Outstanding Tree Farmers –2000

Skeet and Gail Burris and their sons are models for current and future generations of forest landowners. Skeet, an orthodontist, decided 20 years ago that he wanted his family to become landowners and with careers established in the Carolina low country that was the ideal place.

The Burris Tree Farm, Cypress Bay Plantation, is a shining example of multiple use management including conservation of wildlife and wildlife habitat, protection of watersheds, long term production of softwoods and recreation.

In 1986, the South Carolina property located in rural Hampton County, was according to Skeet a "disaster." The abandoned, cut-over and tired farm was replete with a dilapidated shack and other outbuildings, and the unmanaged land was overgrown with dense thickets of crowded and stunted pine, gum and maple.

Their vision for their property began with the statement, "To develop an ordinary piece of land and, with a plan and a commitment to lots of hard work, create a Tree Farm that will serve as a model for other Tree Farmers."

Today, Cypress Bay Plantation plays host to several innovative wildlife and environmental education programs, including the American Forest Foundation's Forested Flyways and Project Learning Tree.®

When accepting the National Tree Farmer of the Year award, Gail closed with "…make good use of your land; leave it better than when you first acquired it. Enjoy your lands – from sunrise to sunset."