CHEWELAH, WA – As Becky and Lynn Miner passed through northeastern Washington on a road trip to Canada in the 1970s, they were struck by the region’s beauty. Determined to someday retire in the area, the young newlyweds from Iowa pinched pennies for the next two decades, purchasing nearly 100 acres in Chewelah, Washington, in the early 1990s.

After more than 30 years spent rehabilitating the poorly managed forest into a thriving, healthy wildlife refuge, the Miners have donated their Casa Becca del Norté tree farm to Washington State University Extension Forestry as a “legacy of learning.”

“When I first came to the area, I thought it was the most beautiful place in the world,” said Lynn, a U.S. Air Force veteran and retired U.S. Department of Defense research physicist. “In the ensuing 50-plus years, I’ve traveled all over and found no place prettier than this.”

The tree farm’s name, which translates to “Becky’s house of the North,” is a nod to the Miners’ time spent living in the southwest during Lynn’s Air Force career. The property officially changed hands in early November during an on-site celebration.

“This generous gift will allow us to deliver immersive, hands-on learning experiences, field days, and workshops that will empower family forest owners across the state to become better stewards of their land,” said Raj Khosla, Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. “It was truly inspiring to hear the Miners’ story and commitment to exceptional forest stewardship. Standing on this land, I could clearly see how it will serve as a living classroom for our students, faculty, landowners, and forestry practitioners for decades to come.”

Representing WSU’s first school forest, the acreage includes a residential log cabin and outbuildings that will support education, training, demonstrations, research, conventions, and other learning opportunities.

The Miners have poured their hearts into this place for the last 30 years, and I am honored to be part of their vision for the future.

Andy Perleberg, WSU Extension forester
Washington State University

“I’m excited by the endless possibilities,” said WSU Extension Forester Andy Perleberg, who has worked with the couple since 2006. “The Miners have poured their hearts into this place for the last 30 years, and I am honored to be part of their vision for the future.”

The couple has a longstanding connection to WSU Extension. After purchasing the land, they soon realized they had their work cut out for them. With the help of mentors including WSU Extension Forestry faculty, federal and state agencies, and local tree farmers, the Miners learned to successfully manage their forest, which includes ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, western larch, grand fir, western red cedar, and aspens.

“They were learners from the start,” Perleberg said. “When they bought their property, they immediately realized they needed to start learning, and WSU was part of that solution.”

Over the decades, the Miners planted more than 11,000 western larch and ponderosa pines, as well as pollinator-friendly flowers and wildlife shrubs that serve as a food source for animals.

“The forest was in incredibly poor health,” Lynn said. “Of course, we didn’t know that initially because we knew absolutely nothing about trees. We worked to bring it back to where it would have been 200 years ago.”

The couple also created wood piles as wildlife habitats, wildlife migration corridors, and nesting boxes for birds and other animals.

“When we arrived, we expected to hear lots of birds singing because we had so many trees,” said Becky, an avid bird watcher who earned her nursing degree from WSU. “We learned the trees were so dense that there was no room for the birds. They came incrementally, as we made the forest healthier. I’ve now logged more than 70 species.”

The Miners have earned state and regional recognition for their hard work, receiving the West Region Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year Award from the American Forest Foundation earlier this year and the Washington Tree Farmer of the Year Award from the Washington Tree Farm Program in 2024.

As they learned more about forestry, wildfire mitigation, and wildlife, the Miners began to share their knowledge, presenting at WSU Extension field days and seminars. They also opened their forest to research, prescribed burn demonstrations, and hands-on learning opportunities for a wide range of learners — from WSU students to elementary school teachers, Boy Scouts, and FFA groups.

While saying goodbye to their beloved property has been bittersweet, the couple remain focused on the lasting impact the land will have.

“We hope that the tree farm continues to be a place of learning and research,” Lynn said. “Since our high school days, Becky and I have felt it is everyone’s responsibility to leave the Earth better than they found it. With this tree farm, we feel that’s what we’ve done.”