George has served South Carolina’s Tree Farmers for 45 years, starting as the Clemson Extension Service cosponsor representative for the South Carolina Tree Farm Committee in 1972. Since then, he has served his state in many capacities and is still involved to this day.

Because George has been involved for decades, it is difficult to find something the committee does that George did not have a hand in. In the early days, George initiated the first Master Tree Farmer program in South Carolina, which he personally offered from 1984 through 1998. The goal of the initiative was to educate landowners on management and support them in their processes, which is an integral part of the Tree Farm Program—education. George took this huge lift upon himself, even creating a Master Tree Farmer II for those who wanted more in-depth study.

Over time, the Master Tree Farmer program grew so popular, that in 1999 it made sense for the committee to begin broadcasting these classes across the state, reaching more than 210 landowners in 13 sites across South Carolina. To ensure the classes were of value to participants, the committee conducted post-class surveys and found that 99 percent would continue to watch via satellite as long as it was offered.

Thanks to George’s Master Tree Farmer program, two National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year honorees have hailed from South Carolina, both stating the program as a major reason for their success.

The program has also spun a Master Tree Farmer of the Year award which recognizes individuals who make significant contributions to the Tree Farm program in South Carolina. George knows that doing the right thing is important to landowners and he wants to make sure that they are honored for their dedication.

Not only does George support, teach and encourage South Carolina’s landowners and Tree Farmers on the ground, but he is also a cornerstone of the state committee supporting other members and creating a sustainable committee model that will continue to provide for South Carolina’s landowners long after George decides to step aside

George has also helped train more than 400 inspectors, sending them out across counties in South Carolina to help support countless landowners and get them certified and into the Tree Farm program. One issue faced by many committees is a lack of volunteers and inspectors to help facilitate all the landowners requesting visits hoping to becoming certified. George is tackling this issue head on by training one inspector at a time. In 2015 alone he trained more than 150 inspectors who are now out and about in the field getting work done for South Carolina.

“George is an invaluable member of the Tree Farm community,” says Tom Martin, the American Forest Foundation’s president and CEO upon granting George with his award. “On behalf of the American Tree Farm System, AFF’s Board of Trustees, along with the nominating committee from the South Carolina Certified Tree Farm Program, we are proud to honor Dr. George Kessler with the 2018 National Leadership Award.”