WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 9, 2021)—The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) is pleased to recognize Mike Kay, of Frederick, Maryland as the 2021 National Outstanding Inspector of the Year. Kay was selected from among more than 2,500 inspectors nationwide for his exceptional on-the-ground work with family forest owners and commitment to the American Tree Farm System.

“During his career, Mike has helped hundreds of landowners reach their goals and increase the conservation impact they are making on their land,” said Tom Martin, president and CEO of the American Forest Foundation, which administers and oversees the ATFS program.  “He devotes countless hours to ensuring that the landowners he works with understand the benefits of forest stewardship, and to strengthening, growing and increasing the impact of the ATFS program.”

Kay has made several contributions to the Maryland State Tree Farm program. In 2020, he enrolled 122 landowners in the program, representing a total of 17,405 acres, the most enrollments for all foresters across the state. Over the past five years, he has inspected a total of 168 Tree Farms on over 20,000 acres. 

ATFS is an internationally-known recognition and certification program that empowers family and private forest owners to keep their forests healthy and sustainable through guidance, tools and a wide community of fellow landowners. It is administered at the national level by AFF and organized into 42 state-level affiliates led by volunteers and partners.. Currently there are more than 70,000 family forest owners in the program, managing more than 18.9 million acres.

Inspectors in ATFS provide forestry advice and technical assistance to family forest owners, and certify that their property meets rigorous Standards of Sustainability set by ATFS. The Outstanding Inspector of the Year award annually recognizes those inspectors who go above and beyond the call of duty to serve the ATFS community. Kay was among four regional Outstanding Inspectors who were also awarded for their achievements – Ryan Clester of Ohio, Joe Lazzari of Michigan, and Katherine Lenz of Wisconsin.

Kay received his national award on February 23 at the 2021 National Leadership Conference.

Contact: Elizabeth Greener; (202) 253-1096; egreener@forestfoundation.org

About the American Forest Foundation

The American Forest Foundation (AFF), a forest conservation organization, works exclusively to empower family forest owners to make a meaningful conservation impact around wildlife habitat, clean water, carbon sequestration and storage and sustainable wood supplies. We work across a broad coalition of conservation partners, corporations, and policymakers to empower family forest landowners and make sure everybody understands, supports and values the work of these landowners. AFF's signature program, the American Tree Farm System® is the country's largest sustainable woodland program with a network of more than 70,000 family forest owners managing more than 18.9 million acres of forestland. Learn more: www.forestfoundation.org

About the American Tree Farm System

The American Tree Farm System® is a network over 70,000 family forest owners sustainably managing more than 18.9 million acres of forestland. ATFS is the largest and oldest sustainable woodland program in the United States, internationally recognized, meeting strict third-party certification standards. The American Tree Farm System® is a program of the American Forest Foundation, a national forest conservation organization that works on the ground with families, partners and elected officials to promote stewardship for healthier forests.