving families plenty of options for an afternoon outing. More information is available at exploretreasurebay.com.
3. Local veterinarian’s practice manager earns honor
Leanne Schuetze, a certified veterinary practice manager at Rogers Veterinary Service in Philomath, received the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinary Practice Manager Award.
The award, presented during the Oregon Veterinary Conference on March 7 in Corvallis, recognizes exceptional professionalism in leading a veterinary practice. Schuetze was nominated by Drs. Annika and Keelan Rogers, founders of the mixed-animal mobile clinic.
Schuetze joined Rogers Veterinary Service in 2013 and earned her certified veterinary practice manager credential in 2024. She oversees a team of five veterinarians along with six office staff and field assistants, handling everything from onboarding and training to software management, scheduling and vendor relations.
She came to the role with a genuine background in animal care — she raised market lambs in 4-H growing up and later helped her family raise puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind after moving to Oregon.
“Leanne has directly assisted us in developing our practice culture that is centered on loving our staff and clients,” the Rogers said in their nomination. “Her character, motivation, desire for growth, and love for people exemplifies the person and culture we attempt to emulate.”
Schuetze lives in Albany with her husband, Jacob.
(Brad Fuqua is publisher/editor of the Philomath News. He can be reached at News@PhilomathNews.com).