Perraults surpass 50 years as tree farm owners

With private woodlands changing ownership an average of every seven years, it could be considered an achievement for a parcel of forest land to remain under one ownership for more than 50 years. The Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association on Sept. 20 presented Jeanette Perrault with a sign designating her property in the town of Beaver in Marinette County as a certified 50-year tree farm. The 156-acre tree farm has been enrolled in the American Tree Farm System for more than 50 years. It started as a 40-acre purchase by Jeanette’s late husband, Ken Perrault, in 1960. That initial land purchase started a labor of love that spanned years of work, including land clearing, tree planting, fire lane maintenance, and other wildlife and forest habitat work. That same dedication is present today in Ken and Jeanette’s children, who continue to maintain the roads and trails throughout the property and adhere to sustainable forest practices to maintain the health and productivity of the woodlands for future generations to enjoy.