The Green County Forestry Educational Center, the brainchild of one of Green County's leading cheesemakers, Albert Deppeler, celebrates 45 years next month. During its inception in 1968, the center's fledging corporation sold membership shares at $25 each to raise $6,100 needed to purchase the West Clarno School, a one-room, brick building auctioned off by the Monroe School District.
Behind it sat 20 acres of woods, which Deppeler and his wife, Marion, donated to the cause. Together, the building and woodlot became a center to educate the public about the value of small woodlots and preserving the important resource.
Among the original foresighted environmentalists were Deppeler, Harry Williams and Arleigh Frautschy, all of rural Monroe; Phillip Brown, Brooklyn; John Marty, Browntown; Myron Jeglum, the county extension agent; and Attorney Rodney Kittelsen, who helped set up the corporation.
Located in Clarno, along County P between Wisconsin 69 and the Badger State Trail, the center still offers youth groups and passing bicyclists the wooded area for exploring and an open area for camping and picnics. The building, complete with kitchen facilities and indoor bathrooms, is for rent and is being refurbished.
The Green County Forestry Educational Center Inc. also offers scholarships to graduating seniors pursuing a degree in the natural resources field.
And it the still offers $25 lifetime memberships.
How the center got its start
In the early days of settling the county, "timber was not so valuable as a piece of land on farms," said James Deppeler, Albert's nephew, "but they needed the timber to sustain themselves, for firewood."
By the mid-1960s, county schools were going by the wayside and environmental awareness had blossomed. Albert Deppeler took his idea for timber preservation and education to the Monroe School Board, which turned him down. The building would go to the highest bidder.
Deppeler realized a salvage yard operator was also interested in purchasing the school house and feared an educational opportunity would be lost.
He and eight other concerned farmers and businessmen rose to the challenge, putting up their own money to buy the school house and creating the Green County Forestry Educational Center Inc.
The non-profit corporation raised the money to pay back the original founders; although, James Deppeler believes the founding members traded a lot of their investment for membership shares.
"I think Albert bought more than one membership," Deppeler said smiling.
'He made people'
James Deppeler's uncle, Albert, had a passion for teaching young people and was well-known for his belief in hard work and education, James said.
"He made cheese, and he grew timber, but mostly, he made people," he added.
Deppeler recalled the story of a young boy whose mother had arranged for him to work for Albert one summer. The boy didn't want to work for Albert Deppeler.
"He said, 'Mr. Deppeler makes me think too hard,'" James Deppeler recalled.
Albert was a woodworking leader for many 4-H clubs in the area and served on the Green County Fair Board judging woodworking for many years. He believed it was important for youth to understand the importance of good timber management, James Deppeler explained.
Albert Deppeler spent 50 years at the Chalet Cheese Factory. He owned and operated the Deppeler Cheese Factory in Clarno Township and was the manager at the Chalet Factory. He was known as a Master Cheesemaker in the development of Baby Swiss.
Forestry legacy
Albert Deppeler was also an outstanding tree farmer and sawmill operator, and when he retired from cheesemaking in 1997, he devoted himself to timber management and development.
Albert and Marion were charter members of the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association, in addition to being co-founders of the Green County Forestry Education Center. They were recognized as Outstanding Tree Farmer for Wisconsin in 1983, Regional Tree Farmers of the Year in 1984 and runner-ups for National Tree Farmers in 1986.
Albert died in 2008, and Marion, in 2012.
James Deppeler now manages Albert and Marion Deppeler's estate and family trust. Marion left a major portion of her estate to the Green County Forestry Center, which goes toward maintenance and upkeep, James said.
He also arranged to set aside one of the Deppelers' many wooded lots, just south of Monticello, as a satellite of the Forestry Educational Center for students in the northern parts of the county.
James Deppeler also sits on the current board for the center, along with Jason Kundert, Dick Wehinger, Alan Tschudy, Dennis Matzke, Laruen Meinert, Jim Sacker and Steve Frazier, the logger and sawmill operator for the Deppeler Woodshop. They all have an interest in forestry and timber preservation, Deppeler said.
The Green County Forestry Educational Center woods is accessible to visitors. The center includes flush bathrooms, running water, fire pit, grill, shelter and the 20-acre woodlot. To make a donation or to reserve the center for your group, contact Keith Ginner, 1401 26th Ave., Monroe, WI 53566 or call 608-325-6980. Groups are requested to purchase a $25 lifetime membership. For more information about the center, visit www.badger-trail.com.
Behind it sat 20 acres of woods, which Deppeler and his wife, Marion, donated to the cause. Together, the building and woodlot became a center to educate the public about the value of small woodlots and preserving the important resource.
Among the original foresighted environmentalists were Deppeler, Harry Williams and Arleigh Frautschy, all of rural Monroe; Phillip Brown, Brooklyn; John Marty, Browntown; Myron Jeglum, the county extension agent; and Attorney Rodney Kittelsen, who helped set up the corporation.
Located in Clarno, along County P between Wisconsin 69 and the Badger State Trail, the center still offers youth groups and passing bicyclists the wooded area for exploring and an open area for camping and picnics. The building, complete with kitchen facilities and indoor bathrooms, is for rent and is being refurbished.
The Green County Forestry Educational Center Inc. also offers scholarships to graduating seniors pursuing a degree in the natural resources field.
And it the still offers $25 lifetime memberships.
How the center got its start
In the early days of settling the county, "timber was not so valuable as a piece of land on farms," said James Deppeler, Albert's nephew, "but they needed the timber to sustain themselves, for firewood."
By the mid-1960s, county schools were going by the wayside and environmental awareness had blossomed. Albert Deppeler took his idea for timber preservation and education to the Monroe School Board, which turned him down. The building would go to the highest bidder.
Deppeler realized a salvage yard operator was also interested in purchasing the school house and feared an educational opportunity would be lost.
He and eight other concerned farmers and businessmen rose to the challenge, putting up their own money to buy the school house and creating the Green County Forestry Educational Center Inc.
The non-profit corporation raised the money to pay back the original founders; although, James Deppeler believes the founding members traded a lot of their investment for membership shares.
"I think Albert bought more than one membership," Deppeler said smiling.
'He made people'
James Deppeler's uncle, Albert, had a passion for teaching young people and was well-known for his belief in hard work and education, James said.
"He made cheese, and he grew timber, but mostly, he made people," he added.
Deppeler recalled the story of a young boy whose mother had arranged for him to work for Albert one summer. The boy didn't want to work for Albert Deppeler.
"He said, 'Mr. Deppeler makes me think too hard,'" James Deppeler recalled.
Albert was a woodworking leader for many 4-H clubs in the area and served on the Green County Fair Board judging woodworking for many years. He believed it was important for youth to understand the importance of good timber management, James Deppeler explained.
Albert Deppeler spent 50 years at the Chalet Cheese Factory. He owned and operated the Deppeler Cheese Factory in Clarno Township and was the manager at the Chalet Factory. He was known as a Master Cheesemaker in the development of Baby Swiss.
Forestry legacy
Albert Deppeler was also an outstanding tree farmer and sawmill operator, and when he retired from cheesemaking in 1997, he devoted himself to timber management and development.
Albert and Marion were charter members of the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association, in addition to being co-founders of the Green County Forestry Education Center. They were recognized as Outstanding Tree Farmer for Wisconsin in 1983, Regional Tree Farmers of the Year in 1984 and runner-ups for National Tree Farmers in 1986.
Albert died in 2008, and Marion, in 2012.
James Deppeler now manages Albert and Marion Deppeler's estate and family trust. Marion left a major portion of her estate to the Green County Forestry Center, which goes toward maintenance and upkeep, James said.
He also arranged to set aside one of the Deppelers' many wooded lots, just south of Monticello, as a satellite of the Forestry Educational Center for students in the northern parts of the county.
James Deppeler also sits on the current board for the center, along with Jason Kundert, Dick Wehinger, Alan Tschudy, Dennis Matzke, Laruen Meinert, Jim Sacker and Steve Frazier, the logger and sawmill operator for the Deppeler Woodshop. They all have an interest in forestry and timber preservation, Deppeler said.
The Green County Forestry Educational Center woods is accessible to visitors. The center includes flush bathrooms, running water, fire pit, grill, shelter and the 20-acre woodlot. To make a donation or to reserve the center for your group, contact Keith Ginner, 1401 26th Ave., Monroe, WI 53566 or call 608-325-6980. Groups are requested to purchase a $25 lifetime membership. For more information about the center, visit www.badger-trail.com.