Ranger Bob Maki of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with the winning entry in the “Big Cookie Contest” at the annual Minnesota Timber Producers Equipment Expo at the Itasca County Fair grounds in Grand Rapids, MN.
Staff reports
Ranger Bob Maki of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) entered the “Big Cookie Contest” at the annual Minnesota Timber Producers Equipment Expo at the Itasca County Fair grounds in Grand Rapids, MN on September 18-19. Ranger Bob’s “cookie” told Cook County’s history from a tree’s point-of-view. The entry was the contest winner!
Ranger Bob shared the following historical summary:
In 1688, this slice of a northern white cedar from the Grand Portage State Forest established itself—the same year Lloyds of London of England was established.
In 1778, it was 90 years old when the first white settlement in Minnesota was established— the Scottish North West Company at Grand Portage.
In 1778, the cedar was 100 years old when the first white man’s wagon road in Minnesota was established— Grand Portage to Fort Charlotte – nine miles.
In 1858, the tree was 170 years old when Minnesota became a state.
In 1874, it was 186 years old when Cook County was established as a county (with 322 people).
In 2000, the cedar was 312 yrs old and Cook County had grown to 5,001 people (according to the U.S. census).
Ranger Bob said the tree was harvested in one of the DNR’s local logging partnerships at a timber sale in Section 27, Township 64, Range 4E by Alton Berglund & Sons. Berglund & Sons are members of the MN Timber Producers Association and Ranger Bob entered the “cookie” in their name.
The tree was 105-inches in circumference and 33.5- inches in diameter.
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