Rasmussen’s legacy lives on at the Siuslaw Model Forest

ACRA―Eric Rasmussen’s ardor of trees and forests was lifelong passion. Once named a “Hero of Conservation” by Field & Stream magazine, Rasmussen passed away on Friday, February 27 at his home in Cairo. He was 89.

Rasmussen’s contributions to conservation are many, but he perhaps best known for establishing the 142-acre Siuslaw Model Forest in Acra.

Growing up in Fulton, his legacy is rooted in childhood trips to the Adirondacks that inspired him to attend Paul Smith's College and the Environmental Sciences and Forestry program at Syracuse University.

After graduation, Rasmussen became a forester with the National Forest Service, working at the 630,000-acre Siuslaw National Forest in Oregon. But love brought him back to New York, specifically the former Lange's Grove Side on State Route 23 in Acra that was run by his first wife’s parents.

In 1959, Rasmussen took over ownership of Lange’s and the land that went with it.

“Even as Eric learned the ropes of running a resort and raising his family the outdoors was where he found his solace. He went to the forested parts of the property and developed a network of nature trails, planted trees and built ponds,” Rasmussen’s family wrote in his obituary.

He named his tree farm Siuslaw, a Native American word for "land of the far away river,” after the forest he worked at after college.

“Always eager to share his love for the forest, Eric thrived on bringing his children, grandchildren, hotel guests, school children and many others into the woods to educate and inspire,” his family stated.

Since 1969, thousands of middle school students from Greene County have visited Siuslaw as part of Environmental Awareness Days.

Rasmussen hosted the first New York State Envirothon in 1991, as well as meetings and programs for the Society of American Foresters, Capital District Chapter of the New York Forest Owners Association, Hudson Mohawk RC&D Council, and Catskill Forest Association, Northeast Deer and Elk Breeder Association.

He received the 1999 New York State Tree Farmer of the Year Award, 2006 Forester of the Year Award and New York Forest Owner’s Association 2016 Heiberg Memorial Award, among other accolades.

“Eric was an amazing steward of the forest and all that exists within it,” said Lisa Gallina, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Columbia and Greene Counties.

Rasmussen managed Suislaw for more than five decades and in 2006, he and his family donated the land to CCE.

“He took great care to educate others about the immense asset Greene County has with its natural resources,” Gallina said, noting that Rasmussen was a strong supporter of CCE programs.

In 2007, Siuslaw was designated a New York City Department of Environmental Protection Model Forest and is managed in partnership with the Watershed Agricultural Council and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Today, Siuslaw is the site of a wide variety of educational programs, ranging from forestry practices and stream science to bird walks and nature studies. The property is open for self-guided tours where visitors can learn about land stewardship, tree identification and agroforestry by exploring signage and brochures. It also has its own weather station to record temperature, wind speed, rainfall and other data.

“The staff and volunteers of CCE of Columbia and Greene Counties would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the family of Eric Rasmussen,” said Gallina, adding that his visits to the Agroforestry Resource Center, located just across the street from Siuslaw, will be missed.  

“His generosity is why we have our splendid Siuslaw Model Forest to continue his legacy of community education,” she said.

A complete obituary for Rasmussen can be found here.