John L. McClellan of Arkansas
What makes them outstanding?
The McClellan Family believes in sustainability, not only in forestry, but in life. They promote sustainable forestry through using best practices and through education. They study and implement strategies that yield strong results, strong timber and a deep sense of respect of the land.
The family makes decisions about the management of the property with the assistance of Forester Robert Murphy of the Arkansas Forestry Commission, as well as licensed consultants. The land is managed for multiple uses, including timber, wildlife, and recreation. Management has included regular thinnings, planting, and road and fire line maintenance. They have participated in several assistance programs.
The McClellan’s have supported forestry in the community in a multitude of ways, including tours of the property, hosting student field days, inviting forestry professionals to speak to organizations they are members of, and hosting numerous church, political and educational events on the property.
The McClellan family is the epitome of what the Outstanding Tree Farmer award represents. A strong conviction to advocate, educate and promote environmental awareness. Mr. McClellan has worked diligently to teach his family to value timberland for the production it provides, aesthetics and wildlife value, but believes, of course, that family value of faith, family, friends and county comes first.
Tree Farmer Story
Wind whispers softly through the pines and oaks as John McClellan begins a morning solitary walk on the land that is his heritage and is in his family's blood. The McClellans have a special connection to the land. For McClellan, managing the tree farm is a labor of love and a family tradition that he hopes to pass to future generations of his family. "If man has a certain gene for the love and appreciation of tree, science does not record it. However, if there is one, I am positive my family and I have it." This love of land, family, and tradition were the reasons for McClellan's selection as the Arkansas 2014 Tree Farmer of the Year.
has touched the lives of thousands of young people
in Cleveland and Bradley counties in a positive way.
In the community you hear his former students talking
about John and how much they respect him for what
he taught them through school....
...Over time John and his family have been able to acquire
land that surrounded the family farm. He has developed
his land into a special place for recreation along with
tree farming. One only has to go and observe the land
and his love for it will quickly show in the way
he takes care of the land.”
-Freddie M. Mobley, President First State Bank
McClellan owns 1,132 acres in Arkansas. His grandparents acquired 480 acres in the late 1800's and 1900's and divided it among their twelve children in 1948. In the 1960's John McClellan's parents gave him 45 acres; and he and Sue, his wife, began to buy any of the original 480 acres that came up for sale, bringing the total farm acreage now to 1,132 acres.
After graduating from the University of Arkansas Monticello in 1962, McClellan became a teacher of science and social studies. A major emphasis in McClellan's teaching concerned the environment. Every year he took his 100+ seventh graders to his farm for a field day, a highlight for them as the tradition grew. Through the years thousands of students were shown his love for nature, as they fished, saw crops beginning to grow, were given rides on farm vehicles, played games, and ate and drank to their heart's content!
The students also used an incubator to hatch chickens, ducks, guineas, and quail, which they took home--many times to the parents' doubtfulness! They also received pine seedlings to take home after they received instructions for planting and care. An aquarium in the classroom also helped his students learn about the water and its inhabitants. In Mr. McClellan's classroom, his students lived science, just as he taught his own family to do on the farm.
After retirement from teaching, McClellan turned to timberland as his life. "The timberland looks the way it does today because of the professional advice from state and federal forestry professionals. They always provided the best advice that would benefit the forest resources for generation.
Many people, as well as the students, still enjoy visiting over 130 Indian mounds on the flood plains that are found along the creek. The family respects the sacredness of these places and have never dug into any of them--and never will!
A three-mile creek bisects the farm; it is unique because it is almost crystal clear and flows throughout the year. The 400-year-old cypress trees and 80 to 90 year-old oak trees (many of which house honey bees) along the banks called to the grandchildren; who went there as soon as they could when they came to visit.
Another interesting spot on the farm is a slough that is approximately a half-mile long with trees growing on both sides that will never be harvested. The McClellan’s refer to this part of the farm as the "wilderness area." The family, as well as thousands of students, has always found this place to be somehow different and memorable.
The many species of wildlife thrive peacefully among the 18 ponds, the slough, the creek, the thousands acres of timber, and about 14 acres of small food plots scattered around the farm.
According to Arkansas Forestry Commission District Forester Robert Murphy, who nominated McClellan for the honor, "Mr. McClellan's tree farm is managed primarily as pine timber, ranging in age from six to seven year-old plantations to 80-year-old mature stands. The hardwoods are mostly in streamside management zones to protect water quality."
Driving down these country roads in Cleveland County, one might be surprised to come upon a family-built cabin of over 2000 square feet that is the family meeting place for all special occasions (and there are many), community events, political meetings, and other special occurrences. This cabin is a dream-come-true of the McClellan family, who planned the structure, raised and milled the wood from timber on the farm, and built the cabin with their own hands. "We do value our timberland for the production of timber it provides, as well as the aesthetics of nature and the wildlife; but, of course, our family values of faith, family, friends, and country come first."
The farm is the hub of family life for the McClellan family. The upper story of the cabin is filled with bunk beds that will sleep a dozen or more, so it's a perfect place for the children, grandchildren, family and friends. Many church, community, and political events are held at the cabin, including a Tree Farm Tour on October 30 2014, which was attended by over 150 people.
In 1961, Mr. McClellan married Sue Jacks of Star City, AR; and they were married for over 51 years before her death in 2013, after a long, hard fight with cancer. The McClellans have two children; Dr. Detri M. Brech is on the faculty of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR.. Doug McClellan is the Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations in North East Arkansas for the Natural Resource Conservation Service, and he and his wife Melinda live in Searcy. In addition to children, there are three grandchildren, Endsley Stone and husband Jonathan, and Conner McClellan, who is a sophomore at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, and Katie Brech, who is a junior at OBU.
In the dusk of the evening, John McClellan walks through some part of his farm with happy memories calling to him; and as he listens to the wind in the trees, sees the water running in the streams, and hears the small sounds of animals and birds, he feels a sense of accomplishment in knowing that this land--his land--is a bridge from past generations to the future.
Wood
Timber management is a family affair, and is conducted in most conversations concerning the tree farm; when to cut, where to cut, what type of cutting, market prices, marking trees to cut, manage spacing, and row spacing. Three generations of McClellan’s are active in the day-to-day management and are always looking for ways to improve in a patient kind of way. This allows the generations to be together on the farm and for education on timber management be passed down to Grandson Conner McClellan.
The objective for this property is to chiefly provide income from timber sales. The property is managed primarily in pine timber, which ranges in age from 4-5 year old plantation to 80 year old mature stands. The majority of the plantations have been converted from pasture land. The pine will be managed in an uneven aged system as they mature. The Hardwood on this property are mostly in SMZ’s and will be left as filter strips to protect water quality. This property is managed mostly in an uneven aged system. The timber once mature are mature are thinned every 5-10 years and then naturally regenerated. Pre-commercial thinning has been conducted on several acres.
In 1993 we got serious about timber and timber management, and started converting pastureland into timberland. We learned a tremendous amount of information from that and have continued this education by working with the local AFC officials and attending field days. Doug learned through work in NRCS and the training we received by the NRCS Forester and AFC Foresters.
"In the winter of 2014 I purchased 5,000 pine seedlings to be planted in a 15 acre area we thinned in 2013. Dad hand planted the seedling by hand in over a two month period. Dad is 75 years old." - stated by Doug McClellan.
Water
Water quality is a very important focus on the Tree Farm. The perennial stream (creek) that runs through the Tree Farm is a special place that our family cares for very much. We tread lightly on this area. The beauty of this area is remarkable. It serves as a natural travel corridor for wildlife and is one of the important recreation features for our Tree Farm.
The creeks and streams on this property are all protected by SMZ’s that are maintained throughout all harvests. When harvests are conducted all Arkansas Best Management Practices are followed to maintain the high water quality produced on the farm. Pre-harvest planning is always done to prevent erosion problems. This planning is included the Management Plan of the timberland.
To improve water quality and still allow harvesting access the landowner installed a bridge in 2013. The bridge spans across the creek to allow crossing when water was high. This has secured the banks of the creek from vehicle traffic in high water events and improved water quality by reducing sediment loading.
Scattered over the tree farm we planted over 10,000 cypress seedlings in the past 20 years. We have interplanted the cypress in low areas around pine trees, edges of several ponds and in natural lows that stand in water. These trees will be allowed to remain after harvesting the pine. The root system of the bald cypress will help protect the soil in the wetter areas and enhance the aesthetics of these areas.
We allow fishing by the community in the stock ponds that are still scattered across the farm. This promotes good relations with the neighbors and also allows them an opportunity to visit a working Tree Farm and see that these activities are not detrimental to the land but help improve it.
Wildlife
Wildlife is a special focus for our Tree Farm. The family meets annually for the purpose of hunting and fellowship. Because of that, managing to promote wildlife is something we do each year. There are 14 acres of food plots and wildlife openings that are maintained on the property, These are managed in both warm and cold season crops. Some of the openings are managed solely for Native Warm Season Grasses while other are planted with crops such as milo, for summer, and winter wheat, rye grass, turnips, and others, for winter. This management strategy allows the openings to benefit wildlife during the entire year, not just during the hunting seasons. Also, prescribed burning is beginning to be used in pine plantations. It is well known that prescribe burning benefits a plethora of wildlife species. Roost trees are being developed in the SMZ’s.
Based on the knowledge and expertise the forestry and wildlife professional that we work with along with our knowledge we have no T and E species on our Tree Farm.
However we do have nuisance wildlife. Feral Hogs are an issue. We are close to the Saline River and hogs have been in this area for years and recently are becoming an issue. We allow hunting of feral hogs on the property. We have a gentleman that traps and hunts with dogs to remove the hogs. Beavers are also a nuisance on the property. Building dams on ponds and creek that hold water on trees. We are constantly removing dams to drain water from low areas that have a tendency to flood trees. We trap to remove beaver from the property. We keep a close watch on beaver activity. Doug walks the creek several times in the spring to identify beaver activities and for placement of traps.
Recreation
The cabin on the property is used for family outings and as a hunting cabin, and the property is used for hunting and other forms of outdoor recreation. Roads and trails are maintained throughout the property as well as numerous deer stands and food plots.
We invested in improved roads with adding gravel to our main roads through the Tree Farm. This allowed year round access and removed the destructive practice of rutting the land.
We have conducted several cuttings since 1993. We have spotted every cutting since that date. Dad and I take an approach of conservatism when we spot because we always say we can go back if we need to. We have thinned our mature pines 3 times since 1993. The 1993 pasture conversion planting has been thinned twice - 2008 and 2012; a.20 acre plot planted in 1997 that has received two thinning - 2007 and 2012; a 40 acre pine stand bought in 1995 has be thinned and marked for cut 3 times - 1995, 2004 and 2010; and another 40 acres that was almost clear cut in 1987 then hand planted, sprayed for release twice over 27 years and thinned and managed cut 4 times - last cutting 2012, today a highly productive 40 acres.
This land is excellent for deer hunting. We lease 220 acres that join our Tree Farm to give a buffer of safety when we hunt. We have family and friends that hunt the property. Doug takes youth hunting that have never killed a deer and he has taken or allowed their Dads to take their youth to kill their first deer. We have 5 youth to kill their first deer in the past 4 years. We allow fishing by the community in the stock ponds that are still scattered across the farm.
