During a Land Stewardship meeting at the Chalet on Nov 13th, 2025, Minocqua Winter Park (MWP) landowner Chuck Kuhnmuench received the award for 2025 District 5 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year. The award was presented on behalf of the American Tree Farm System by Matt Carothers, Principal Consulting Forester for the Superior Woodlands Company.
“Established in 1941, the American Tree Farm System is the oldest and largest 3rd party forest certification program in the world. Covering 19 million acres owned by 74,000 families, Tree Farm recognizes landowners’ sustainable practices on-the-ground and labels their forest products as Certified in the marketplace,” explains Carothers.
Since the early 1990s, the Kuhnmuench family has contributed a trail corridor to MWP, allowing skiers to enjoy Lake Marie. The next time you ski beside Lake Marie, keep your eyes peeled for educational signs indicating forest growth over time. In addition to earning Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year for District 5, Kuhnmuench also qualified for the same award for Oneida County, and received second place for the State of Wisconsin.
Many years of forestry management by Kuhnmuench led to winning this award, as described by Carothers: “Kuhnmuench Family Legacy Trust was one of the first non-industrial private forest landowners to purchase from pulp & paper mill landbase outsales. They have a long success story of continuing to practice excellent forestry on the land. It is a positive tale where parcelization/fragmentation did not lead to a loss of productive forestry. In fact, one could argue the Kuhnmuench ownership, which is now longer tenured than any of their industrial predecessors, has increased productive forestry. They also open their land to the Minocqua Winter Park ski trail system each winter. Chuck Kuhnmuench is a well-respected voice on forestry matters in the neighborhood, advising Minocqua Winter Park’s land stewardship committee and encouraging neighbors to learn the benefits of forestry, too. Tree Farm chose the Kuhnmuench Family for Oneida County and District 5 awards because of their steadfast commitment to long-term forestry as a means to enhance and protect their family’s legacy of conservation. They make a plan, they stick to it, and work hard to see it through.”
MWP’s extensive trail system is possible through partnerships with over 20 landowners—both public and private—that allow MWP to operate trail corridors on their land. Thank you to all MWP Landowners and congratulations to Mr. Kuhnmuench and his family on the award.
