GORHAM, N.H. — At its Annual Meeting, the membership of New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association (NHTOA) elected David Marden, founder of Boot Hill Farm Land Services, Stratham, N.H., to the association’s board of directors. The 106th Annual Meeting of the NHTOA, which was founded in 1911, was held May 13, 2017, at the Town and Country Inn & Resort in Gorham, N.H.
David Marden comes to the NHTOA Board of Directors by way of an unusual path. A native of Newton, N.H., he was a tractor salesman for a time after graduating from high school. Then he headed out to west to work as a custom wheat harvester.
“We worked 16-hour days, beginning in Texas and working our way north to Montana as the wheat, barley, and sunflowers ripened,” he remembers. “I drove trucks and combines and enjoyed the work.” But the long days and long seasons took their toll, and Dave moved on to Oregon and worked there as a landscaper. Yet the West, beautiful and scenic and remarkable as it is, wasn’t truly home, and in 2000 Dave loaded his gear on to a trailer and drove east. After returning to New Hampshire, he established Boot Hill Farm Land Services in Stratham.
“I most enjoy the stewardship jobs,” he observes. “With those, I can work with a landowner to complete a project and return in the future to help further improve the property. In those situations, I feel that I have done something worthwhile.” His many clients include the state of New Hampshire, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and former NHTOA directors and presidents Isobel Parke and Ned Therrien.
“I am looking forward to working with David on the NHTOA board. His commitment to long-term sustainable land management and work ethic will be real assets to the NHTOA board of directors” said Jasen Stock, NHTOA executive director.