October 23, 2008
Jack White South Central District Forester with the Miss. Forestry Commission,
received the 2008 Tree Farm Leadership Award. This award was announced at the county forestry association luncheon as part of the Mississippi Forestry Association’s (MFA) Annual Meeting on October 16th, in Choctaw.
The Tree Farm Field Leadership Award was established a few years ago as a way to recognize District Chairs or other key Tree Farm Committee leaders for the role they play in accomplishing the Tree Farm Mission of sustainable forestry.
“This year’s award went to a person who has made a special effort to make certain excellent Tree Farmers are nominated for the Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Award. In fact, Jack has nominated the last two state winners. He is conscientious in working with inspectors in his districts to get inspections completed. In the past two years, the State Inspectors of the Year have also been from his district,” said Bill Kitchings, MFA Tree Farm Committee chair.
White was presented with an honorary plaque and a monogrammed camouflage shirt.
Members of the American Tree Farm System (ATFS/Tree Farm) are often identified by the white and green diamond shape sign they display on their property. Tree Farm is a program sponsored nationally by the American Forest Foundation promoting the sustainable management of forests through education and outreach to private forest landowners. Founded in 1941, ATFS is the oldest and largest forest conservation, certification and advocacy program in the United States.
In Mississippi, the program is administered by the Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA), a non government organization that represents individual landowners and forestry businesses. The Association promotes conservation, sustainable forestry and public outreach programs. Please visit MFA’s Tree Farm Program includes a statewide team of more than 200 trained inspectors.