The annual Tree Farm awards ceremony, recognizing Minnesota’s outstanding Tree Farmers, will be May 18 in Grand Rapids.  The awards will be presented as part of the Minnesota Forestry Association annual meeting. We hope you’ll join us.

If you haven’t attended in the past, this is a good opportunity to meet and hear about real, everyday tree farmers who are doing great things on their land here in Minnesota.

Here’s a link to more information and registration details for the MFA annual meeting and Tree Farm awards.  Thanks for all the good work you do on your family’s Tree Farm!  We hope to see you in Grand Rapids.

This annual award recognizes outstanding sustainable forest management on family-owned woodlands. Every year, the four regional winners are recognized for stewardship of America’s family woodlands. Stemming the loss of America’s woodlands is vital to our country’s clean water and air, wildlife habitat, recreational activities, and producing the wood and paper products we all need.

ATFS provides landowners with the validation that they are doing right by their land, meeting the highest standards of sustainability and being good stewards for the future. One of the four regionals will be announced as the National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the year during the 2011 National Tree Farmer Convention on August 11 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Putnam “Put” Blodgett has been a Tree Farmer for more than 50 years, managing 670 acres of woodlands near Lyme, New Hampshire. He has always lived off the woodlands of his Tree Farm – initially, when it was under the ownership of his parents, followed by his ownership of the land, and eventually through the founding and directing of a boys’ summer camp within its woodlands.

Through intensive management, Blodgett has derived the majority of his income from the farm and through his forest management activities. More than 90 percent of the white pine, hemlock, and red oak that went into the building of his retirement home was harvested from the Tree Farm. The heating and hot water needs of the home are supplied by the Tree Farm’s forest resources. In addition to managing the Tree Farm to meet his personal living needs, Blodgett has incorporated numerous and successful management practices to improve wildlife, water, and recreation on the Tree Farm.

Russ and Barbara Ford started the first local forestry organization in Mississippi, with Russ holding an active office in the organization for a number of years. Sharing information about invasive species control, practicing active wildlife management for both game and threatened species, and making a commitment to improving water quality has earned the couple a bookmark in the history of forestry in the State of Mississippi.

Russ has made tree farming his only job, but he has not done so at the expense of the resources of the farm. Firebreaks, road construction and maintenance, pre-commercial thinning, pruning, mowing, prescribed burning, tree planting, herbicide applications and more are on schedule and performed nearly 100 percent of the time by Russ himself. And the ‘special ones’ are not forgotten: numerous gopher tortoises are located on the Tree Farm and Russ actively manages for them, striving not to destroy their habitat.

Steve and Janet Funk began with a dream to live near the woods and streams of the West, where they might find opportunity to camp occasionally. Opportunities for jobs near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and for purchase of a derelict farm in a small mountain valley with a stream running through the property put the dream into their lap – and into reality.

Since the early 1970s and with the purchase of the property, the dynamo duo has been advocates for responsible management, forest restoration, and environmental education. Logging with a team of Belgian mares, comprehensive and amended forest management plans, and educating themselves through University of Idaho Extension opportunities have given Steve and Janet the foundation from which to speak on projects and issues that may affect the viability of the waters and woods of their mountain valley Tree Farm.

Walt and Donna Lange, self-taught landowners, own and manage a Tree Farm near Swanton, Ohio. They have been honored for their exemplary woodland management practices, including planting thousands of trees and conducting numerous beneficial resource projects such as the “Green Tree Marsh.” This project was created to provide a valuable seasonal water source for wildlife.

The professional forestry community holds Walt and Donna in particularly high esteem for their efforts to spread the word about trees to innumerable groups of people for years, especially Boy Scouts and 4-H groups. Local Scout groups have made the Lange Tree Farm their annual location for “camping within the pines.” Walt and Donna, their two daughters, and five grandchildren are all an integral part of the field and management crews of the Tree Farm in preparing the family property for the next generation.

“Every year, we at the American Tree Farm System commit ourselves to the recognition of family forest owners like Putnam, the Fords, Funks, and Langes who contribute to our country’s natural resources, communities, and good paying jobs without expectation of recognition,” stated Liz Sandler, ATFS Director.

The 96,000-family landowner American Tree Farm System represents the largest group of private landowners in America. Family forest landowners manage and own 35 percent of America’s forests. These private forests provide more than 25 percent of our nation’s drinking water and 60 percent of at risk wildlife depend on private forests.

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The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS), a program of the American Forest Foundation, is a network of private woodland owners sustainably managing 26 million acres of forestland. It is the largest and oldest sustainable family woodland system in America, internationally recognized, meeting strict third-party certification standards. For 70 years, ATFS has enhanced the quality of America’s woodlands by giving forest owners the tools they need to keep their forests healthy and productive.

STIHL Inc. is the exclusive presenting sponsor of the ATFS Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Regional and National Awards, as well as the sole, handheld outdoor power equipment provider for the ATFS. STIHL Inc. manufactures the world’s largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast- not mass merchants. STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL dealers are for distribution in the United States only. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the STIHL Web site at www.stihlusa.com

In 2008, Congress made important changes to USDA conservation  programs—opening them up to family forest owners and improving the  health of America’s woodlands.  Tree Farmers like Nancy now have the  tools needed to do right by the land—whether it’s managing for wildlife,  improving stream crossings, or protecting against fire and invasive  insects.

Congress just started rewriting the Farm Bill, which could change  how  the programs work and affect forest owners.  We need your help  to  share the successes of Farm Bill conservation programs for family   forests!  Learn how Farm Bill programs are working for families  across the country  in a new AFF report that was released today: Forests   in the Farm Bill Progress Report: 2011 Updated Edition.  Please send the report to your member of Congress and share with them how important farm bill conservation programs are for the health of woodlands in Minnesota.   Also share the report with your local forestry department staff and   NRCS offices, your state forestry association and anyone else you think would be interested.

Nearly 40,000 families with woodlands participated in Farm Bill programs last year, including the Pionkes who used the Conservation  Stewardship Program to restore and diversity their Pennsylvania Tree Farm after a devastating gypsy moth infestation.  Read their story and others in the report.

Despite the success of the programs, some members of Congress have proposed deep cuts to the programs, which would make it difficult for  USDA to provide technical assistance and management tools to family forest owners for years to come. While we understand that cuts must be  made, and conservation programs  must be a part of any debt solution, the budget cannot and should not be  balanced on the back of conservation.

Congress just started rewriting the Farm Bill, which could change  how the programswork and affect forest owners.  We need your help to  share the successes of Farm Bill conservation programs for family  forests!  Please send the report to your member of Congress and share with  them how important farm bill conservation programs are for the health of  woodlands in Minnesota.   Also share the report with your local forestry department staff and  NRCS offices, your state forestry association and anyone else you think  would be interested.

“A lot of people think forest management is a one-man show.  It’s not.  I definitely put my own sweat, labor and money, but I’ve gotten a lot of help, too.  I couldn’t have done it without some financial help and all of the technical advice…” said John Traylor, Georgia Tree  Farmer.  Read  John’s story and more in AFF’s report.

If you have any questions about the Progress Report or Farm Bill  programs, don’t hesitate to contact us at AFF.

This workshop is for forest resource managers interested in becoming a certified Tree Farm Inspector or for Inspectors who need to update their certification to the new 2010 Tree Farm Standards.

Details are as follows:

December 16, 2010 from 9am- 3pm
Cloquet Foresty Center, 175 University Rd, Cloquet MN
CFE Contract Hours, Category 1:  4 Credits
Cost:  $30.00
Registration Deadline:  November 10, 2010

To register: Complete the Inspector Training Workshop Registration Form and mail it, along with your check payable to MN Tree Farm Committee to:

Tom Witkowski
22445 E. Lake Hubert Dr
Brainerd, MN  56401

Questions:  218-232-3948

This annual award recognizes outstanding sustainable forest management on family-owned woodlands. Every year the four regional winners are in contention to win the National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Award, which is given at the National Tree Farmer Convention. The National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the year will be announced at the 2010 convention on July 15, 2010 in Burlington, Vermont.

Robert and Ingrid Sonnenberg, the North Central region winners, own a 227-acre Tree Farm located in New York Mills, Minnesota. Robert grew up on the Tree Farm he now currently owns and has managed for the past 50 years. In 1996, Sonnenberg sought professional forestry help to manage the less productive forestlands. A Forest Stewardship plan was created and the Sonnenbergs have been managing the land ever since. In 2002, their woodlot was recognized as a certified Tree Farm.

Since 1998, Sonnenberg has planted more than 80,000 trees on 100 acres of his woodlot. Sonnenberg is currently working with the University of Minnesota on hybrid aspen clones. He has restored a 45-acre wetland and with that given the numerous geese, ducks and pheasants a new nesting ground. Along with other wildlife efforts the Sonnenbergs oversee all of the work done in their Tree Farm.

Use these links for more information about the Minnesota and American (national) Tree Farm Systems.

Trevor Evans, the Northeast region winner, owns 789 acres of woodland in Derby, Vermont. For 10 years beginning in 1980, Evans, purchased small pieces of the land from his father-in-law to provide him with an income stream during his final years. When his father-in-law passed in 1994, Evans was faced with decisions about the future of the land so he invested in forestry. Through his father-in-laws teachings and his own research, Evans has become the tree farmer he is today.

Evan’s Tree Farm fittingly called, “The Tree Farm,” has within the last 15 years planted 6,000 trees and developed areas for wildlife habitat with a goal of returning areas of the land to what is called a 4-stage forest, where a natural progression of open space, shrubs, young trees, and mature trees exist together.

Evans has shown that he is dedicated to making his land stand as a working example of the best forest management that can be practiced, a working model that integrates wildlife habitat work with silviculture, and recreational trails that provide aesthetically pleasing walks.

FunForest, the Western region winner, is jointly owned by Jim Cota and Robbie and Scott Melcher in Sweet Home, Oregon. The three came together when Jim Cota went to work for Mike Melcher, who owned Melcher logging in 1980. Through his good work ethic, Cota earned respect as one of the best top hillside cable loggers in the industry. Cota thus became a very important part of Melcher’s company. It was during this time that Melcher’s sons, Scott and Robbie, graduated college and began their careers in contract logging. In the early 1990′s, Melcher and Cota partnered to form Timber Harvesting Inc, (THI) and with Scott and Robbie they formed Four M Fiber.

In 1999, after nearly 20 years of working together and building a successful and productive forestry contracting company, there came and opportunity to purchase a 320 acre parcel of timberland. Although this was a large and expensively challenging purchase, they decided to take the risk. It was from this purchase that the now 1,281 acre Tree Farm known as Fun Forest began.

Cota and the Merchers have purchased 12 parcels of poorly stocked forestland and marginal farm land to convert them into highly productive forestland using their effective forestry knowledge and capabilities. They are leaders in developing techniques to do low impact logging and to utilize biomass material and outstanding contributors to the Sweet Home Community.

Saloom Properties, the Southern region winner, is owned by Salem, Dianne, and Patrick Saloom of Brewton, Alabama. Salem, his wife Dianne, and Patrick all run Saloom Properties together. Salem started Saloom Properties in 1983 when he bought 158 acres of forest property in Conecuh County. His goal was to improve the land’s timber as well as wildlife, while creating a family refuge. For the next 27 years, the Salooms would buy surrounding parcels of forestland which today totals 1,762 acres of Saloom Properties.

Today, Saloom Properties has many different practices. Field trips are common to the woodlands Farm to explore the forest. The Salooms host many family and community gatherings. Fishing, hunting, camping, horseback riding hiking, etc., are activities that can occur daily in the Salooms forest. For the past five years, the Salooms have been involved in the Forest in the Classroom/Classroom in the Forest Program in which they visit fifth grade classes and speak to students about forestry and other environmental topics.

• What do you like about being a member?
• What can be improved?
• How can the Tree Farm program become a valued partner in your forest stewardship efforts?

Please tell us what you think by taking our online survey before April 23, 2010.

The survey will be online until April 23rd, so please take a moment to complete it today and invite your Tree Farm friends to take it too.

Upon completion of the survey, you will have the opportunity to be entered into a drawing to win your choice of prizes – a Tree Farm sign, a Tree Farm hat, or a one-year subscription to Tree Farmer Magazine.

Your responses to the survey  are completely confidential and will be handled by our independent consultant, the Center for Nonprofit Strategies.  The survey results, along with the concrete steps that we are taking in response to your suggestions, will be e-mailed directly to you in August 2010 if you provide your e-mail address at the end of the survey.

If you  have any questions or concerns about this survey, please email info@treefarmsystem.org or call our consultant at the Center for Nonprofit Strategies, Ravi Singh, at 301-920-1230.

CNN.com photo (source)