Family Forest Blog
October 27, 2020
Mary LaHood and Bob Burns, 2020 National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Finalist
Meet Mary LaHood and Bob Burns, finalists for the 2020 National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year from South Dakota.
October 7, 2020
Bruce Townsend and Heidi Bundy, 2020 National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Finalist
Bruce Townsend and his daughter Heidi Bundy own and operate Tomapo Farm in Lebanon, New Hampshire, on land that has been in their family for 250 years. Each generation has found ways to improve the property and enhance its productivity, while also supporting wildlife and enhancing recreation opportunities for their community.
October 7, 2020
Dwayne Wilson, 2020 National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Finalist
Dr. Dwayne Wilson personally manages Slippery Hills Farm, in Wildersville, Tennessee, with the knowledge of a forester and the harvesting skills of a logger. The farm, totaling 405 acres (170 are ATFS certified), has been in his family since 1849, when Uriah Leonard bought the land from the state.
October 7, 2020
Allene and Foots Parnell, 2020 National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Finalist
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.
October 7, 2020
Don Newell, 2020 National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Finalist
Don and Patricia Newell acquired their 250-acre property in Thorndike, Maine, in 1978, selling the lots with prime soils to farmers and keeping the forestland for their family. As a real estate broker and a descendent of Maine farmers and loggers, Don understands his obligation to leave the land better than he found it for future generations.
October 7, 2020
Clifton Taylor, 2020 National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Finalist
Clifton Taylor’s tree farm, Elk Cave Farms, in Gravel Switch, Kentucky, has grown from 287 acres in 1959 to 1,076 acres of certified hardwood forestland. That first tract launched the family’s mission of establishing new forests, tending young timber stands, and harvesting sustainable forest products from mature trees. Today, three generations of Taylors actively manage the land and generously share their knowledge with other landowners.
October 7, 2020
Paul and Joanne Mechling, 2020 National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Finalist
Paul and Joanne Mechling moved to Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1974 to launch a veterinary practice. Although they knew very little about forest management at the time, they knew they wanted to own woodlands. The couple soon purchased their first parcel, 30 acres of reverting agriculture and clear-cut, and enrolled it in the Ohio Tree Farm program in 1978.
October 7, 2020
Gordon and Gail Culbertson, 2020 National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Finalist
Gail and Gordon Culbertson formed Whitewater Forests in 2001 with their first 43 acres in Douglas County, Oregon, eventually adding two more parcels for a total of 151 acres, 111 of which are ATFS certified. They sustainably produce premium sawmill and veneer logs from Douglas fir, Western red cedar, and white fir, while promoting healthy habitats and recreational opportunities.
August 5, 2020
AFF Launches Pilots in GA, SC and FL to Grow ATFS Certification Three-Fold
For family landowners, being certified in ATFS validates good forest stewardship and provides access to free or reduced professional resources to help them care for their land. For some, however, the certification process can be long and slow. In fact, across the U.S., fewer than 10% of family lands in the U.S. are certified. Starting this year, AFF is launching pilot programs in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, which will aim to increase the growth rate of certified acres by three times its current pace annually.
June 2, 2020
American Tree Farm System Opens Second 60-day Public Comment Period on Standards of Sustainability
The American Tree Farm System (ATFS), a program of the American Forest Foundation (AFF), today launched a second 60-day public comment period related to its Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification.
March 24, 2020
Strengthening, Growing, and Increasing Conservation Impact: A Recap of the 2020 NLCC
This year, the American Forest Foundation (AFF) and American Tree Farm System (ATFS) welcomed more than 250 attendees including ATFS committee leaders, inspectors, and placed-based conservation partners to the three-day 2020 National Leadership Community Conference (NLCC). The event focused on how we together, collectively as a community, can strengthen, grow and increase our conservation impact.
March 20, 2020
American Tree Farm System Honors Bob Obedzinski as 2020 National Outstanding Inspector of the Year
The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) is pleased to recognize Bob Obedzinski of Washington as the 2020 National Outstanding Inspector of the Year. Obedzinski 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.
March 20, 2020
Wyoming Couple Awarded for Leadership and Contributions to Forestry Community
The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) are pleased to recognize Ed and Barb Mignery with the 2020 National Leadership Award. The award recognizes the efforts of extraordinary volunteers for their leadership in motivating other volunteers, educating landowners and accomplishing his or her state committee’s forest conservation goals.
March 4, 2020
AFF Awarded Multi-Year Support from Dutch Biomass Certification Foundation
The American Forest Foundation (AFF) today announced it has received $1.5 million in funding from the Dutch Biomass Certification Foundation (DBC) to create with a comprehensive sustainability assurance program to help DBC expand certification among small forest owners in North America.
January 2, 2020
American Tree Farm System Launches 60-day Public Comment Period on Standards of Sustainability
The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS), a program of the American Forest Foundation (AFF), today launched 60-day public comment period on AFF’s current Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification (Standards) and announces the 13 members of a new Independent Standards Review Panel (ISRP).