Pictured above: Jarrett Easton of Hughesville, PA
2026 LAUCHLE SCHOLARSHIP WINNER ANNOUNCED
Jarrett Easton Named 2026 Scholarship Recipient
HARRISBURG — Keystone Wood Products Association (KWPA) is honoring forest steward Dick Lauchle’s legacy by naming Jarrett Easton of Hughesville as the 2026 Lauchle scholarship recipient. Easton, son of Phil and Natalie Easton, graduated from Hughesville High School in 2025 and will enter his sophomore year this fall at Pennsylvania State University, where he is studying Forest Ecosystem Management.
“I have always taken an interest in the woods and the aspects around them,” Easton said. “I feel bettering our forest ecosystems will give me a sense of pride, just as it did for Dick Lauchle.”
Via the First Community Foundation of Pennsylvania, annually KWPA awards a scholarship in remembrance of Lauchle and his efforts.
Throughout Lauchle’s adult life, he worked diligently to ensure the sustainability of Pennsylvania’s forests. In 1967, he enrolled in the Williamsport Area Community College, now known as Pennsylvania College of Technology. Graduating first in his class, he secured a position in Washington State with one of the largest sustainable forest companies in the world, Weyerhaeuser. His employment was brief as a job opportunity arose within the Pennsylvania Game Commission which brought him back to his love — Penn’s woods. In 1975, he founded Lauchle Lumber. He owned and operated his business until his passing in 2008.
Easton, who wants to obtain a local forestry or land management position following graduation says, “Special thanks to the Keystone Wood Products Association’s board and all contributors for their support of education and the industry through this scholarship.”
The prestigious award is allocated to a student whose educational efforts align with Lauchle’s dedication to sustainable forestry.
“This year, Jarrett’s essay stood out,” says Stephanie Phillips-Taggart, executive director of Keystone Wood Products Association. “It showcased his sense of community, and interest in the wood products sector — especially as it pertains to keeping the industry vibrant and visual as it was in the 1800’s.”
His scholarship essay noted that during his senior year in high school he took a local history class taught by Mr. Brian Machmer. A segment of the curriculum focused on how local rail connections and waterways supported the lumber industry. Learning about the significant role that the industry played in industrializing America is something Easton clearly appreciates.
“In today's age of data centers and renewable resources/energies, we seem to overshadow our roots found in the original renewable prize, timber,” he says.
Today, the wood products industry represents the largest sector of agriculture and contributes $39 billion to the state’s annual economy. Employing over 60,000 Pennsylvanians, the industry is dependent on individuals like Easton who have reverence for the past and enthusiasm for what lies ahead.
Easton concluded, “…. young people like myself…. can cement the wood products industry well into the future of modern America.”
For more information on the Lauchle scholarship visit: whypahardwoods.com.