Clatsop Natural Resources awards dinner rakes in $189,000+

Published 11:59 am Monday, January 26, 2026

Community, forests, farms and fisheries take center stage, support high school programs

The Astorian

A sold-out crowd filled the Clatsop County Fair & Expo Center on Jan. 15, bringing around 500 people together for an evening that included a dinner, awards and a silent and live auction, all in the name of natural resources and education. The $55-a-plate dinner featuring surf-and-turf — steak and crab was catered by White Cap Catering. The food was donated by: Main Street Market for the steaks; Bornstein’s Seafoods for crab; and Pacific Seafood donated all of the shrimp. Fort George, Buoy Beer, Pilot House, Pacifick Distillery and Van Dusen Beverages donated all of the drinks, Tillamook Creamery donated the ice cream, Fern Hill Holly Farm donated all of the greenery for centerpieces and the fairgrounds donated the use of the facility.

The evening was both a fundraiser and “a reflection of how deeply natural resources — such as timber and fishing — are woven into the fabric of local life,” said Lindsay Davis, CWWC President/OWIT member. “Natural resources aren’t abstract concepts here—they’re part of our heritage and our daily lives. Many of us spend our working hours in the woods, on the water, or in the fields, and that work is what supports our families, our schools, and our communities.”

Resources that sustain a community

Clatsop County’s forests, farmlands and working waterfronts are active, working systems that support foresters, loggers, mill workers, fishermen, processors, truck drivers, welders, mechanics and others.

Local forests support lumber manufacturing that provides building materials for homes across the country. Timber harvested from Clatsop State Forest funds rural public services. Fish landed at local docks and grown in local fields support regional food systems and global markets. These industries anchor a workforce that lives locally, pays taxes locally, and invests back into schools, civic organizations and community events.

Investing in the next generation

“The $189,000 raised this year will directly benefit county high schools,” said Davis, “supporting programs that introduce students to forestry, fisheries, agriculture, manufacturing and natural sciences. These programs help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world careers — many of which are available locally.

“For students whose parents and grandparents have worked in the woods or on the water, the event reinforces pride in those professions. For others, it opens doors to career paths they may not have considered, from technical trades to resource management and environmental science.”

A reflection of community values

Now in its fifth year, the Clatsop Natural Resources Dinner has grown. Roughly 500 attendees — from industry workers and educators to local leaders and families — came together with the shared understanding that working forests, farms and waterfronts are essential to the county’s future.

As the evening concluded, one theme stood out, Davis said. “The communities of Oregon’s North Coast take great pride in their timber, fishing and farming sectors. These working industries generate the tax base that funds local schools and provide family-wage jobs for the parents raising the next generation here. At a time when many rural communities face economic uncertainty, the success of the 2026 event sends a clear message: Clatsop County values the people who work in natural resources and recognizes their role in building more resilient communities.”

2026 awards

Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Russ Hunter, DVM

Forestry Landowner/Operator: Shawn Teevin & Teevin Bros. Land & Timber

Forestry Operator: Todd Perrigo

Commercial Fisherman: Rick Quashnick F/V Maverick

Seafood Processor: Andrew Bornstein & Bornstein Seafoods

Farmer of the Year: Ed Johnson

In Memoriam: Jon Englund , Jeanne Seppa, Don  Jester