October 29, 2009
Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA) presented three education awards at the President’s Banquet, a highlight of the 2009 Annual Meeting in Tupelo. The following awards recognize outstanding contributions to forestry education by two educators and one student: TCW Alumnus of the Year, Youth Forestry Achievement Award, and the Youth Forestry Leader Award.
The first award, Teachers Conservation Workshop (TCW) Alumnus of the Year, was presented to Patrick LeMoine. LeMoine is a vocational agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Puckett Attendance Center in Rankin County. He teaches forestry, wildlife, soil, air and water conservation in his high school classes. LeMoine received a plaque, monogrammed jacket and $500 check.
Each summer MFA sponsors Teachers’ Conservation Workshop. TCW Alumnus of the Year Award recognizes an alumnus who best exemplifies the use of the information, materials, and techniques learned during the workshop. TCW is one of MFA’s most important and meaningful projects teaching forestry, conservation and natural resources to teachers. This workshop for educators emphasizes the importance of conservation of natural resources, with special attention given to Mississippi’s forests and forest products. The latest information in conservation education is presented at the workshop using indoor and outdoor facilities. Participants learn by demonstration and practical exercise how current conservation practices can be integrated into classroom teaching and student projects.
LeMoine has just returned from taking his State Champion FFA Forestry Team to Indianapolis to the National FFA Forestry Contest. This was his first year at Puckett High School, but his FFA Forestry team at Weir High School in Choctaw County won three straight state championships. He has also coached 4-H Forestry teams to state championships and trained an envirothon team which competes in aquaculture, forestry, wildlife, and soils.
The second award, Youth Forestry Achievement Award, was presented to Rachel Gaines of Tate County who was presented with a plaque, a monogrammed jacket, and a $500 award. Tate was a member of the 2009 Miss 4-H Champion Forestry Team that went on to West Virginia for the National Competition and finished 10th in the nation. She was the high scoring individual in the state competition and had the 10th highest personal score in the national competition. Tate has participated in more than a dozen forestry tours, field trips, and workshops. She has made presentations to civic clubs and the local city council. Other activities include teaching 3rd and 5th graders to plant and age a tree. She has packaged seedlings for Arbor Day, checked traps for forest insects, appeared in five newspaper articles, assisted with a prescribed burn, mapped trees in the city park with a GPS unit, won several blue ribbons in 4-H competitions, and even placed 3rd in cross cut sawing and log-rolling at the national competition in West Virginia.
“Not only does Rachel have an outstanding record of accomplishments, she has demonstrated leadership skills, a desire to learn, a willingness to teach others, and a real volunteer spirit,” said Patrick LeMoine, MFA Youth Committee Chair.
The third education award, Youth Forestry Leader Award was presented to Drew Stafford, service forester with Mississippi Forestry Commission. Stafford coached Rachel Gaines, her Tate County 4-H Forestry teammates Jessie Gilbert, Rob Barker, and Cameron Hadley. “Outstanding students like Rachel and would not have the opportunity to be all they can be without outstanding youth leaders like Drew. It takes time and dedication and a real spirit of volunteerism to be a youth leader. Plus, you have to like high school kids,” said Patrick LeMoine MFA Youth Committee Chair. MFA presented Stafford with a plaque, a monogrammed jacket, and a check for $100 in recognition of his leadership.
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.