Submitted by Linda Smith - past administrator for the Montana Tree Farm System 

Three older adults standing together holding signs that celebrate "75 Years" and a "Certified Tree Farm" designation

Art Weaver’s father purchased the land in 1938, and at that time you couldn’t even park a car on the property; it was so full of thick underbrush and 4’ stumps left behind by the previous owner. Originally, they purchased 80 acres and in 1945 an additional 160 acres were purchased. As the years passed, some of the property was sold for family members to build homes on the mountainside and now the Tree Farm has a total of 140 acres. As you enter the property on Elk Park Road, you can’t miss the beautiful majestic stand of Blue Spruce trees. Leading up the driveway you come into view of a majestic pond and a lovely home amongst the trees.

Wood 

The Weavers became Certified Tree Farmers in 1945, one of the first in the state of Montana. They were honored as 75 year Tree Farmers in 2019 at the Annual Meeting in Columbia Falls. Pictured above is Art and Barb Weaver with Tree Farm inspector, Ron Buentemeier, receiving their new 75 Year Tree Farm Sign. It is proudly on display in their front yard. Art and Barb purchased the property in 1963 from his parents and used their home in Evergreen as a down payment, while his parents moving into their Evergreen home. The following year, the Evergreen home narrowly escaped damages from the floodwaters that overflowed the Flathead River. Unable to get to his parents, Art climbed up the mountainside with a set of binoculars. From there he could see the family home on Maple Drive and to this day he still remembers spotting the irises planted around the outside of the home. At that moment he knew their home had escaped heavy damage and his parents were safe!

Art’s father began thinning and reforesting the property with a forester named Royer. They began sawing the trees down and hauling them out with a team of horses. For many years they harvested Christmas trees and cut posts and poles. Eventually they had a logger come in and do selective thinning on 100 acres. Salvaged blowdown and poor soil at the base of the mountain made it hard to grow the trees at first. After they thinned the fir and lodgepole, they had a fair amount of straight growing trees! It has taken time and patience though!

Art states:

“One huge advantage of being a Tree Farmer is that he can call his own shots – Art hates taking orders from others –with the Tree Farm he can listen to their ideas and then do what he prefers!”

Wildlife 

Wildlife are very plentiful as a result of managing the land. It was important to Art is that all seven grandchildren were able to hunt successfully on the Tree Farm. Herds of elk frequent the open field, many deer come thru, as do an occasional grizzly bear, black bear, bald eagle, mountain lion, falcons, wild turkeys. They have installed a game camera and can monitor the various wildlife on the property.

Water 

A beautiful man-made pond can be seen when you drive into the driveway complete with a rowboat, just waiting for the grandchildren to use. Nearby is a 6” water spigot that has been used many times to refill water tankers in case of fire. The water spigot was put to good use one evening when Barb looked out the window to see flames headed in their direction! The flames were 10’ high! Art immediately got the water truck started up. As he came closer, he realized he 7 would have to lay down on the seat of the truck and drive thru the flames in order to save his land. He ended up with burns on his arms from the heat. He refilled the water truck a couple of times to put out that fire. A combine had been cutting a nearby barley field and parked the combine way too close to some trash and it started the field on fire! Luckily, Art had been a volunteer fireman with Bad Rock Fire Department and he knew how to fight that fire! He also believes in watering and keeping a green space around the home.

Rocks 

The land has rocks! In 1975 they started the gravel business and developed a large gravel pit. Art bought a little loader and truck to get started. Eventually a large rock crusher was purchased. At one time they had eight trucks running out of the gravel pit, with Barb dispatching radios, phones, doing the bookwork. It was a busy place! Soon Art got tired of the governmental control with random inspections by Mine, Safety, Health Agency (MSHA). With Steve’s help, he listed with a broker the huge $400,000. crusher, 10 days later it was SOLD and he shut everything down! Much to the surprise of the inspector from (MSHA)! Art was so tired of the bureaucratic red tape and the law books! Thank God the Tree Farm doesn’t require that!

Art has a car collection. He started with two Internationals. He found enjoyment in an Austin Healy race car and spent many hours racing with his car and had lots of FUN! Art still has 9 antique vehicles in his shop – he built lots of them from junk up– the photos of the cars are just beautiful!

At age 89, Art was the second generation to own Weaver’s Tree Farm located in the Bad Rock area of Columbia Falls. Art graduated Flathead High School in 1950 and earned a purple heart during the Korean War. He passed away just over a year ago leaving his wife and kids to manage one of the oldest Family Forests in Montana.