FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 5, 2003	Contact:Amanda Rudy 202.463.2442 arudy@forestfoundation.org

Washington, D.C. — The Indiana Tree Farm Committee, a branch of the American Tree Farm System^® (ATFS), named U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar Indiana's 2002 Tree Farmer of the Year at the 105th Annual Convention of the Indiana Hardwood Lumberman's Association. This annual ATFS award recognizes outstanding sustainable forest management on privately owned forestland.

Lugar farms 604 acres of corn, soybeans and walnut trees in Marion County, Ind. While unable to attend the breakfast due to his Senatorial duties, he did make remarks to the group via video.

Certified Tree Farmers own at least 10 acres of forestland and actively follow a forest management plan developed in partnership with an ATFS volunteer forester. The plan addresses forest sustainability, wildlife habitat, recreation, water and soil conservation.

Lugar, who personally prunes hundreds of tress on his farm each year, recently received the 2002 Black Walnut Achievement Award from the International Walnut Council. Additionally, in 1999, he played host to the Walnut Council Annual meeting on his farm.

"I have been interested in walnut trees as a farm commodity for many years," said Lugar. "I have continued a strong relationship with individuals and groups, in Indiana and elsewhere, that seek to support the healthy cultivation of walnut and other hardwood trees which will support many important industries in our state."

Lugar also advocated establishing the Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center at Purdue University. The Center will house both Purdue and U.S. Forest Service researchers working on the improvement and regeneration of hardwood trees in the Central Hardwoods Region of the United States.

"Active management is essential for sustainability," said Bob Simpson, director of the American Tree Farm System. "Private forestland owners, like Senator Lugar, actively manage their forests because they want to be examples of superior stewardship."

Each year, the State Tree Farm Committees take nominations and make presentations to a certified ATFS Tree Farmer. Applicants for Tree Farmer of the Year are judged on the type and quality of forest management practices, efforts to encourage other woodland owners to manage their forestlands, and cooperation with resource management professionals.

For more information please contact Amanda Rudy, Communications Coordinator, 202.463.2442, Email arudy@forestfoundation.org or visit ATFS at www.treefarmsystem.org.

ATFS promotes the sustainable management of forests through education and outreach to private landowners. Founded in 1941, ATFS covers 27 million acres of family owned forestland and has 65,000 certified Tree Farmer members who are committed to excellence in forest stewardship. Tree Farmers manage their forestlands for wood, water, wildlife and recreation with assistance from over 7,000 volunteer foresters. ATFS is a program of the American Forest Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works for healthy forests, quality environmental education and to help people make informed decisions about our communities and our world.