Don Oakes Oral History Interview

In this interview, Don Oakes, a lifelong resident of Benton County, reflects on his family's deep roots in the region dating back to his great grandfather's arrival from Missouri in 1876. He provides a brief background of his family history, offering anecdotes about his ancestors’ lives in Oregon, from fighting in the Civil War to running a grocery store. He connects this family history to the property he owns and lives on, noting that it has been in his family for multiple generations.

Oakes then turns to a discussion of the property, recounting the challenges of restoring the orchard, managing the land, and maintaining the trees. He offers anecdotes about logging and farming on his property, and discusses how proud he is that he’ll be able to leave the land to his own children.

From there, Oakes offers anecdotes about his family life, recounting memories of planting trees with both his parents (and, later in his life, his grandchildren), teaching his children about logging, and going apple-picking with his wife. He states that he believes it’s important to help children develop a sense of connection and feeling of responsibility for nature. Oakes then describes a family magazine he has developed to keep everyone informed and engaged in upcoming activities. Throughout the conversation, Oakes touches on the challenges and considerations fundamental to land stewardship. He expresses his hopes to strike a balance between finances and the sentimental value of the land.

Don Oakes (b. 1935) was born and raised on his family’s property near Monroe, Oregon, where he learned about forestry and logging from his father. He followed in his father’s footsteps and became a logger himself upon entering adulthood, a job that he would continue for the entirety of his career. A former superintendent for Hull-Oakes Lumber, Oakes owns close to 1,000 acres of timber property in Benton County. With his wife, Donna, Oakes raised five children.