November 1, 2007
Contact: Amanda Box, Communication and Program Coordinator,
Mississippi Forestry Association
601.354.4936, abox@msforestry.net, www.msforestry.net
Newton residents Harley and Billie Craven, received Mississippi Forestry Association’s 2007 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year award. The Cravens were presented with the award on October 25 at the MFA Annual Meeting in Natchez during the President’s Banquet. The 350 banquet guests watched a video produced by Farmweek detailing the Craven’s tree farm showing their 340 acres of immaculate forest land. Along with a plaque and other gifts, the Cravens were given a free trip to the 2007 National Tree Farm Convention in Madison, Wisconsin. “We feel very fortunate to live on the farm where I grew up and to live up to the dreams my dad had for us to take care of the farm,” said Billie Craven.
Members of the American Tree Farm System (ATFS/Tree Farm) are often identified by the white and green diamond shape signs 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. Since the inception of the program, Mississippi has ranked as the number one Tree Farm state in the country with over 3,000 registered tree farms.
In Mississippi, the Tree Farm program is administered by MFA a non government organization that represents individual landowners and forestry businesses. The Association promotes conservation, sustainable forestry and public outreach
programs.
The Craven’s land has been in the family since 1909 and the current primary uses of the land are recreation, wildlife habitat, forestry promotion and timber production. The Cravens welcome regular activities on their land a including an annual fourth grade tour for Newton Grammar School students, an annual tour by Lawrence Community Club, Lawrence County Association field days, Soil Conservation service officer tours, Scott County Forestry Association field days, forester tours and a field day for Newton Nursing Home residents.
Safety is a hallmark of McCloud Logging. The operation follows all OSHA standards and utilizes a business safety plant that required monthly safety meetings or after the observation of a safety violation. The company’s last lost time incident was in 1995.
McCloud is a certified Master Logger and has completed sustainable Forestry Initiative training for Best Management Practices. He is a member of the Lawrence County Forestry Association, the Mississippi Loggers Association, and serves on the board of trustees of Powell’s Grove Pentecostal Church.
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 the mission today. MFA is the only organization that represents every group in the forestry community. MFA leads the efforts in protecting landowner rights, improving the forest products economy and educating the community about the ecological benefits of healthy, renewable forests and of the forest industry. MFA is a private (non government), nonprofit association. To learn more, visit www.msforestry.net.