At last week’s community celebration of the newly signed working forest easement on Sugar Hills – 1,660 acres of unique northern hardwood forests – Senator Tom Saxhaug reminisced to the crowd about the handshake deal he made years ago as county commissioner with Jack Rajala that sealed the Rajala company’s commitment to the people of Itasca County to be good stewards of that special tract.

Sugar Hills Celebration

Lots of hometown folks including Elmer Cone, Mark Johnson, John Almendinger, Catherine McLynn, Bud Stone, and foundation trustees Marian Barcus, Jim Benson, and Mike Johnson — to name just a few with whom I had a chance to visit — and some big wigs from St. Paul and DC — like DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten, Congressman Jim Oberstar, and USDA Undersecretary Mark Rey — came out to the site, meticulously maintained in the winter by the Northern Light Noridic Ski Club, and on this summer day beautifully decked out with a tent and banners by a host of volunteers under the able direction of Trust for Public Land’s Becca Nash.

In his remarks, Rajala Companies President John Rajala told the audience the story of how Becca and her colleagues at TPL, and other members of the Forest Legacy Partnership, had worked doggedly with him and his family to craft the working forest easement that will allow the Rajalas to make good on Jack’s handshake in perpetuity. Jim Oberstar reached for lyricism when he told the crowd that their success in protecting this forest was a beacon for a better future.

It was a beautiful celebration of a visionary and successful public-private partnership on a beautiful day in a beautiful woods, graced by good fellowship, good feelings, and, at the end, by the sweet sound of voices lifted together in song as Mary and Don LaPlant offered musical accompaniment to America the Beautiful.

Sugar Hills Celebration

TNC’s Itasca Field Representative Art Norton led tours afterwards. If you weren’t able to be with us, email Art if you’d like to arrange your own tour.

It was a great day for Itasca Co., for Minnesota, and for future Minnesotans. I know that for sure because TNC’s Tom Landwehr took a call while at the podium from our future generations – calling to register their thanks.