Tree Farmer of the Year Competition

Tree Farmer of the Year Competition

I’m Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

The Washington Farm Forestry Association will be honoring the next “Tree Farmer of the Year” at its April 26th meeting. That honor goes to a tree farmer who has been chosen for their advocacy for sustainable forest management, conservation efforts, and their outreach in the community. The American Tree Farm System, which includes 29 million acres of privately owned forest land nationwide, has established standards for property to become certified tree farms. Private forest landowners must create a management plan based on strict environmental standards and pass an inspection every five years. Ag Information Network’s Greg Martin reports on the four nominees being considered this year for the statewide award.

MARTIN: Those tree farms contending for the honor of Washington state Tree Farmer of the Year are:
Hillcrest Tree Farm, a 146-acre tree farm in Lewis County owned by Dale and Marilyn Tracy.

Kristoferson Farm, a 100-acre tree farm on Camano Island owned by Mona Kristoferson Campbell.

Miller Tree Farm, an 83-acre tree farm in Thurston and Grays Harbor counties owned by Ken and Bonnie Miller.

And Woodpecker Tree Farm, a 64-acre tree farm in Kitsap County owned by Gerald Reitan.

Winners of the Tree Farmer of the Year award go on to compete on the regional level, where a panel of regional judges select four regional winners. Those four winners attend the National Tree Farmer Convention where they will join in a panel discussion detailing their sustainable forestry work.

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Ag Information Network.