Still with the Smith’s, a century later

Family Tree Farm in Hayden honored by Idaho Historical Society

HAYDEN — A lot of things have changed in this area since 1920.

One thing that has remained the same is the O.K. Smith Family Tree Farm.

Over 100 years since purchasing the land in Hayden, a Smith has maintained the property.

“We grew up pretty much logging and raising cattle,” Gary Smith said. “We had chickens and rabbits for a short time, with a huge garden to work out of. Grandma Smith was in charge of the garden and put us kids to work. Mainly, it’s just a lot of work logging, gathering firewood since that was our main source of heat. We’ve had to put up hay for the cattle and sell straw along the fence property on Prairie to see us through the fall, as well as use it for our own cattle.”

The property is now maintained by Randy Smith and his wife, Lynette. Randy Smith retired as an Assistant Area Leader for the Army in 2018 to take over the operations of the farm from his parents, Warren and Sharon Smith.

“I didn’t really go anywhere but Missoula, Yakima and Albuquerque, N.M., during the second half of service,” Randy Smith said. “My first half was in Carson, Colo., but a lot of my recruiting counseling was here in Spokane or Coeur d’Alene. I always wanted to come back to the farm. It’s a good thing I’ve got a supportive wife to help me out.”

“Randy has started with a herd of cattle and some goats,” said Gary Smith, a semi-truck driver. “He’s trying to get the garden going again, so Randy and Lynette are starting some of those things again. We’ve got to have the logging operations hired out right now. As a truck driver, it’s hard to get out here as much anymore, and our older brother, Dan, is in Oklahoma. Us kids, we kind of grew up and had to get our own careers while dad and mom were running the farm. Now that they can’t, Randy has been the one that’s retired and came back and kind of run things.”

On Saturday, the Smiths were named a Century Farm by the Idaho Historical Society. The award was created to recognize the importance and extra ordinary contribution of Idaho’s farming and ranching pioneers by honoring those families who have farmed or ranched the same land their ancestors did 100 years ago. Since the program began in 1990, over 450 farms and ranches statewide have been designated by the state, with the Smith Family Tree Farm the first timber farm recognized.

“It’s really just an honor,” Sharon Smith said. “Just knowing that my husband’s father bought the original 160 acres in 1920 — and I’ve been out here since 1958 — it’s just neat to having something stay in the family that long.”

In 1945, the farm was registered with the National Tree Farm Association and became the first registered tree farm in the state.

“It’s absolutely huge,” Randy Smith said. “When I grew up, the Rathdrum Prairie was all fields and farming. I used to change irrigation pipes and straw at the corner of Lancaster and U.S. 95. Now it’s all businesses and apartments, and it’s kind of sad to see the beautiful farms turned into housing. To keep this one intact at the same time that the ones near here have been sold off to 20-arce pieces, that’s huge to keep this one intact.”

Sharon Smith has seen good and bad times as well.

“The toughest times have been more recent,” Sharon Smith said. “In 1999, our barn burned down and we had to sell our cattle. Everything has kind of gone downhill with our health and kind of disintegrated. We’d like to re-do a few buildings, but just don’t have the energy to keep going anymore. Randy wants to keep it going, but we’d like to keep things in the family as long as possible.”

Warren, who now lives in an assisted living facility, was able to attend the dedication.

“The award is special, but is also sad with the condition that Warren is in now,” Sharon Smith said. “I’m not able to see and visit him right now (due to COVID-19 restrictions), so it’s nice to do this.”

Becky Mumford, Sharon’s daughter who works in Coeur d’Alene, remains nearby as well.

“I’ve lived out here most of my life,” Mumford said. “I spent a few years in town with my husband until we decided to purchase some property from my mom and dad. I’ve traveled to a lot of states and part of Europe, including where our grandmother is from in Switzerland, and it’s beautiful there. But there’s nowhere like home. It’s special to receive this award. It’s something special that we’ve worked hard to keep the farm intact.”