Sierra Forest Products Hosts Tulare County Forest Alliance for Facility Tour

Sierra Forest Products welcomed a group of forestry professionals and agency representatives to its Terra Bella sawmill for a guided tour showcasing the facility’s operations and contributions to the regions forest products industry.

Hosted by the Tulare County Forest Alliance, the tour brought together 32 participants, including representatives from the County of Tulare—Supervisor Dennis Townsend and the Resource Management Agency—along with CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service, American Forests, Sequoia Riverlands Trust, Yosemite Sequoia RC&D Council, and Save the Redwoods League. Many attendees are also active participants of the Alliance, a collaborative network dedicated to advancing forest health efforts across the region.

Founded in 1967 by Glen Duysen and John Hamacher, Sierra Forest Products has been a key player in California’s wood products industry. Under new ownership, the company continues its legacy with a team of over 100 employees and a commitment to full log utilization—transforming harvested timber into lumber, bark, sawdust, wood chips, and shavings.

Tour participants observed core production activities, including log cutting, decking, wood treatment, quality selection, and damage control. The mill processes about six truckloads of logs per day and maintains steady operations by sourcing timber from areas like Lake Tahoe and Mountain Home. Currently operating at roughly 75% capacity, the facility is well positioned to expand as more timber becomes available. Sierra Forest Products remains dedicated to meeting customer demand while supporting sustainable forest management and the regional economy.

The tour offered a valuable opportunity for cross-sector professionals to connect, learn, and gain a deeper understanding of the operational side of forest product processing in Tulare County.

For more information about the Tulare County Forest Alliance (formerly the Tulare County Forest Health Task Force), contact Doreen Alvez, Grants Specialist/Tulare County Forest Health Coordinator, at [email protected] or (559) 624-7146. For information about Sierra Forest Products, contact [email protected] or (559) 535-4893.