Green Horizons

The Heckmann’s (l to r: Grant, Megan, Stacy, John and Trevor) want you to see Bear Valley Tree Farm for yourself, June 2!

The value of Tree Farm runs deep for John Heckmann. On his 800-acre farm just north of Hermann, the four cornerstones of the American Tree Farm System (wood, water, wildlife, and recreation) exemplify his reasons for owning and managing their family farm. According to John, “It is important that we can have forests for wildlife, wood products and recreation.” At first, he did not realize all of these uses are compatible on the same property. “This combination of recreation and investment really drew me to the Tree Farm Program,” he said.

John and his wife, Stacy, acquired their first tract in 1993 and from there it grew to its current size. In 2008, John requested assistance from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). This opened up many management opportunities for him.

He worked with MDC Resource Forester, Josh Stevens, and together they developed a forest and wildlife management plan for his place. This plan called for forest thinning to improve growth and quality of trees, and glade restoration that called for the removal of cedars and maples that invaded this unique habitat type. He also developed burn plans to run fire through these glades to keep them open and encourage native grasses and forbs. Knowing that all of this work can be costly, John pursued funding from federal programs. Programs such as the USDA NRCS’ Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) and the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) provided re-imbursement for a portion of the costs to implement the practices.

This management was needed to reach the long-term wildlife and income goals from the timber. Given the hilly terrain and limited food plot potential, John wanted to create as much browse, cover and acorn production that he could to benefit wildlife. Forest stand improvement, where undesirable and/or weak trees were removed, allowed sunlight to reach the forest floor stimulating the understory growth John wanted for browse. The thinning also allowed the remaining tree canopies to grow and produce more acorns (hard mast) for the deer, turkey, and wood ducks who call his Bear Valley Tree Farm their home. And the prescribed burns he conducted in his glade areas gave wildlife prime cover of native warm-season grasses.

Bear Valley is also enrolled in a conservation easement held by the National Wild Turkey Federation. Conservation easements like this are entered into voluntarily by the landowner and helps ensure that the values held by the current landowner will continue forever. The conservation easement put in place by John and Stacy prohibits Bear Valley from being subdivided and restricts certain uses. The easement provides a perpetual plan for the farm and will help guide his children, Grant, Megan and Trevor, when it comes time for them to inherit the Tree Farm.

John wants his fellow woodland owners to know that they do not have to do everything at once; they just have to get started! In addition to the federal and state agencies that assisted him in his management, John received help and advice from the Quality Deer Management Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, Quail Forever, and the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation. These non-profit organizations provide technical advice for habitat work and restoration that John and his family value on their family farm. Sometimes people think they have to be ‘older than dirt’ and a Tree Farmer for years before even being considered for this top honor. Well, as you can see, that is definitely not the case. John and Stacy are relative ‘newcomers’, having joined Tree Farm a scant four years ago.

So, if they can do it, you can, too! Want to see for yourself? The Heckmann’s would love to show you around Bear Valley at the upcoming annual Missouri Tree Farm Conference, June 2. The Tree Farm is located just seven minutes north of Hermann in the scenic Missouri River Hills. Attendees will have the opportunity to: