By John McClary
Amanda and Kate Foggin are sisters currently living in Calgary, Alberta, who are new woodlotters, having inherited Woodlot 1778 from their father Randy Foggin in 2023. W1778 is located in the Selkirk Resource District near Yahk, British Columbia near the Canada/USA border.
W1778 has an Allowable Annual Cut of 1601 cubic meters which has been logged once every 5 years and does not have any Private (Schedule A) land attached. W1778 has a variety of coniferous species such as Douglas Fir, Cedar, Larch, Spruce and Lodgepole Pine and is located in a snow belt on good growing sites.
There was some previous selective logging and one small cutblock on the
area before their father acquired the woodlot. Many different large animals are found on the woodlot including bear, deer, moose, and elk plus furbearers.
Their family homesteaded in the Yahk area for many years before acquiring W1778 in 1997. Initially, Randy had a partner in the woodlot but after 10 years went forward on his own. The woodlot is currently in Amanada and Kate’s name, but they are in the process of transferring it to a company.
Their father aimed to pass it on to his daughters who grew up in a rural environment and engaging in forestry-related activities which fostered their connection to the land. They have no formal forestry training but have some practical experience from their upbringing.
The sisters are working with a local forestry consultant, who has been instrumental in guiding them through the initial transfer and management processes. They focus on sustainable forest practices and maintaining the health of the forest, including wildfire mitigation strategies.
Kate emphasizes values such as legacy, integrity, pride, and gratitude for the opportunity to manage the woodlot. Amanda highlights their environmental connection and the importance of proactive stewardship of the land. Both feel that growing up in the rural area has instilled land ethic values and their father’s guidance has provided them with a good base for continuing management of W1778.
The sisters have established good relationships with local loggers and the community by continuing their father’s legacy of managing the woodlot and are gaining knowledge and support from the local woodlot community.
There are some challenges including overcutting due to uplift for harvesting beetle infestations, the local Forest Service office asking for area specific cutting permits rather than one overall cutting permit, navigating the approval process for logging operations, managing wildfire hazard mitigation, and limited job opportunities in the Yahk area, which affects their ability to spend more time there.
Unique aspects of their woodlot are being adjacent to a major highway; local community living next to woodlot and growing sites with very merchantable tree species for interior BC.
Kate’s favourite woodlot moments are being on the woodlot with her young family and father looking at newly planted tree seedlings.
Amanda fondly remembers being on the woodlot in their younger years with their father and hiking through Cedar groves smelling the fragrant needles and learning about different tree species. Both sisters remember their father’s pride in owning the woodlot and want to pass the woodlot down to their families in the future.
The sisters aim to ensure the sustainability of the woodlot for future generations and aspire to be a model of successful woodlot management. They expressed a desire to create job opportunities in the local community and maintain strong connections with local residents.
Kate and Amanda advised new woodlot owners to engage a good local forest consultant, seek out community support, attend AGMs, and connect with experienced individuals in the field for guidance.
