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WELCOME KWPA NEW MEMBER
KEYSTONE TIMBER & FORESTRY LLC
BRANCHING OUT: INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS UNITE
MONTOUR COUNTY--Cody Campion and Zac Hess, owners of the newly formed Keystone Timber & Forestry LLC, stand smiling amongst rows of walnut logs that they recently harvested and put out to bid. Accompanied by their four-legged mascot—Hess’s dog—Hank, the duo points at an extraordinary log that stands out amongst the hundreds displayed.
“This is a unique walnut log here. It’s rare that you find a tree of this size and quality,” says Campion. Along with the quality of their most recent harvest, the partners have a lot to be excited about. They are fulfilling a dream that they both envisioned since they met as Forest Technology students at Pennsylvania College of Technology (PCT).
“We always wanted to go into business for ourselves,” says Campion. “We fell in love with the industry. We have a passion for it,” explained Hess.
Following PCT graduation, Campion attended Penn State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Wood Products Science while Hess earned a bachelor’s degree in Forest Resource Management at the University of West Virginia.
With degrees in their hands, they secured jobs with a premier nationally recognized hardwood lumber manufacturer. Although they didn’t work in the same division, they kept in touch and frequently discussed branching out on their own. After ten years of learning the industry’s ins and outs, their dream became a reality. Together they formed Keystone Timber & Forestry LLC, which provides professional forest management, low impact selective harvesting and wildlife habitat improvement.
Together, they have a combined experience of 20 years in the industry, each with their respective specialties—forestry and harvesting/procurement. Leaving behind the comfort of a large company to take on the industry independently, the two thoroughly pondered their professional paths.
“It was a big decision to leave a reputable company that taught us so much,” says Campion. “It was one that we didn’t take lightly—especially since between Zac and I, we have wives and five small children to support." Hess said that their love for the industry and desire to directly serve landowners trumped any hesitations.
“We saw an opportunity. We value working with private landowners. It is rewarding to meet wonderful people and help them fulfill their forest management needs," stated Hess. “Forestry is not just marking trees. It is the art of creating a new forest that is sustainable.”
Campion and Hess are fulfilling a niche as many loggers/foresters are aging out of the industry. The two 30 somethings are eager to work with landowners to maximize forest benefits, add value to the sale, and educate landowners to help them make decisions that are solid choices for the future.
“Zac and Cody are wise beyond their years,” says Walt Mazur, operations manager and one-third owner of 3 Bears Farm, LLC, a third-generation farm located in Schuylkill County that is positioned to grow organic crops including garlic.
Mazur, his brother Mark, and his sister Mary Lynn—all business partners— were searching for someone to safely harvest windblown trees and Ash trees that were impacted by the emerald ash borer. The trio was unsure who would be up for the project as the woodlot was located on a difficult to access portion of the 80 plus acre farm. One day, Mazur saw a logger working alongside the road. He stopped to inquire, and the logger recommended Campion and Hess.
After interviewing the duo and checking references, the 3 Bears Farm owners were confident that Keystone Timber and Forestry was a fit for the job.
“They are genuine. Zac and Cody are homegrown. They have an appreciation for the land. They are true outdoorsmen, and they have land management views that align with my family’s values,” says Mazur. “We treasure our farm. We want to conserve land–not just ours, but land within the state and really the world.”
Mazur and his family are thankful that they entrusted Champion and Hess with the project.
“They did an exceptional job. It was no problem for them that the woodlot is difficult to get to and it borders wetlands” says Mazur. “They had the right equipment.”
Not only did they have the right tools for the job, but throughout the harvest, they kept the farm’s owners up to speed on every aspect of the operation. Often, they would make in person visits and request them to walk the property together. Hess and Campion even professionally navigated through an unforeseen easement issue.
“Can you believe that they devised a contingency plan? They gave us so many options,” says Mazur. “They even went out of their way to contact neighbors to let them know there would be activity on the farm’s property. I can’t speak more highly of them.” Exceptional service is common practice for Keystone Timber and Forestry.
“We want to do things the right way,” says Hess. From their perspectives, there is a long list of right things to do.
“For example, we just don’t want to cut valuable trees,” says Hess. “When looking at a woodlot, we consider things such as spacing and crown health. We want to harvest cull trees—less desirable trees—so more desirable species can regenerate. We are weeding the garden so to speak.” In addition, it is Keystone Timber and Forestry’s goal to minimize disturbance in the forest.
“We have to think about marking trees as though we had a chainsaw in our hands,” said Hess. “And when the job is done, we want to retire roads and landings properly.” Hess says taking such steps will help cultivate strong relationships, improve forest health and nurture future forest value.
“In 15-20 years, we want that landowner to reap the benefits of our work today. It’s not just a win for them, but sustainable forest management is job security for us. We hope to work the same woodlots in the years to come. Our goal is to have returning clients,” said Campion.
Mazur said he would not hesitate to use or recommend Hess and Campion’s services in the future. With forestry, harvesting, and procurement skillsets found within Keystone Timber & Forestry, landowners with properties of any size in Eastern Pennsylvania can benefit from the ‘one-shop-stop experience.’
“We would travel further depending on the job. Having worked throughout the state, Cody and I know where certain species and invasives concentrate and how to best meet landowners’ goals, such as generating income while creating better wildlife habitat,” says Hess. No matter where their jobs may take them, Hess says they are blessed to work within the Commonwealth.
“Pennsylvania’s forests are high quality, and the state is the number one producer of hardwood. For us, it doesn’t get any better than that.”
Campion concluded, “We can’t think of a better job to have. It keeps us in the woods and there is no better place to be.” For more information, visit Keystone Timber & Forestry
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