Kentucky Tree Farmer Charlie Williams Named 2012 Central Region Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year
The
American Tree Farm System (ATFS) has
named Charlie Williams of Munfordville, KY, as Central Regional Outstanding
Tree Farmer of the Year. STIHL is the presenting sponsor of the Outstanding
Tree Farmer of the Year awards, which annually recognizes outstanding
sustainable forest management on privately owned woodlands.
The award of a $500 gift certificate from STIHL was presented on June 15 at the 19th Annual National Tree Farmer Convention in Jacksonville, Florida.
Known to
his neighbors as “the tree man”, Williams owns and manages West Wind Farm.
His long
history of forest management began when he was 12, when his grandfather
presented him with a deed to a 90-acre woodland—part of a tract originally
purchased by Williams’ great-great-great-great grandfather, Andrew Lang, in
1796. Today, West Wind Farm includes 1,100 acres of Lang’s original tract, and
Williams has planted more than 75,000 trees on the property.
In addition to sustainable
management of his land, Williams takes pride in educating the next generation
of woodland owners and conservationists. He has held more than 4,000
Forestry Field Days—a day of work and learning—on West Wind Farm. “If you can
teach young people who come to your farm that day something they never knew
about trees, you’ve had a successful Forestry Field Day. If you’ve taught them
well, they will teach others,” Williams said.
“Sustainably managing my woodlands for water, wildlife, wood, and recreation, which is the Tree Farm mission, has been a lifetime of meaningful and fulfilling work and play. For me, and all the Tree Farmers I know—our commitment to sustainable forestry is the cornerstone of our belief system,” Williams said.
“Family forest owners like Charlie Williams exemplify how the American Tree Farm System grows stewardship from the roots,” says Bettina Ring, Senior Vice President for Family Forests at the American Forest Foundation. “Charlie Williams’ passion, hard work, and commitment to the land that has been in his family since the early days of this nation are truly inspiring. Future generations will benefit from Charlie’s stewardship and his efforts to share his knowledge.”
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The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS), a program of the American Forest Foundation, is a network of private woodland owners sustainably managing 26 million acres of forestland. It is the largest and oldest sustainable family woodland system in America, internationally recognized, meeting strict third-party certification standards. For more than 70 years, ATFS has enhanced the quality of America’s woodlands by giving forest owners the tools they need to keep their forests healthy and productive.
STIHL Inc. is the exclusive presenting sponsor of the ATFS Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Regional and National Awards, and the Regional and National Inspector of the Year Awards. STIHL, Inc, is also the sole, handheld outdoor power equipment provider for the ATFS. STIHL Inc. manufactures the world’s largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast— not mass merchants. STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL dealers are for distribution in the United States only. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the STIHL Web site at www.stihlusa.com.
