MFA's Demonstration Forests
Special thanks to Fred Prince
Fred Prince was a man who loved forests. It has been said that Fred’s greatest passion and life’s work was enveloped around the reforestation of the state. He was so driven by his passion that he invested in over 12,000 acres of Michigan property in order to make a difference. Fred worked hand in hand with foresters to prepare plans for these properties, and to manage them so that they were even better for future generations. He had no taste for “cut and run”, but preferred to move slowly and manage the land for forest health, research and forest system vitality. He formed a non-profit organization called Forests for the Future and deeded all his properties to it.
Following Fred’s death in 2011, the board of directors of Forests for the Future decided to donate their land holdings to other entities, rather than try to duplicate their educational and management efforts Six of these properties were deeded to MFA. Fred Prince’s legacy of stewardship for his forests is a testament to his vision and a gift to us all.
More special thanks–to Keith Argow!
Keith Argow, Founder and President Emeritus of the National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA), has passed one of his 40 acre parcels to MFA to use as a demonstration forest. It’s located between Cadillac and Manistee, and easily accessible along M37. As with all of MFA’s properties, it is always open to the public. Please respect the land and carry out anything you bring in with you!
Map of the properties:
Clare County
This 40 acre parcel is located on the southeast corner of S Old State Road & W Larch Road. It’s primarily a mix of aspen and red oak.
Emmet County – Valley Road
This 40 acre parcel is located approx. 2 miles south of E Levering Rd on the west side of Valley Road. It’s a classic northern hardwood stand dominated by sugar maple.
Emmet County – Robinson Road
This 40 acre parcel is located approx. 2.5 miles west of Pellston on the south side of Robinson Road. It’s a mix of red pine plantation, red maple, and northern hardwoods with patches of aspen.
Gogebic County
This is an 80 acre parcel, located east of East Shore Road, east of Lake Gogebic. It’s primarily a rich northern hardwood forest.
Iron County
This 40 acre parcel is located approx. 3 miles south of Caspian off M189. Take Ranch Road for 1/4 mile to reach the southeast corner of the forest. It’s also a classic northern hardwood stand with an abandoned farm field.
Isabella County
Unlike the other properties that MFA manages, this 40 acre parcel is landlocked (no public access) and enrolled under the Qualified Forest Program.
Argow Property (Whitetail Run)
Keith Argow, primary founder of the National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA), is a fervent advocate for forestry, forestlands, and family forests. Keith acquired this parcel from the U.S. Forest Service in a land exchange about 25 years ago. It was one of the firest Michigan forests enrolled in the Forest Stewardship Program and also given a “Green Tag” certification (developed by the NWOA and the Association of Consulting Foresters in 2001). The upland hardwoods were most recently harvested in 2000 as a shelterwood cut, and a pocket of aspen in the northwest corner of the property was clearcut in 1994. Things are growing back well. The property is easily accessible from M-37, just north of M-55.
