New Hampshire Tree Farmer, Tom Thomson Honored with Arbor Day Foundation’s Good Steward AwardNational Arbor Day Foundation’s First New Hampshire Award Recipient Concord, New Hampshire, 31 January 2006 – Thomas N. Thomson of Orford, New Hampshire, will receive a National Arbor Day Foundation “2006 Good Steward Award” for his lifetime leadership as an advocate for conservation and sustainable forestry at a special awards ceremony to be held Saturday, April 29. The awards ceremony is part of the 34th annual National Arbor Day celebration held in Nebraska City, Nebraska, home of Arbor Day Foundation founder J. Sterling Morton. Tom Thomson has been a tireless advocate for family forest landowners and tree farmers in New Hampshire and throughout the United States. With his two older brothers, he purchased his first woodlot of 125 acres in 1956. Today, he and his wife Sheila own and manage the Thomson Family Tree Farm with over 2,800 acres of forest in New Hampshire and Vermont. He is a wise steward of his land and the Thomson Family Tree Farm is a showplace of best choice management practices. He has hosted visitors from around the world on the Thomson Family Tree Farm teaching them about the many benefits of good forest stewardship. His efforts don’t stop with his own property. Tom has worked hard with the Orford, NH, Selectboard helping them achieve TREE CITY USA status. He has served on numerous local, state, and national task forces and boards regarding forestry issues. He has testified on forestry issues before the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Tom is considered one of the most influential forestry advocates in the Northeast. According to New Hampshire State Forester Philip A. Bryce, “Tom’s ability to communicate the issues facing private landowners has been an important influence on the direction of natural resource conservation in his community, the state, and the nation. His management of the Thomson Family Tree Farm demonstrates to other landowners, the community, and the public the values of private forest land stewardship”. The “Good Steward Award” is given to those whose leadership, outlook, and accomplishments in tree planting, conservation, and sustainable stewardship enhance private lands for future generations. Each year, the Foundation honors individuals and groups from around the country making a commitment to planting trees and embracing education as a way to continue Morton’s legacy of environmental stewardship. Tom and his wife Sheila have been invited to the Foundation’s annual awards weekend held in celebration of National Arbor Day. Festivities will be held at the 260-acre historic Arbor Day Farm, part of Morton’s original estate. Tom will be joined by other Arbor Day Award winners from across the country. The National Arbor Day Foundation is a million-member, nonprofit education organization dedicated to tree planting and environmental stewardship. More information about the Foundation and the NH Division of Forests and Lands and their programs is available online at www.arborday.org and www.nhdfl.org.
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