Women at Work: Emily Paxson: Area Forester and Fifth Generation Sawmill Worker in Washington State's Trout Lake Valley
From scientist to area forester, Dovetail Maven Emily Paxson shares how her family history shaped who she is today and inspires her to carry that legacy forward.
Emily Paxson's path to the timber industry began with a different career in mind. She studied biology in college and originally wanted to become a scientist. But timber has always been a part of her family's story. Emily is a fifth-generation resident of Washington state's Trout Lake Valley, where her family's connection to the sawmill stretches back generations.
Emily's own experience at the mill started with the day-to-day work that keeps an operation moving. She began stickering and stacking lumber so it could dry and, over time, took on responsibilities for operating the forklift and pulling green chain. As she became more familiar with the mill, she also found herself wanting to understand more of the machinery behind the process.
"In the last few years I've really wanted to learn more about running the head saw, running the machines that are really intimidating…"
For Emily, learning those skills has meant stepping further into an operation that she has known for much of her life. It has also given her the chance to learn at the shoulder of her dad, Fred. That exchange of knowledge has been one of the things she values most about being part of the family business.
"He's a great teacher, and it's been a real joy for him to share that knowledge too," Emily says.
A Family Thing
The story of Emily's family and the mill goes back long before she was born. Her mother's family settled in the Trout Lake Valley, initially establishing themselves as dairy farmers. Eventually, her grandfather started the sawmill, where several family members worked.
Her grandfather also played a major role in shaping the mill into what it is today. The main headsaw came in from another mill, was refurbished, and was put into operation at the family's site. Emily remembers her grandfather as someone with a talent for engineering and an ability to find creative solutions with whatever he had available.
"He was a real genius, a real engineering genius, very creative, real 'make do with what you have and make it work' kind of guy." That resourcefulness became part of the mill's identity, and it is a piece of family history that Emily now gets to experience firsthand. "I'm fifth generation out of the Trout Lake Valley now, and it's a really cool piece of history." For Emily, though, the mill is more than a connection to the past. It remains an active part of her family's life and the surrounding community.
More Than a Mill
The lumber produced at the family mill has found its way into structures throughout the Trout Lake Valley. One local dairy barn, for example, was built almost exclusively with lumber milled at the sawmill.
That local connection is important to Emily. The mill isn't simply a historic site or a family tradition. It is a working business that supports her family and provides lumber for the people who live nearby.
"You know, it's not just a sightseeing thing. It's my dad's livelihood, it's our family's livelihood…running that mill, and creating lumber for the local people in town."
It's a perspective that puts the family history into a larger context. The mill has been passed down through generations, but it has also continued to serve a community that relies on locally produced lumber.
Finding Her Place in Timber
Emily has seen a shift in the timber industry when it comes to representation, and her own experience is part of that change. Her role at the mill continues to grow as she takes on new responsibilities and learns more about the technical side of the operation.
That willingness to explore different paths was encouraged from an early age.
"Both of my parents were always very encouraging of anything I wanted to do."
Rather than following one predetermined path, she has made room for different interests to shape where she goes next.
Life Beyond the Mill
Emily stays busy outside of the mill, balancing her work in forestry with a love of the outdoors and trying new things. "I love running. I love being outdoors. Hiking. Doing anything with my dog. Horseback riding," she says.
She's also adding another skill to the list by working toward her pilot's license, currently flying gliders with hopes of moving into engine-powered aircraft soon. From the mill to the sky, Emily's interests reflect a curiosity that keeps her learning, exploring and taking on new challenges.
Looking Toward the Future
Emily's story is ultimately about finding her own place within a family legacy while helping shape what comes next.
She is learning the skills and knowledge that have been passed down through generations, while also bringing her own interests and perspective to the work. Five generations into her family's story, Emily is helping carry that history forward. Not by simply repeating what came before, but by learning, exploring, and finding her way within it.
