2011 Tree Farmer of the Year

[Ron Scott]

News Release
July 25, 2011

Contact: Brigitte Johnson, APR
202.463.2462
bjohnson@forestfoundation.org  

ATFS Announces four Regional Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year
Washington, D.C. - The American Tree Farm System  (ATFS) has named Putnam "Put" Blodgett ( Lyme, New Hampshire); Russ and Barbara Ford (Columbia, Mississippi); Joseph "Steve" and Janet Funk (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho ); and Walt and Donna Lange (Swanton, Ohio¬) as 2011 Regional Tree Farmers of the Year sponsored by Stihl, Inc.

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 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

Our own OneWithWood was on this list last year, a great achievement.
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[Ernie]

It's really great that awards such as this exist.  Lets hope that the publicity increases the awareness of the importance of forests and woodlots and the sustainability of them for the betterment of the future of our planet.

Thanks for the posting

[mad murdock]

I second that Ron, thanks for posting and raising the awareness of the ATFS.  My dad is a lifetime member of the ATFA, and we were all brought up under the ideals of the Tree Farm concepts.

[Autocar]

Ron I knew that name up at SwantionOhio rang a bell with me . So I went back though my papers and found a bid sheet for December 13 1999 for a forestry marked timber sale. I rechecked with them in 2000 ? and they had never sold the trees. I'll about bet a dollar to a donut that there still standing. At that time he just couldn't bring himself to sell them because of the residue damage to the rest of the stand. There were 34 trees on the 14 acre site and they were smokers

[grassfed]

I am going to win that someday!

[Magicman]

I am going to win that someday! 

My thoughts exactly grassfed.  It should be every Tree Farmer's goal to be the very best of the best.  Being recognized for it would be awesome.  It would simple award you for being a proper land steward.

I congratulate all of the regional winners.

[John Mc]

I know Put Blodgett. He's quite a guy. I knew he was near Lyme, NH, but thought he was a Vermont resident. He is also long-time president of Vermont Woodlands Association.

I flew him over his property once for an aerial view. He won a flight I auctioned off as a fundraiser for a forestry/wildlife non-profit here in Vermont.

John Mc

[Ron Scott]

Idaho Family Landowners, Steve & Janet Funk, Named 2011 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year.
 
Washington, D.C. -  Bob Simpson [ATFS], Steve & Janet Funk, Roger Phelps [Stihl, Inc.] 

Thirty-nine years ago began the journey of sustainable forest management for
for Joseph "Steve" and Janet Funk of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Today, the Funks were named the 2011 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year by the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) at their National Tree Farmer Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The award, sponsored by Stihl Inc., annually recognizes outstanding sustainable forest management on privately owned woodlands.

The Funks' Edgecreek Tree Farm is a 369-acre woodland that has become a valuable tool in demonstrating sustainable management of degraded forests and the pathway to a healthy and thriving forest.

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 laps - and into reality.

"We believe that sustainably managing a healthy forest can only enhance its natural beauty and function. Enjoying the magnificence of the scenery is not only pleasurable to the eye, but also refreshes one's soul," declared Steve.

Since the early 1970s, the dynamo duo has advocated for responsible management, forest restoration, and environmental education. An oil pipeline rupture that contaminated Wolf Lodge Creek, which runs through their property, sparked their leadership of a community watershed effort to restore the creek as well as protect it from periodic floods.

Their management plans targeted planting more than 12,000 ponderosa pine seedlings, thinning an overstocked area, pruning of white pine, ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and larch, guard rail construction, and wildlife pond enlargement. Wolves, deer, elk, moose, black bear, cougar, coyote, badgers, turkeys, American bald eagles, blue heron, and woodpeckers are some of the wildlife inhabiting the property.

The years of family efforts by Steve, Janet, and their four children, Janelle, Steve, Tina, and David, have resulted in a healthier stand of trees that provides growth potential, a stable water absorption mechanism, habitat for a diverse wildlife population, and a place to share with hikers, hunters, and other wanting to commune with nature. "It is especially important that we let others experience the feelings that the forest can create. We have found peacefulness in the beauty and aliveness of the forest," said Steve.

"Since I was little, my parents have instilled a love for the forest. Now I am raising my family on the same Tree Farm and teaching my boys about the forest and how important it is to our future," said Janelle Funk Sells.

"Every year, the American Tree Farm System recognizes family forest owners like the Funks - examples by which ATFS grows stewardship from the roots. Families like the Funks are essential caregivers of our nation's private woodlands that provide the benefits we all receive from forests, including clean water, air, wildlife habitat, recreation, green jobs, and wood and paper products," said Liz Sandler, director of ATFS.

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 healthy habitat for 60 percent of at-risk wildlife.

"The property I grew up on allowed me to witness an excellent example of working 'for' the land. My folks used every resource available to help them make forest management decisions. I am so proud of all their hard work and dedication to maintaining our family forestlands in the most healthy and robust state possible," said their son Steve.

Janet summarizes their woodland-based lives by admitting, "Our best hope for the future of sustainable forestry lies not just in how many people we or our children our grandchildren can reach. Rather, it is in how many people we can motivate enough to inspire them to pass these values on until it is normal for all of us want and to use environmentally sound practices."