Bob Kintigh, a Lane County forest landowner and former state senator, and Jim James, general manager of western timber and logging for Willamette Industries, have been elected to the board of directors of the Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI). Kintigh will be the Small Woodland Owner representative on the board and James will represent Class 3 producers.
Oregon forest products producers also re-elected Barte Starker, executive vice president for Starker Forests in Corvallis, and Jeff Van Natta of Van Natta Brothers in Rainier, to OFRI’s board. Starker will represent Class 2 producers, and Van Natta will represent producers in Class 1.
The Oregon Legislature created OFRI in 1991 to improve understanding of forestry and the state’s forest resources. Funded by a portion of the harvest tax on forest products producers, the Institute provides information and education programs on forestry in Oregon and encourages sound forest management.
OFRI’s board includes representatives of small, medium and large forest products producers, small woodland owners and forest products employees. A public representative and the dean of the Oregon State University College of Forestry also serve as ex officio members.
Class 1 producers are those paying a harvest tax on less than 20 million board feet annually. Class 2 producers pay a harvest tax on between 20 million and 100 million board feet annually. Class 3 producers pay a harvest tax on more than 100 million board feet annually.
Small woodland owners are defined as owning between 100 and 2,000 acres of forestland and having no direct financial interest in any forest products facility.
OFRI’s board elections are administered by the Oregon Department of Forestry. The board will fill an appointed producer-at-large position at its June 22 meeting and will elect next year’s officers at its Aug. 24 meeting. New board members will begin three-year terms on July 1.