“Colonel Al W. Farnsworth, USAF, passed away quietly at his home in Bonners Ferry, ID on May 27, 2020.” This matter-of-fact statement preludes a conversation about a truly remarkable man. The Idaho Forest Owners Association Education Foundation appreciates the wonderful life of Al Farnsworth.
In addition to his love and care for his family and community, Al loved forests, forestry, and forest stewardship. Over the course of his 95 years on earth, Al acquired and actively maintained several thousand acres of Idaho forestland. Al studied about forestry, hired and utilized consulting foresters, physically and financially worked hard to improve his forests, joined forest owner advocate organizations, and eagerly volunteered to help these organizations and his community in any way he could.
Al loved forests and wanted others to experience the beauty and benefits forests provide. Picnicking, bird watching, hiking, biking, horseback riding, forest classroom events and other recreational and educational access was freely given through Al’s spirit of sharing.
The current project Al was endeavoring until his dying day to accomplish is a publicly available trail system on his “Enchanted Forest” holdings outside the town of Bonners Ferry. In an arrangement with the 9B Trails organization in Boundary County, volunteer work is ongoing to finish the many miles of trails and facilities for this lasting legacy of Al Farnsworth’s service to the education of all of us concerning the enduring value of forests in all our lives.
Donations to IFOA-EF’s “Farnsworth Enchanted Forest Trails” project have developed, produced, and placed several forestry educational and interpretive signs at locations of interest along the several hiking/biking trails in the Enchanted Forest, as well as a sign noting Al’s lifelong passion for forest stewardship and his desire to share that experience with others.
Donations to this IFOA-EF fund are welcomed and appreciated in order to maintain and enhance Al’s final project, and to honor his life of dedication and service to forestry and his fellow humans.
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