Network News: Inspectors Archive  filter by category: Recognitions

Brittany VanderWall of Michigan Awarded 2019 National Leadership Award

The American Tree Farm System is pleased to recognize Brittany VanderWall of Michigan with the 2019 National Leadership Award. Learn more about her passion for ATFS.

Bill Chaney of Arkansas Awarded ATFS 2019 National Inspector of the Year

The American Tree Farm System is pleased to recognize Bill Chaney of Arkansas as the 2019 National Outstanding Inspector of the Year. Learn more about Bill and his incredible achievements. 

Good Practices Highlight: Excellent State Newsletters

Two great examples of informative, engaging newsletters are the Arkansas Inspector News and Washington’s Tree Farm News.

Dr. George Kessler Receives 2018 National Leadership Award

Each year, the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) is honored to recognize an outstanding leader from the community of ATFS leaders and volunteers for their exceptional service and leadership. At the 2018 National Leadership Conference, Dr. George Kessler of South Carolina received the 2018 National Leadership Award. 

Thank You 2017!

Thank you for a wonderful 2017 and for your efforts supporting Tree Farmers across the country.

2017 Assessment Recap

Thank you!

We have successfully completed the 2017 Third-Party Assessment! Thank you very much to the state committees of Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Montana, North Carolina, and South Carolina for all of your efforts throughout the entire process. 

Volunteer Highlight: Brittany VanderWall

Since Michigan Tree Farm Committee Chair Brittany VanderWall joined the committee a few years ago, her fellow committee members and Michigan landowners have immensely benefited. In her short time as chair, she has brought a new energy and fresh ideas, recruited younger members, and is already working to set the next chair and the entire committee up for long-term success so they can continue to provide for the state’s family landowners.

Seeking Nominations for Outstanding Inspector Award

ATFS is currently accepting nominations for the 2018 Regional Outstanding Inspector of the Year Award. This award recognizes outstanding leaders and volunteers and is presented at the annual ATFS National Leadership Conference. Know someone who should be recognized? Download the nomination form online, talk to your state Tree Farm Committee, or contact Sara Anrrich if you have any questions. Nominations are due September 15!

Nominate an Outstanding Inspector

Every year the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) recognizes exceptional ATFS Inspectors with the Outstanding Inspector of the Year award program. We are now accepting nominations for the 2018 Regional Outstanding Inspector of the Year Award. 

Please consider nominating one of your peers for this award. Download the nomination form online, or contact Sara Anrrich if you have any questions.

Thank You!

Thank you!

We have recently completed the field visits for the 2017 third-party assessment. The ATFS staff would like to thank every one of our volunteers participating in the assessment. 

Volunteer Highlight: Christine Walroth

At the 2017 NLC in February, ATFS was proud to honor the inspectors, volunteers, Tree Farmers and other partners who dedicate their time to the Tree Farm program. One such inspector, Christine Walroth of Wisconsin, has dedicated decades of her time across three states to the program and to advancing sustainable forestry. We were honored to present her with the award for the North Central Outstanding Inspector of the Year. 

Gratitude - Happy Volunteer Appreciation Month!

Did you know that April is National Volunteer Month? During the month of April, we celebrate the work that volunteers like you do year-round to help the American Tree Farm System, and the landowners we all serve, achieve our goals of delivering measurable, positive impacts on clean water, abundant wildlife habitat, and wood supplies. 

Volunteer Highlight: Tom Westergeen

ATFS volunteers, inspectors, state committee members and Tree Farmers have been critical to the ATFS program’s success for more than 75 years. One of Washington’s many dedicated Tree Farm inspectors, Tom Westergreen, is no exception.

Announcing the 2017 Regional Outstanding Inspectors of the Year

The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) would not be where it is today without the hard work and dedication of a broad network of ATFS Inspectors working on the ground with landowners. Every year, we are proud to recognize a few of these outstanding volunteers who have gone above and beyond in helping landowners to achieve their goals. The Regional and National Inspector of the Year Award program begins every year with nominations from state Tree Farm programs. For the 2017 award, we received 15 nominations from the four regions, and today we are proud to announce the four 2017 Regional Outstanding Inspectors of the Year.

Gratitude - Hats off to Our Inspectors!

December is a good month for reflection. As we think back over this past year, and the celebration of the 75^th Anniversary of the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), we think of gratitude. Gratitude for all that you, the ATFS Inspectors, have accomplished this past year and in 75 years of support. Inspectors are a key component of the American Tree Farm System. You are the voice of ATFS on the ground and the direct link to our Tree Farmers. And each one of you has given enough to ensure the creation of a thousand forests in the next 75 years.

Congratulations to the 2016 National OTFY

Thank you to the Oregon Tree Farm Committee for nominating the Defrees family of northeast Oregon, who were recently named the 2016 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year. The Defrees family truly embodies what it means to be a champion for ATFS as well as an outstanding steward of the forest now and for the future generation.

Volunteer Highlight: Lois Kaufman

She’s a forester, a landowner, a volunteer, and an outstanding leader. Lois Kaufman is a force within the Tree Farm community, and we are so fortunate to work with her to bring the Tree Farm program to California landowners.

Volunteer Highlight: Bill Coburn

When it comes to the American Tree Farm System, Bill Coburn can do it all. He’s a Tree Farmer, an Inspector, an Inspector training facilitator, and serves as an active member of two state Tree Farm committees, Wyoming and South Dakota. 

Volunteer Highlight: Dennis Galway

Since 1993, Dennis Galway of New Jersey has been a fixture in the American Tree Farm System both at the state and national levels.

Congratulations to the 2016 Regional Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year

We are proud to present this year's four Regional Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year:

• North Central Region: Gerald and Charlotte Kann, Wisconsin
• North East Region: Eve-Cowles Family Tree Farm, Massachusetts
• Southern Region: Bobby Watkins, Mississippi
• Western Region: Lyle and Dean Defrees, Oregon

Volunteer Highlight: Shirley Bargander

For more than thirty years, Shirley Bargander has been a fixture in Wisconsin’s Tree Farm Program, volunteering both as an ATFS Inspector as well as a leader of the committee. 

2016 National Inspector Awardees

Congratulations to Jeremy Scherf (OH) who was named the 2016 National Outstanding Inspector of the Year at the National Leadership Conference in February. 

2011 National Outstanding Inspector of the Year

Congratulations to Brian Cobble, of Live Oak, Florida for being the 2011 National Outstanding Inspector of the Year.

Congratulations are also in order for the 2011 Regional Inspectors of the Year, Michael Heath, Oregon; Sam Topper, Delaware; and John Joliff, Ohio. ATFS Inspectors are truly the boots on the ground for Tree Farm.

Profile: Wayne Pfluger, 2009 Southern Region Inspector of the Year

Wayne Pfluger, our 2009 Southern Region Inspector of the Year,hails from Conroe, Texas.

Profile: Arnie Friedt, 2009 Western Region Inspector of the Year

Arnie Friedt is our 2009 Western Region Inspector of the Year.

Profile: Wayne Young, 2009 Inspector of the Year

We are very pleased to announce Wayne Young from NewHampshire as our 2009 Inspector of the Year!

Introducing our 2007 Tree Farm Inspectors of the Year!

National Winner: Mike Older, Alabama.

Mike has been an active member of the Alabama Tree Farm Committee since the early 1990’s

Regional Winners:

Mike Kay, Maryland- Northeastern Region

Ryan Dawson, Missouri- North Central Region

EverettYoung, Montana- Western Region

 

Special thanks to our Regional Tree Farmer of the Year Volunteer Inspecting Judges!

Special thanks to our Regional Tree Farmer of the Year Volunteer Inspecting Judges!

ATFS Named Terry Truttmann 2005 Inspector of the Year

Terry Truttman of Missouri earned the 2005 Wesley R. Meier Outstanding Inspecting Forester of the Year Award. He accepted this award at the 2005 National Tree Farmer Convention.

George Frame, of Concord, NH, Honored with the 2006 National Field Leadership Award

George Frame, of Concord, NH, Honored with the 2006 National Field Leadership Award

George Frame has been an active part of the New Hampshire Tree Farm Committee for eight years,serving in this year as the committee co-sponsor. In previous years he has served as chair and vice chair. Referred to by his colleagues as “trainer extraordinaire”, he is proactive in motivating inspectors to accomplish reinspections, and makes every effort to train inspectors who are interested in being a part of the Tree Farm program.

Nominate an ATFS Volunteer Inspector

Nominate an ATFS Volunteer Inspector Tree Farm Inspector of the Year Contest

The American Forest Foundation sponsors this annual award to recognize top performers among the thousands of Tree Farm inspecting foresters. Any inspecting forester can be nominated with approval from the state committee chair. The nominee does not necessarily have to be the state’s inspector of the year.

Jim Hull, Texas State Forester, Wins Sustained Excellence Award

Jim Hull was presented with the 2005 Sustained Excellence Award at the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) annual meeting in September. The Sustained Excellence award honors Jim for his long standing support for ATFS.

Congratulations to Jeffrey Brown and Austin Short

Jeffrey G. Brown, of Elgin, S.C., was honored with the 2005 National Field Leadership Award at the ATFS National Leadership Conference in San Antonio in March 2005. Delaware State Forester, Austin Short, was named the 2004 winner of the Sustained Excellence Award.

Heritage Tree Farm Program

The Heritage Tree Farm Program, has been fully implemented into the American Tree Farm System. This program was developed to recognize industrial forestlands which participate in ATFS.

Congratulations to the 2003 Regional Inspectors of the Year

Join us in recognizing these individuals for their commitment to ATFS, their state committees,and to educating the public on the benefits of sustainable forestry. 

Gary Beyer - 2002 National Tree Farm Inspector

Gary Beyer, of Charles City, Iowa, was the recipient of the 2002 Wesley R. Meier Outstanding Inspecting Forester of the Year Award.  Beyer received his award during the National Tree Farmer Convention that was held last fall in Asheville, North Carolina.

Gary Price named 2001 Inspector of the Year

Gary Price, a volunteer Tree Farm System inspector for 21 years, was named the 2001 National Tree Farm Inspector of the Year at the annual meeting of the Texas Forestry Association. Price, an avid spokesperson for sound forest management, has won the Outstanding State Inspector title three times and was named the Outstanding Area Inspector five different years.