Forests for the Future 

Archie “Red” Emmerson was a young man working at a sawmill when he and his father saw the opportunity to purchase a mill and go into business together. 

With a $10,000 loan in 1949, Sierra Pacific Industires was born. Driven by Red’s vision and work ethic, Sierra Pacific now manages a vast 2.3 million acres of timberland across California, Oregon and Washington. 

Red’s son Mark leads the company as the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer, representing the third generation of the family business. 

Investing in Healthy Forests 

“It’s a big responsibility owning 2.3 million acres, and we don’t take it lightly,” Mark said. “We benefit people in the communities around us; we benefit more than 200 species of animals and birds that live on the land; we benefit the environment by sequestering carbon and delivering oxygen.” 

Managing vast expanses of land requires a long-term approach. Each year, Sierra Pacific plants up to six million new trees, including native species like Douglas fir, white fir, hemlock and ponderosa pine.  

“We’re more than sustainable,” Mark said. “We’re growing significantly more timber than we’re cutting every year.” 

A Partner in Agriculture 

Over the years, Sierra Pacific has partnered with American AgCredit to structure the right financing options and gain insights from a team with deep expertise in agricultural finance.  

Mark said he appreciates working with a lender who understands agriculture and the cyclical nature of the business. 

“We have an absolutely wonderful relationship,” Mark said. “I’ve never dealt with anybody that understands our business better.” 

This article was originally published by American AgCredit.