Glenn Snyder named Colorado’s Outstanding Tree Farmer of 2026
For more than 30 years, Glenn Snyder has worked to improve the health and resilience of his 105-acre forest near Livermore. In recognition of his dedication to forest stewardship, the Colorado Family Forests named him the 2026 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year.
A longtime U.S. Forest Service employee, Snyder purchased his first 35-acre parcel in 1992 and gradually acquired neighboring properties. He enrolled in the Colorado Forest Ag Program and later joined Colorado Family Forests, part of the national American Tree Farm System.
Snyder ‘s property is dominated by ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir, with patches of aspen and occasional Rocky Mountain juniper and limber pine. Historically, ponderosa pine forests experienced frequent, low-intensity fires that reduced understory vegetation and maintained relatively open stands. Decades of fire suppression have contributed to denser forests in many areas, allowing shade-tolerant species such as Douglas-fir to become more abundant. These changes increase the likelihood of fire spreading from the forest floor into the canopy.
To reduce wildfire hazards and improve forest health, Snyder has thinned trees throughout his property, favoring ponderosa pine in some areas. He chips the resulting slash and spreads it in thin layers to avoid inhibiting ground vegetation. He has also planted trees along his property boundary and encouraged natural regeneration.
Private landowners like Snyder play a vital role in keeping Colorado’s forests healthy, and programs like Colorado Family Forests and Forest Ag Program provide resources and guidance to support their stewardship efforts.
The Colorado Family Forests program helps private landowners sustainably manage their forests while connecting them with a community of fellow forest stewards. Co-sponsored by the Colorado State Forest Service, the program is open to eligible landowners with at least 10 acres of forestland and a forest management plan, or a willingness to develop one. Participating properties are inspected by a qualified forestry or conservation professional to certify that their land is managed according to the Standards of Sustainability.
Through the Forest Ag Program, eligible landowners can sell their timber and receive a reduced tax valuation on their forestlands. To participate, landowners must develop a CSFS-approved forest stewardship plan and conduct forest management activities that include a forest products component. The program helps landowners maintain productive, healthy forests while reducing financial pressures that can contribute to forest fragmentation.
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