Allene and Leighton “Foots” Parnell are passionate stewards of their 648-acre Foothills Farm, which has been in the Parnell family for more than 175 years. That long history drives home the importance of protecting and improving our natural resources for future generations. Foothills Farm is a perfect example of how to achieve that.

The farm’s name derives from its topography, which ranges from hills to valleys. Three year-round streams run through a mix of loblolly and longleaf pine and several hardwood species. A strategically planned road system runs throughout the property. Green fields, connected by walking trails, are planted with seasonal summer and winter seed mixes.

Foots always has a special project in the works and will be the first to tell you that he relies on professional guidance from his forester, John Pirtle. “Without John’s advice and guidance, our place would not resemble what it looks like today,” he says.

The Parnells focus on timber growth, wildlife enhancement, and recreation. Foots’ first project started in 2004, when he clear-cut some acreage and replanted it with loblolly along Mulberry Creek. He also did extensive site work to improve the topography and road system, resulting in a beautiful stand of trees that has undergone one thinning. Cost-sharing assistance helped Foots effectively improve his timber base.

Eroded areas around the farm have been stabilized using ditches, turnouts, and riprap with large gravel. Foots’ next project includes planting wildflowers that will promote a valuable ecosystem for pollinating bees, butterflies, bats, and beetles.

The property is home to deer, turkey, gray and red fox, squirrels, rabbits, and many varieties of birds. Mast-producing trees and green seasonal fields provide food and shelter. A trail system connects hardwood bottoms, wildlife openings, and streams. A hilltop cabin and gazebo offer panoramic views and gorgeous sunsets. The public frequently visits Foothills for farm tours, forester classes, and even a Boy Scouts Camporee.

The Parnells are grateful to have their farm and to be able to enjoy the beauty of nature. Their favorite quote, from frontier novelist Willa Cather, says it best: “We come and go, but the land is always here. And the people who love it and understand it are the people who own it—for a little while.”

America’s family forests are vital for clean water and air, wildlife habitat, and sustainable wood supplies. The American Tree Farm System, the American Forest Foundation’s signature program, is the country’s largest sustainable woodland program, with a network of more than 70,000 family forest owners managing 19 million acres of forestland.