California Tree Farmers of the Year 2004
Larry and Geri Hyder of Camino, El Dorado County are the California Tree Farmers of the year 2004.  Their 150-acre Indian Rock Tree Farm at 3800 North Canyon Road is a showplace of outstanding multiple-use forest management.  Their ownership goes back 45 years.

They have over 10,000 visitors every year, just for Christmas trees.  They also manage several other properties.  They are booked solid on summer weekends by fly fishermen for catch-and-release Rainbow trout.  They have a beautiful site along their stream used for outdoor weddings.  They grow and collect wild mushrooms.  They collect forest tree seeds for seedling growth in their own nursery.

This past year they, in cooperation with the California Christmas Tree Association, shipped a tree seedling to each service person from El Dorado County serving in the military. 

Larry is a full-time Tree Farmer.  He has a strong interest in multiple uses generating income from their property.  Their Tree Farm has been the site of numerous field trips by Forest Landowners of California, Farm Bureau, Christmas Tree Growers, and other groups.  He is a past President and former Director of Forest Landowners of California, an association of nonindustrial forest land owners.  He also hires out for surveying and finding property corners.  Congratulations!