MABRY RECEIVES HIGHEST HONOR 100TH FOREST STEWARDSHIP AWARD STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM The Commission's 1OOth Forest Stewardship Award was presented to Ward Mabry of Buchanan. Representatives of federal, state, and local agencies attended the presentation banquet. Left to right are: David Westmoreland, Commission Director; Louise Mabry, wife ofwinner; Ward Mabry, award winner; and Carl Melear, Commission District Forester. Ward Mabry of Buchanan received the 1OOth Forest Stewardship Award presented in Georgia. The award is the highest honor of the Commission's Forest Stewardship Program. Mabry received the award at a banquet held in his honor at the Haralson County Chamber of Commerce. Representatives of federal, state, and local agencies attended the banquet with the Mabry family and friends. Commission Director David Westmoreland, who presented the award, explained the honor is not only related to conserving trees, but also sustaining quality land, water, soil, and wildlife. "This award is very meaningful to me," Mabry said. "I hope it dispels the myth that the most useless thing in society is an old man." Mabry, 76, began planting pines in 1980 and now has a 150- 10/Georgia Forestry/ Fall, 1997 acre pine plantation. The plantation is managed so pine straw can be baled for area landscapers. In 1995, the Mabry family was also recognized as Farm Family of the Year by the Bremen Rotary Club. Mabry, who likes to experiment with techniques, said he learned a lot growing up during the Depression when he was taught by his grandparents to conserve everything. "I only had a high school education," Mabry said, "but I got the greatest education in the world during the Depression - how to manage, maintain, conserve, and preserve. I hope I can leave this world in better shape than I found it." Mabry has been a 4-H volunteer and little league coach. His tree farm has been made available for scout camping and forestry lectures to youth groups. Like Mabry, landowners throughout the state are enthusiastic about Georgia's Forest Stewardship Program. The Georgia segment is part of a National Forest Stewardship Program offering landowners access to resource professionals providing advice on management of timber, wildlife, soil and water resources, recreation potential, aesthetics, and environmental concerns. A vital difference in this program and similar past programs is the variety of resource professionals and agencies working together to establish a single set of recommendations into a Stewardship Management Plan. Landowners having a personal commitment to caring for natural resources are encouraged to enroll in the program and receive a Stewardship Management Program. The landowner will be requested to sign a "Forest Steward's Creed" indicating intent to practice good stewardship. Each landowner is also asked to prioritize objectives according to personal interests. A team of professionals is then formed to determine necessary steps for the landowner to accomplish objectives. After the plan is determined, a resource professional will maintain contact with the landowner at least once per calendar quarter to answer questions or facilitate implementation of the plan. When the landowner has made substantial progress in following the recommended program, the prestigious "Forest Steward" designation will be awarded and a property sign will be provided to display the status. The sign designates the highest level of commitment and accomplishment in the Forest Stewardship Program. Ward Mabry packs pine straw on his Haralson County award winning tree farm. He began planting pine seedlings in 1980 on his farm located east of Buchanan on the Tallapoosa River. FINANCIAL INCENTIVE To encourage implementation of plans, the USDA Forest Service has a companion program titled "Stewardship Incentives Program," which makes cost-share dollars available to landowners with approved Stewardship Management Plans to implement recommendations. Practices covered include reforestation and afforestation, forest and agroforest improvement, soil and water protection improvement, riparian and wetland protection and im- provement, fisheries habitat enhancements, wildlife habitat enhancement, rare and endan- gered species protection, and forest recreation enhancement. For further information on Georgia's Forest Stewardship Program, contact your local For- estry Commission office or call 1-800-GA-TREES. D Pine straw packed in neat lines on Mabry tree farm. Gathering pine straw is an integral part of the farm operation that consists of 150 acres ofplanted pines and approximately 125 acres of mature pine and hardwood timber. SIMON AND SCHUSTER'S GUIDE TO TREES, by Paola Lanzara and Mariella Pizetti (U. S. Editor: Stanley Schuler). A Fireside Book published by Simon & Schuster Inc., New York/London/Toronto/ Sydney/Tokyo/Singapore $14.00. Simon & Schuster has informative guide books on everything from reptiles to rocks, so it is no surprise they have an excellent 250-page guide on trees. Simon & Schuster's Guide to Trees is a field manual to conifers, broadleafs, fruits, flowering trees - with a special section on trees of economic importance. The book contains over 650 illustrations - 350 in full color. A color coded map leads the way. The map covers the United States and Canada with color designating the approximate range of average annual minimum temperature for each zone. Trees not identified by a color bar are not grown outdoors in the mainland U.S. and Canada, but may grow indoors under glass. Each tree entry includes the botanical name with its entymology common name, family name - and a full description of size, shape, color, leaves, flowers, fruit, and seeds. The easy-to-use guide also has a detailed introduction with background information, a "hardiness" zone map for North America, a glossary, and an index. The guide emphasizes the importance of maintaining all elements in the composition, including human beings. This book should be a welcome addition to the shelf of any tree enthusiast or gardener, as well as those working in a professional capacity with trees. Georgia Forestry/Fall, 1997/11 the dedication ceremony when the museum was named for founder, Howard E. Bennett. EXTRAORDINARY SHINGLES Commission Secretary Julia Baker points to axe cuts in 16-foot ford log donated to museum by General F. Peacock, a Treutlen County shingle craftsman who attributes recognizing the rare log to a lifetime of working with a variety oflogs and wood species. The log is on display at the entrance ofthe Commission's Howard E. Bennett Forestry Museum. SHINGLE CRAFTSMAN DONATES RARE LOG A master shingle craftsman has donated a rare ford log to the Commission's Howard E. Bennett Forestry Museum. The donor, General F. Peacock (that's his real name - not a military classification) operates a rare-shingle making business in Treutlen County. The 66-year-old craftsman, who lives near Soperton, credits a lifetime of forestry activities to his ability to recognize the log - used to cross streams - as a valuable historical artifact. "I got the log from a construction company that dug it up near Highway 80 in Emanuel County," Peacock said. "They said it was big, had been cut down with an axe, and was buried deep in mud." When Peacock learned the log had been cut with an axe and was given a detailed description, his interest became serious. "They were just going to burn the log at the construction site," he said. "So I talked them into hauling it over to my place in exchange for some wooden furniture that I make on the side." 12/Georgia Forestry/Fall, 1997 After Peacock cleaned layers of dried mud off the log, he became even more interested. "I could see with no doubt that the 16-foot log was cut down before saws were available," he said. "The tree was definitely cut to fall in a certain direction. Whoever cut it, knew how to use an axe." Peacock said hardened sap, still visible on one side of the log, indicated this to be the bottom side. Deterioration and wear on the opposite side revealed the purpose. "The cuts worn into the log by wagon wheels showed this to be a ford log," he said. Peacock estimates, judging from the condition and location of the log, that it was used by ox carts to cross a stream during the 1700s when such carts traveled from Savannah to Middle Georgia. "When I knew for sure what this log was used for and that it is a valuable forestry artifact, I could not think of a better place for it than the Commission's Forestry Museum." Peacock said. The log is now on display near the entrance of the museum and was a popular attraction during Considering Peacock's forestry related background and knowledge, it is not surprising that he recognized the rare log and preserved it. He has worked in a variety of forestry related occupations, but currently specializes in the almost lost art of making "hand-drawn shingles." This type of wooden shingle goes back centuries and is seen depicted in paintings of pioneer houses and cabins. The original term "handdrawn-boards" was derived from craftsmen squaring the shingles with a drawknife. When properly made, the handdrawn-shingle is highly effective and displays a unique, rustic charm. Peacock said a roof made from these shingles should last a hundred years. Shingles are split, in the direction of the grain, from a single log. As the shingles are split, the log becomes smaller, so shingles vary in size and require a definite skill to arrange them properly for roofing. This is for aesthetics and the functional purpose of preventing leads and decay. Peacock equates the process to assembling "a natural jigsaw puzzle." Skill in arranging the roof, however, is not the only expertise involved in the process. The log has to be split in exactly the right spot for the blade to follow the direction of the grain and seal it. Splitting against the grain, of course, would ruin the shingle by opening the grain. Peacock said that splitting, as opposed to sawing, is the key to the entire process being successful. "The grain of the wood must be sealed to shed water and prevent decay," Peacock said. "That's why sawing doesn't work. No matter which direction the wood is sawed, the grain is opened. You can see and feel it in varying degrees, according to the wood and sawing conditions." Logs and more logs that have to be examined by Peacock before splitting off hand-drawn shingles often seen in paintings ofpioneer houses and cabins. Peacock may be the only craftsman in the statepracticing this vanishing art- he says he knows ofno one else doing it. Splitting shingles the old way gives new meaning to term "hard labor." Until recently, Peacock split all his shingles by hand with a hickory mallet and frow, just like it was done centuries ago. When Peacock grew tired of splitting shingles like a pioneer and the demand for his work became overwhelming, he developed a machine of his own design that is made basically from scrap iron and a horizontal blade powered by an electric motor. Finished product. Hand-drawn cypress shingles bundled and ready for use. The demand for his shingles - and their rustic charm now sought by many homeowners have increased so rapidly that Peacock no longer advertises his craft. He says the business runs by "word-ofmouth." Georgia Forestry/Fall, 1997/13 PLENTY OF BUSINESS Peacock does not suffer from a lack of customers. In fact, at times, he has experienced too much of a good thing. "I tried advertising in publications a few times,'' he said, "and I got covered up with more than I could possi- bly do. Now, I still have more than I can do, just by somebody telling somebody else about it." Current status of the shingle business is agreeable with Pea- cock. He prefers to work at his own pace to sustain a quality Peacock practices what he preaches concerning the use of hand-drawn shingles by living in this cypress house he built. Sealed shingles may offer a century ofuse. HARD WORK Peacock points out that splitting the shingles is "just plain hard work,'' even if you have perfected the craft. Until recently, he split the shingles in his backyard using the same method that pioneer settlers used. Peacock would stand a section of cypress log - usually weighing 50 to 75 pounds - on end and split it by hand with a frow. The frow is a scythe-like cleaving tool with a heavy blade set at a right angle to the handle. Aligning the frow blade at the proper angle on the log, he would strike it with a carved hickory in Peacock's backyard with little outside assistance in the form of employees. "But a few months ago,'' he said, "I came up with an idea for a machine to split the shingles." The machine is now in operation. Peacock built the shinglesplitter basically from scrap iron and a horizontal blade. An electric motor, with attached belts, drives the blade operated by a hand lever. The logs still have to be lifted onto the splitting platform and positioned for each cut,'' he said, "but this sure makes it a lot easier." product. Anyone visiting the shingle operation will find a prime example of quality craftsmanship on the premises - Peacock's house. Peacock built a two-story cypress house from scratch. Very few nails or screws, have been used in the structure. He describes the house as "ninety-seven percent cypress put together with wood pegs." The shingles of the house - as are all Peacock's shingles - are split from cypress. He prefers cypress because it is a "soft, easyto-work-with wood" that is ideal for this section of the country. "Cypress is a water-type wood,'' Peacock said. "It grows in water and sheds water naturally from a sealed grain, so it's perfect for a mallet. "You can't use a metal hammer because it ruins the frow." Peacock explained. "When the mallet wears down to where the groove covers the blade and touches the log, it's time to make another one." A lot of people stop by Peacock's shingle making operation looking for a job. "But that's what they're looking for - a job,'' he says. "They're not looking for work. And this is work - about three or four hours a day is as much as you can do. It can also be tedious and time consuming labor, and this is one of the things that make the shingles expensive." This vanishing craft has evolved A hand-drawn cypress shingle more than a century old. Wear is not from decay, but the result of water (rain), like a rock worn down by flowing river waters. Such durability depends on craftsmanship and arrangement ofthe shingles. 14/Georgia Forestry/ Fall, 1997 roof. When my shingles have to be replaced, it's not from decay, but wear. The curvature of the grain is pointed downward, so the water sheds naturally. So, eventually, the shingles wear out from the rain just like a rock is worn down by flooding water in a creek." According to Peacock, there is no need to be concerned about the softness of cypress. He has hardened the entire wooden surface of his house - shingles and all - by spraying it with a half-and-half mix of water and Clorox. He says the termite does not exist that will not "think twice about making a meal out of this cypress." In addition to hardening the wood, the Clorox blend cleans and lightens the color of the wood, giving it a new look. Effectiveness of the shingles might be questioned when looking upward from the upstairs of Peacock's house - shafts of daylight can be seen coming through the roof: "Doesn't this roof leak?" To which Peacock replies: "Do you see any signs of leaks?" There are no water stains or any other signs of leaks. Peacock said daylight coming through the roof is the result of the angle of the sun - but the placement of the shingles at the proper overlapping angles will guide the flow of water from one descending shingle to the next until it spills off the side of the house. "If you get a bad blowing rain, or a real snow storm, there's probably going to be a few temporary leaks,'' Peacock said, "but it's usually not enough to worry about, and I don't even recommend this type of roof for real snow country. Even if you have to replace a faulty shingle now and then, it's easy to do, once you know how." In essence, Peacock's hand crafted shingles and roofing have to be seen to be fully appreciated. He said if there is anyone else in the state turning out quality hand-drawn shingles, he does not know about it. Peacock gives public demonstrations of his craft in different sections of the state. Demonstrations are worth seeing. D TWO MINUTES UNTIL DISASTER Firefighter relies on courage and materials on hand What should have been a routine day on the job for Phillip Carpenter, came very close to being a human and environmental catastrophe. Carpenter, a Chief Forest Warden with the Virginia Department of Forestry, was supervising a helicopter spraying operation being conducted by a contractor, when a fire - ignited by a fuel leak and a spark from an electric motor -broke out on the contractor's support truck. The truck was carrying a terrifying combination of cargo herbicide and 400 gallons of aviation fuel. The flames were in the worst possible spot - under the fuel tank in the area where the cutoff valve was located. Carpenter and the truck driver first grabbed the 2.5pound, all-purpose fire extinguishers that each had in his vehicle. The small extinguishers lasted just long enough to knock the flames back slightly. At that point, Carpenter knew he had just one option left... the 90 gallons of water and 3 quarts of Class A foam on his Forestry Department truck. (The mixture is meant to fight wood and paper fires, not those fueled by chemicals and petroleum products.) "I knew that Class A foam wasn't what you'd use on that kind of fire, but a voice told me that it would work,'' Carpenter said. "Fortunately, the voice was right." Carpenter maneuvered his truck into position, unracked the hose with the help of the driver and took aim at the fire. By then, the aviation fuel was starting to vent and the supply hose for refueling the helicopter was starting to burn. The initial attack of foam suppressed the flames everywhere but in the most important area - the point where fuel was spraying directly under the truck. He finally managed to use the foam to interrupt the fuel stream, knocking down the blaze just enough for the truck driver to reach the fuel cutoff valve. Without a fuel source, the remaining flames died back quickly. "At that point, I figured we only had about two minutes left before the fire reached a level where it couldn't be controlled with the resources we had,'' said Carpenter. Although the truck driver had radioed for help from area firefighters, it was going to be a long time before help arrived at the remote area. In September, Carpenter was presented with the first Stihl Forestry Heroism Award. Stihl, manufacturer of the world's largest selling brand of chainsaws, created this award to honor forestry workers who risk their lives for the protection of others. He was given a plaque, a $100 check, and $1,000 check for his forestry department, and a Stihl 046M chainsaw engraved with his name. Forestry departments from all 50 states were asked to nominate the person they believed contributed an act of bravery, valor or courage to their community. Carpenter was one of 15 people selected for the contest. To receive nomination forms for the Stihl Forestry Heroism Award, call 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445). Editor's Note: Please contact your local District Forester to submit a story idea about a forestry hero from Georgia whom we may highlight in future issues. Georgia Forestry/ Fall, 1997/ 15 BENNETTMORE THAN AN EDITOR Rare museum is his gift to future generations. Howard E. Bennett As editor of this magazine for 22 years, Howard Bennett told the story of the Georgia Forestry Commission. However, the self-proclaimed "Tree Lover" has done more than just serve in this position...he's brought forestry to life for people in the years to come with the creation of the Georgia Forestry Museum. Lincoln Logs," said Commission Director David Westmoreland. All Museum exhibits have been donated by landowners, corporations, and the U. S. Forest Service. Visitors can see: * Life size "Smokey Bear" * Dioramas of forestry scenes * Murals/photos detailing Georgia's timber industry * Model of a rural firefighter in full gear * Small tents firefighters use for shelter if they're caught in the path of a blaze * "Product Tree" displaying the products made from pine trees. * Fire Tower * Turpentine Still * Sawmill * Nature trail lined with native trees Some of the artifacts that Bennett helped to locate date back to the early days of forestry. He says, "A museum is never finished ...The (forestry tools) that are popular and useful today will be tomorrow's museum objects." "Howard is a mover and a shaker," said Bob Lazenby, the Commission's Chief of Information, Education, and Urban Forestry Department. "He'll keep us busy on these plans for years to come." Bennett's wish list for the In the early 80s, Bennett proposed the original concept for the forestry museum and began to scour the state for artifacts. In 1989, a museum was erected at the Georgia Forestry Commission's main complex on Riggins Mill Rd. in Macon. On August 17, 1997, the museum was dedicated as the Howard E. Bennett Forestry Museum. The museum's center is a seven-room log cabin. The entire building is constructed of Georgia forest products. Logs were cut from the Commission's forest in Baldwin County in Milledgeville. They were processed, numbered, and then sent back to Macon. Forestry Commission employees from throughout the state built the cabin - carpentry, wiring and all. "It was like putting together 16/Georgia Forestry/ Fall, 1997 Bennett is surrounded by friends and family during what he called, "... One ofthe highlights of my life." museum include an additional room for future exhibits and a fullscale fire watch tower. He'd like to see breezeways from the log house leading to the nearby equipment shed. "...And it will tie in so people won't say, 'Is this it?'... (because) there's more, there's more!" Howard and wife Betsy live in Macon. They have two sons, Keith and Craig, daughters-in-law Cindy and Alisa, and granddaughters Brett and India, all live in Atlanta. To donate items call 1-800-GATREES. To schedule a tour of the museum, please call your local district forester. Directions: Traveling East on I-16: Get off Ocmulgee Blvd/ Golden Isles Pkwy. Exit #5. At the light on end of exit ramp, take a left. Go under interstate and make a right on Joe Tamplin Ind. Blvd. (Note: Avoid immediate right which is the West bound exit ramp.) Follow Joe Tamplin Ind. Blvd. for 2.2 miles. Take a right onto Riggins Mill Rd. The Georgia Forestry Commission complex is on the right - museum is on the grounds. Traveling West on I-16: Get off Ocmulgee Blvd/ Golden Isles Pkwy. Exit #5. At end of ramp, immediately make a right U-turn onto Joe Tamplin Ind. Blvd. Follow Joe Tamplin Ind. Blvd. for 2.2 miles. Take a right onto Riggins Mill Rd. The Georgia Forestry Commission complex is on the right - museum is on the grounds. Photos at right: Just a sample of what you'll.find when you visit the Howard E. Bennett Forestry Museum. Georgia Forestry/ Fall, 1997/ 17 GEORGIA LOOKING AT FLORIDA CD ROM Importance of Forests Taught in Fun Computer Program Tie Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in cooperation with the Florida Forestry Association has developed and launched the "Florida Forests Forever" campaign with an entertaining learning tool. A brightly colored 18-wheel tractor-trailer showvan has been equipped with 12 computers on which school students are able to play an interactive CD ROM. Kids are able to tour a "virtual forest" where they can learn more about animals that make the forests their home. They can play a game that teaches about the many products that are made from trees. Some of the techniques used by foresters and landowners to care for forests are taught as well as the variety of recreational activities that are available in the state's forests. A pre-test and post-test is given to determine how much additional knowledge was gained by using the CD ROM. Florida officials are scheduled to meet with Georgia Forestry 18-wheeleris part of"Florida Forests Forever" Campaign. leaders interested in initiating a similar program. Board member of the Georgia Forestry Commission, Larry Walker, thinks the program will help to promote balanced environmental education. "There are a number of excellent tools such as Project Leaming Tree, that reach out to our children, and the approach that our friends in Florida have developed appears to be another excellent tool that we in Georgia hope to utilize." Walker, who is also the Forest Stewardship Manager at Weyerhaeuser Company in Oglethorpe, Georgia, is grateful for the spirit of sharing that his fellow forestry community members in Florida have shown. During the next year, the showvan will tour Florida, stopping for visits to middle schools and agriculture related events. Individual copies of the CD ROM program will soon be available for each school in Florida. Computers inside "showvan"play interactive CD-ROMforestry program. 18/Georgia Forestry/ Fall, 1997 Project Learning Tree is an awardwinning environmental education program that provides teachers with activities and projects for kindergarten through 12th grade. PLT can be integrated into all subjects and helps students develop critical thinking skills so they can make informed decisions concerning environmental issues. HADDEN IS NEW MISS GEORGIA FORESTRY Deidre Lash Hadden In front of one of the largest audiences in years, Deidre Lash Hadden ofToombs County competed against 40 other contestants from throughout the state to win the title of Miss Georgia Forestry 1997. The 21-year-old daughter of Pat and Dale Hadden ofToombs County, was crowned Sept. 2 during a ceremony at the 58th annual Miss Georgia Forestry Pageant in Tifton, Georgia. A senior at Georgia Southern University, Hadden began studying Special Education, but recently changed her major to Dental Hygiene. She will be attending the Medical College in Augusta at the end of this year. As part of her duties, the queen represents and helps promote forest interests by attending conventions, fairs, parades, and other occasions around the state. Other winners include first runner-up, April Dawn Whitlock of Valdosta State University; second runner-up, Lisa Marie Browning of Clinch County; third runner-up, Leah Nicole Dykes of Liberty County; fourth runner-up, Brande Gail Puckett of Middle GA College; and Miss Congeniality, Melanie Jill Vickers of Coffee County. Over $60,000 in college scholarships from area colleges were handed out along with over $6,000 in cash scholarships that were donated by the Miss Georgia Forestry Pageant Educational Association, a non-profit organization. Next year's competition will be held again in Tifton, but earlier in the year - June 18-20. Seventeen- to twenty-two-yearolds interested in entering the Miss Georgia Forestry contest should call Pageant President and Director Dianne Dominy at (912) 386-2681. Dominy says the pageant will be accepting one girl per county and one girl per college. The following criteria is judged as follows: interview - 50%; platform speech - 25%; evening gown competition - 25%. There are five other contests during the pageant. GEORGIA TEAM WINS "BEST OVERALL" WOOD GRADER CONTEST CHRISTMAS TREE COMPETITION A Georgia team won the "Best Written Test/Dimension: Overall Team" honor at the 6th first place winner was Bruce Annual Wood Grader Contest held Kicklighter, Meldrim, GA; in Orangeburg, SC, according to Written Test/RED or Boards: Timber Products inspection of first place winner was Bruce Conyers. Kicklighter, Union Camp, The Meldrim, GA team took the Meldrim GA; top honor with other first place Visual Test/RED or Boards: wins among 80 participants first place winner was Robert competing on teams from Washington, West Ashley Lum- Georgia, Alabama, and South ber, Cottageville, SC; .{ Carolina. Approximately 100 Visual Test/Dimension: first observers attended the annual place winner was John Grant, competition. Georgia Pacific, Varnville, SC. The contest consisted of the Visual Test/Wide Dimension: following categories: Written first place winner was Donnie Test/Dimension; Written Test/ Lloyd, Union Camp, Meldrim, RED or Boards; Visual Test/ GA. Dimension; and Visual Test/Wide Best Overall Grader was Dimension. Donnie Anemaet, East Alabama Lumber Co., LaFayette, AL. The 81h Annual Christmas Tree Show was held at the Georgia National Fair in Perry. A dozen varieties of Christmas Trees were represented in the 58 entries. The winners were: (Best of Show) "Grand Champion" Henry "Buddy" Emfinger of Manchester, GA; (RunnerUp) "Reserve Champion"H. E. "Ed" Ruark of Bostwick, GA; and (Most 1st Place Ribbons) "Sweepstakes Champion" Henry "Buddy" Emfinger of Manchester, GA. Lane McLoud of Perry won first place out of 14 entries in the Christmas Tree Decorating Contest. Her tree's theme was "Georgia On My Tree" and featured ornaments made from Georgia products. Georgia Forestry/Fall, 1997/19 TALBOT COUNTY YOUTH Forester Award, Bartlett was named outstanding Talbot County RECEIVES 4-H AWARD 4-H'er earlier this year. An active 4-H member since she was 10, Bartlett says her greatest influ- ence has been her 4-H agent, Paul Bulloch, who accompanied Tiffani Bartlett, a Talbot County second place in state-wide compe- her on many forestry tours and teenager, is the 1997 recipient of tition for her demonstration lectures and encouraged her to the Georgia Young Forester project on fertilization. study tree fertilization tech- Award, an honor bestowed annu- In addition to the Young niques. ally to a Georgia 4-H high school student showing outstanding achievements in forestry. The Young Forester Award, which includes a $750 scholar- ship, is sponsored by Albany, GA- based F&W Forestry Services, Inc. F&W established the award in 1983 to encourage high school students to consider careers in forestry. The recipient is selected by a panel of judges from the University of Georgia's Cooperative Extension Service, which directs state 4-H activities. Bartlett's award winning for- estry activities include learning forest management skills, tree planting techniques, conserva- Tiffani Bartlett (center) ofTalbot County, is the 1997 recipient ofthe Georgia tion practices, proper seedling Young Forester Award, presented annually to a 4-H student demonstrating care before planting, tree identifi- outstanding activities in forestry. The award, which includes a $750 schol- cation, and fertilization of pine arship is sponsored by F&W Forestry Services, Inc. ofAlbany. Making the plantations. Bartlett won the 4-H award presentation are Dennis Lebleu (left) of F&W, and Bill Edwards, in- district competition and was terim executive director ofGeorgia 4-H. FORESTRY YOUTH CAMP Summer of '97 Gone, '98 to Come Fifty students attended the 1997 Georgia Division of the Society of American Foresters (SAF) Forestry Youth Camp this summer. The free camp was held south of Covington, Georgia on Lake Jackson. Twelve- and thirteen-yearold boys and girls are encouraged to develop an awareness of the value of forest resources to Georgia's economy and how those resources relate to everyday life. 20 /Georgia Forestry/ Fall, 1997 Lee Pollard from Appling, Georgia scored the highest on the 100 question exam, given on the last day of camp. While academics are an important part of the camp, fun can be found on the excellent recreational facilities and a trip to Stone Mountain Park to view the "Laser Light Show." Most schools recognize selected students by awarding the three-day camp opportunity. For more information, call (912) 751-3530. Exam winners: first place, Lee Pollard; second place, Charles Boozer; third place, Adam Eller. Bishop Captures Two Forestry Awards Reba Bishop Reba Bishop of the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) in Polk County, recently received two awards for her work in Environmental Education and Project Leaming Tree (PLT). For the fourth year, she was also named Facilitator of the Year by the state level PLT and the GFC. The awards were presented at a Georgia Forestry Associa- tion conference on Jekyll Island by David Westmoreland Director of the GFC. ' Through Bishop's efforts, there have been more workshops conducted in Northwest Georgia than anywhere in the state for the past four years. Bishop hopes that one day all educators and teachers will be trained in Environmental Education programs. "We must seek to gain an awareness and knowledge of the world around us, as well as our place within it," said Bishop. "We must strive to manage wisely all our valuable natural resources." Georgia Forestry/Fall, 1997/21 PEOPLE IN THE NEWS position at the Laurens County Unit. Barrett was formerly the Senior Forester in Soperton. He and HUBERT STRICKLAND retires KAREN SPIVEY resigned as the wife Paulette reside in Soperton. Nov.1 from his position as Senior main receptionist for the Georgia They have two children in college Forester in the Camilla District. He Forestry Commission. Spivey daughter Susan, and son Thomas. joined the Georgia Forestry Commission in 1965 as a forester on the Waycross State Forest. Over the 32 years he's held positions as Project Forester at the Lower Little Tallatoosa Watershed in Carrollton; Project Forester in Dublin; Area Forester in Lafayette; and Project Forester in Blakely. Strickland has an active County Forestry Association in his area, which is also where the Pilot Project for F.I.P. began. He and wife Laura live in Blakely. ALTON ROGERS retires Nov. 1 as Chief Ranger in the Walker County Unit. He joined the Georgia Forestry Commission in 1965. Rogers and wife Gail live in Lafayette with two daughters, Jamie and Katie. MADGE MILLER joins the Georgia Forestry Com- mission as an accounting clerk. She re- tired from Nabisco after 34 years of service. served 12 years with the GFC before accepting a position as a General Clerk 1 with the Department of Transportation near Tennille where she resides with her two daughters Lar'Karra and Shakeya. STUART A. MOSS was appointed to the new position of Corporate Man- ager at F&W Forestry Services at the Albany headquarters. He has managed the firm's Macon office for the past six years. F&W handles timber sales and pro- vides compre- hensive forest management consulting and appraisal ser- vices to private and industrial Moss landowners throughout the South. BILLY RALEY, Chief Ranger of Wilkinson County, will be retired as of Dec. 1, after 34 years of service. DR. KARL M. COUNTS was ap- pointed Director of the Herty Foun- dation (a non-profit, independent or- ganization which provides a labora- tory and pilot plant setting for re- search and development. Dr. Counts joined the Herty Foun- dation in 1986 as Technical Direc- tor and has served as Interim Di- rector since the resignation of Dr. Michael J. Kocurek in January of 1997. Counts earned his Ph.D. and M.S. from the In- stitute of Paper Chemistry (now the Institute of Paper Science and Technology) and B.S. from Clemson Uni- versity. Dr. Counts served as a Commissioned Counts Officer of the U.S. Navy. He is a member of the Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry. Dr. Counts and wife Bea have four children; Art, Janneke, Paul, and Karl. She and husband Lamar have two children; son, Ryan and