After more than 45 years of Park Service ownership and nearly 20 years of seasonal employment, two great changes have occurred at the Buckner Orchard.
Since purchasing the Buckner Orchard from Harry and Lena Buckner in 1970, the National Park Service has employed seasonal workers to maintain the orchard. For the past 20 years, Laurie Thompson has, as a seasonal employee, cared for and nutured the historic trees. In March, that all changed.
With little fanfare, and after months of process, the orchardist position at the Buckner Orchard was designated a permanent position, and Laurie was hired to fill it. This is great news for both Laurie and the Orchard. Laurie will no longer have to continually reapply for the seasonal work, and funding is now on a more solid basis for care of the orchard.
