October 29, 2009
Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA) named Terry Owen of Owen Brothers Logging in Wiggins, the MFA 2009 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year. MFA presented the award at its President’s Banquet, a highlight of the 2009 Annual Meeting in Tupelo. The 300- plus banquet guests enjoyed a video presentation by Mississippi State University’s FarmWeek detailing Owen Brothers Logging, Inc. Owen received a plaque, a monetary award, a monogrammed jacket and other gifts.
Glen Herrin of Southgate Timber Co. and Bob Heinz of Georgia-Pacific in New Augusta nominated Owen for the award. “They are to be commended for the quality of their work, even on difficult sites, for their lack of reportable injuries in this hazardous business, and for the repeated requests for business from satisfied customers,” Herrin said. “Owen Brothers Logging provides a good example of logging professionalism and makes a positive contribution to the forestry industry in Mississippi,” Heinz said.
Owen Brothers has stayed small in order to do a good job for landowners and still have time to spend with their families. The company specializes in merchandising poles and piling. Owen Brothers field crew includes Terry and Jim Ed Owen, Ronny Meadows, Tim Tanner, and Kenneth Rhodes.
Owen is married to Inita Dedeaux Owen assistant principal at Stone Elementary. They have two daughters Randa, 23, and Jenna 19.
Please visit the FarmWeek web site http://msucares.com/news/farmweek/ to watch the video about Watson’s tree farm and for a program schedule.
MFA hosted 500 guests at their annual meeting last week in Tupelo at the BancorpSouth Arena and Conference Center. The theme “Made in Mississippi,” featured current forestry leaders who grew up in Mississippi or were educated in the state. Meetings began on Wednesday, October 28 and continued through Friday, Oct. 30 with educational sessions, awards, exhibits, and fun activities for private landowners and forestry professionals.
Mississippi Forestry Association’s vision is to serve as The Voice of Forestry in Mississippi. In 1938 MFA was formed to guard and grow Mississippi’s forests and that is still its mission today. MFA is the only organization that represents every group in the forestry community. MFA leads efforts to protect landowner rights, to improve the forest products economy and to educate the community about the ecological benefits of healthy, renewable forests. MFA is a private (non government), nonprofit association. To learn more, visit www.msforestry.net.