Georgia News
Nice Cap - Governor Brian Kemp
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp wearing a Georgia Tree Farm Cap during a day of hunting.
2024 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year
The Georgia Tree Farm Program is proud to recognize H. G. Yeomans III Family Trust as Georgia’s 2024 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year. The Yeomans Emanuel County property has been in the family since the 1700's, starting with 275 acres. Mr & Mrs Yeomans increased the ownership to about 2,300 acres. Please click here “H. G. Yeomans III” for photos of the award presentation during Georgia Forestry Associations Annual Conference.
2023 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year
The Gaskins Estate (Heather Brasell) in Berrien County, Georgia was recognized as the 2023 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year during the American Tree Farm Systems 2024 National Leadership Conference. Tree Farms from across the United States are evaluated for this prestigious award. Please click on this link for photos of the award ceremony.
New Tree Farmer
The Georgia Tree Farm Program would like to welcome Twin Lake Land Company to the American Tree Farm program as a Certified Tree Farm. This certification is only granted to those individuals and entities that exhibit and practice exceptional stewardship of the forest and related natural resources. Twin Lake Land Company is a tract of forestland approximately 170 acres in size located in Pierce County and is managed by Chad Nimmer and children. Please see attached photos of the family with their Tree Farm Sign.
2024 GFA Forestry Day at the Capitol
Heather Brasell was recognized as the 2023 National Tree Farmer of the Year during GFA Forestry Day at the Capitol event. Please click on the photos link which incluces Heather Brasell (2023 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year), Frank Green (Georgia Tree Farm Program), District 170 Representative Penny Houston, House Speaker Jon Burns, and Susan Patton (Georgia Tree Farmer - Buckhorn Southern Pines).
2023 Georgia Tree Farm Field Day
On a bright sunny day in October landowner's and forestry enthusiast gathered near Ellaville, Georgia for the 2023 Georgia Tree Farm Field Day. The event was held at Harrison Woodlands in Schley County, Georgia. Harrison Woodlands (Mike Harrison) was the 2021 Georgia Tree Farmer of the Year. Click here "Field Day" for a link to a summary and photos of the day's events.
2023 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year (OTFY)
Georgia landowner Heather Brasell, property manager of the Murry H. Gaskins Sr. Marital Trust, has been named the 2023 OTFY. The property is located in Berrien County near Alapaha, Georgia. Ms. Brasell was selected by the Georgia Tree Farm Committee as the 2022 Georgia Tree Farmer of the Year. The property was one of four in the United States considered for this awards. Click here for an article on this prestigious award.
25 Year Tree Farmer
The Georgia Tree Farm Program would like to congratulate Mr. Bob Lazenby of Jones County upon receiving a 25 year American Tree Farm System sign. Please click on the link below to see a photo of Mr. Lazenby (left) at the March 2023 Inspector training workshop. 25 YEAR SIGN
50+ Year Tree Farmer
Attached is a news article from the Savannah News dated February 20, 1962 concerning the Sessoms Family joining the America Tree Farm System. Also attched is a photo of the 50 year Tree Farm sign.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
2022 Georgia Tree Farm Field Day
Landowner's and forestry enthusiast gathered near Elberton, Georgia, on a beautiful sunny day, for the 2022 Georgia Tree Farm Field Day. The event was held at Niolon Farms in Elbert County. Click here "Field Day" to see photos of the day's events.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
50+ Year Tree Farmer
The Georgia Tree Farm Program would like to congratulate Ms. Gretchen Vanerwegen (Gretchen Land Company) of Clinch County upon receiving a 50 year American Tree Farm System sign. Please click on the link below to see a photo of Ms. Vanerwegen (left) and Georgia Tree Farm inspector & Georgia Forestry Commission Forester Mathew Mrizek (right). 50 Year Sign
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
2022 Georgia Tree Farm Audit
The Georgia Tree Farm Program is being audited to ensure compliance with SFI Standards. Compliance to the standards is required to continue tree farm wood being considered certified volume. Click here to see participants conducting a "field" audit.
1st photo (L-R) Ed Smith & Kent Huff
2nd Photo (L-R) Simeon Niolon & Eric Gracey
3rd Photo (L to R) Chase Cook, Chris Howell, Kevin Teston, Eric Gracey, & Steve Chapman
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
2021 Georgia Tree Farm Awards
Georgia Tree Farm inspectors had an awards cermony on March 24, 2022 to celebrate and recognize the work accomplished in 2021. Inspectors were updated on status of the Tree Farm Program so far in 2022. To see some of the people recognized please click here "2021 Awards".
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
2021 Georgia Tree Farm Field Day
It was great to get together on a bright sunny day in Middle Georgia for the 2021 Georgia Tree Farm Field Day. The field day event was held at Lightwood Farms in Jones County, Georgia. Click here " 2021 Field Day" to see highlights of the day's events.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
2021 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year
The Georgia Tree Farm Program is proud to recognize Mike Harrison and Harrison Woodlands as Georgia’s 2021 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year. The Harrison property has been in the family since 1948 and has steadily increased with acquisitions that began in 1981 with the most recent purchase being 2019. Please click here “Harrison Woodlands” to learn more about the property.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE WOMAN LANDOWNER WORKSHOPS
Join us and other women in a series of full-day workshops that will equip you with resources, knowledge and confidence to be engaged in the management of your land. Please click on The Woman Landowner Workshops flyer for more information.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Georgia Tree Farm Program would like to welcome Ryan & Allison Schleiden of Jasper County to the American Tree Farm System. Please click on the link below to see a photo of Ryan & Allison and their new Tree Farm sign.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Georgia Tree Farm Program would like to congratulate Sally & Beryl Budd owners of Pitts-Jones Legacy Farms. The Tree Farm is located in Jasper County. Please click on the link below to see a photo of Sally & Beryl Budd with their 50 year Tree Farm sign.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Georgia Tree Farm Program would like to welcome Elliott & Andrea Perkins of Unity Grove Farms to the American Tree Farm System. The property is located in Putnam County Georgia. Please click on the link below to see a photo of Mr. & Mrs. Perkins and their new Tree Farm sign.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Georgia Tree Farm Program would like to welcome Mr. Micheal Cook to the American Tree Farm System. Mr. Cook's property is located in Banks County Georgia. Please click on the link below to see a photo of Mr. Cook and his new Tree Farm sign.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thank You - Thank You - Thank You
to all those supporting the Georgia Tree Farm Program during 2020. Click below for a list of supporters.
2020 Georgia Tree Farm Supporters
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Georgia Tree Farm Program would like to welcome Mr. Jared Norton to the program. Mr. Norton owns 45 acres in Green County. Please click on the link below to see a photo of Mr. Norton and his new Tree Farm sign.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Georgia Tree Farm Program would like to congratulate Ms. Caroline Albritton of Twiggs County upon receiving a 50 year American Tree Farm System sign. Please click on the link below to see a photo of Ms. Albritton (left) and Georgia Tree Farm inspector Steve Chapman (right).
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
A Wheels to Woods field day was sponsored by the Georgia Tree Farm Program, Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Project Learning Tree Committee, & Valdosta State University STEAM Center on November 5, 2019. Wheels to Woods provides funds to cover transportation cost to transport students from their school to a nearby forest. 4th grade students from Pine Grove Elementary School in Lowndes County, GA. were able to participate in a field day on property owned by The Langdale Company.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Georgia Tree Farm Program would like to congratulate Mr Sam Patton of Baldwin County upon receiving a 50 year American Tree Farm System sign. Mr Patton entered the Tree Farm program in 1966. Please click on the link below to see a photo of Mr Patton (left) and Georgia Tree Farm inspector Steve Chapman (right).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Georgia Tree Farm Program conducted field visits for our 2018 certification audit on May 22-24. Click below to see several landowners that participated in the certification audit.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
A great time was had by all at the 2018 Georgia Tree Farm Landowner Field Day located at Waverly Woods Timber Plantation in Camden County, Georgia. Click below to see highlights of the day's events.
Photographs of the Day's Events
____________________________________________________________________________________________________