SC Tree Farm NEWS
APRIL, 2015
Act Now To Stay In The SC Tree Farm Program
The SC Tree Farm Program will fully
transition to Certification on Dec. 31,
2015. Any Tree Farmers who have not
joined the new program by that date will
be removed from the Tree Farm Program.
If you have already sent in an application and paid Tree Farm membership
dues, then you are enrolled in the new
Certification program. If you have not yet
joined, use the Application Form in this
newsletter to keep your Tree Farm certified.
It is the landowner’s responsibility to
make sure the management plan meets the
current Tree Farm Standard. Contact your
forester or use the Management Plan Addendum available at https://www.treefarm-
system.org/tree-farm-management-plantemplates to keep your plan up to date.
Contact Guy Sabin at [email protected] or 803/798-4170 with questions about your Tree Farm membership
status, or complete/return the Application
Form to stay in the SC Tree Farm Program.
Successful LEGISLATIVE DAY Held
The SC Tree Farm Committee hosted
a Legislative Day on Feb. 25, 2015 at the
State House to increase awareness of
Tree Farming and the importance of forestry. In addition to visiting one-on-one
with their local lawmakers, tree farmers
were recognized by the House of Representatives and Senate.
Inside
Chairman’s Report.......................2
Bob Franklin provides an update on SC
Tree Farm Committee activities and accomplishments.
Management...............................3-4
Learn the one thing that top SC Tree
Farmers say has really helped them.
APPLICATION.............................5-6
The information you need to know
about the new SC Certified Tree Farm
Program and how to join.
Directory..................................10-11
How to contact SC Tree Farm’s district
chairmen and other representatives.
Participants touted the industry’s $17.4
billion economic impact in South Carolina.
Forestry is the state’s number one manufacturing sector in terms of both jobs and
wages, trees are the state’s largest crop,
and forest products are the number one export commodity from the Port of Charleston.
The Tree Farm delegation also advo-
cated its 2015 legislative agenda, which
includes: the Trespasser Responsibility
Act, Highway and Bridge Funding, and
support for State Budget requests for the
SC Forestry Commission, Clemson Public Service Activities, and the SC Dept. of
Natural Resources. Photo: Doug Wood, SC
Forestry Commission
As stewards of the land, Tree
Farmers are committed to
protecting watersheds and
wildlife habitat, soil conservation, growing a healthy
forest, and leaving a legacy
for future generations. They
also enjoy bird watching and
other recreational aspects
that forests provide.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
 Your South Carolina Tree Farm Program is attracting attention from all over the country as we strive to become a service-oriented, self-supporting third party forest certification
program. At the Tree Farm Leadership Conference in Saint Louis, our delegation was
asked about how we’re making it work. It goes without saying that no one individual deserves credit. It’s a TEAM effort.
Thanks to the leadership of our past chairman, Randall Ewing, Sr. and the efforts of our
membership team headed by George Kessler, we have 504 members and almost half the
South Carolina acreage enrolled that was under the old program!
We can’t rest on this success. We must continue to strive to provide value to our members. To accomplish this:
• We had a successful Tree Farm Educational Program on Nov. 5 at the SC Forestry
Commission’s Niederhof Forestry Center, Tillman, SC in conjunction with the SC
Forestry Association’s Annual Meeting at Hilton Head Island, SC.
• We held another successful Tree Farm Legislative Day on February 25 in Columbia.
• We are holding membership recruitment programs around the state.
• We are partnering with the Longleaf Alliance to hold a Longleaf 101 Academy
in Aiken, SC on July 14-16 and a Prescribed Fire Academy at Webb Wildlife Center
on August 18-20.
• We’ll be holding a Tree Farm Educational Program on Nov. 11 in conjunction with
the SC Forestry Association’s annual meeting. It will feature a tour of Resource
Management Service’s property and International Paper’s mill in Georgetown, SC.
These are just a few of the educational programs we are helping deliver around the state.
 Secretary/Treasurer Scott Phillips, Columbia, SC has led the SC Tree Farm Committee
through the process of organizing the South Carolina Tree Farm Program as a 501(c)(3)
Private Non Profit group. In our last committee meeting, he led discussion about the process. The paperwork is currently being processed.
 In addition to our membership outreach efforts, Inspection Chairman Eric W. Smith,
Charleston, SC will be leading an effort to retrain current Tree Farm Inspectors on the new
2015 Tree Farm Standards. This is vitally important for third party forest certification, as we
make sure all of our current Tree Farmers and new signees meet these standards in order
to take advantage of the certification program.
To all our members: YOU are the leadership of Tree Farm in South Carolina. Take part
in that by encouraging your neighboring landowners to join the South Carolina Tree Farm
Program. Participate in your local county or multicounty Forestry Association meetings. If
you don’t have a group active in your area, contact your local County Extension Agent and
Forestry Commission representative and offer to help them organize a group. Challenge
your forester to participate in the Tree Farm Program as an inspector.
As you can see, 2015 is going to be a busy year for the South Carolina Tree Farm Committee! Many thanks to all who have made this group so successful. We look forward to
working with all our friends this year and making new ones as we continue to be the sign
of good forestry in South Carolina!
Bob Franklin
SC Tree Farm Committee Chairman
Franklin can be reached at 843/893-7775 or [email protected]
April 2015/SC Tree Farm News/Page 2
Message From The
State Administrator
One of the greatest benefits of being in
the SC Tree Farm Program is the chance
to meet, learn, and share
with other Tree Farmers.
However, many landowners are reserved when it
comes to talking about
their own achievements
on their forest land. An
important way that we
learn from each other and
recognize excellent forest
management is through the District and
State Outstanding Tree Farmer of the
Year awards. Please consider nominating deserving Tree Farmers to recognize
their success and help us all learn from
their experiences.
 Tree Farm Inspectors: The new
Tree Farm Standards are now in effect
– this means that all Inspectors must be
trained in the new standard before doing
additional inspections and all inspections
must be completed using the new form.
Inspectors who have completed either the
classroom training or completed an inspection since Jan. 1, 2013 are eligible to
take the online refresher training by logging in to the American Tree Farm System database at www.atfsdatabase.org.
For those needing the class, stay tuned
for more information on upcoming Inspector Training Workshops!
Guy R. Sabin
[email protected]
803/798-4170, Ext. 12
South Carolina joined the American Tree Farm System in 1946
Program co-sponsors
 Clemson University
 SC Forestry Association
 SC Forestry Commission
Editor’s Note
Welcome to this issue of SC Tree Farm
NEWS -- a publication of the South Carolina
Tree Farm Committee. This issue is packed with important
information.
A word of thanks to all
individuals who submitted
articles or other materials for
this publication and for those
folks who work behind the
scenes to ensure the success of
Tree Farm. You are greatly app
preciated.
Frances LL. T
F
Taylor
l
SCFA Communications Director
803/798-4170 or [email protected]
Advice
Editor’s note: We asked several of our former South Carolina Tree Farmers of the Year and District Tree Farmers of the Year
to complete this sentence: The one thing that has helped me – more than anything else – as a Tree Farmer is. . . Here’s
what they had to say. Special thanks to each of them for participating.
Burris
Dennis
Gantt
McPhail
Haralson
Angle
Jones
Nowlen
Hiltner
Wood
Meetze
Drayton
McCrary
Sanders
Bauknight
Spearman
Dr. A. G. “Skeet” Burris, Cummings,
SC [2000 NATIONAL Outstanding Tree
Farmer of the Year]: “Education about
tree farming from organizations like American Tree Farm, the South Carolina Forestry
Association, and other conservation groups
has really helped me.”
Jeff Dennis, Walterboro, SC [2012 District 12 Tree Farmer of the Year]: “Know-
ing that I’m not the only one struggling with
land management decisions. Wet weather
makes it tough to burn, and degrades property access roads, too. No one said tree
farming would be easy.”
Fred Gantt, Columbia, SC [2000 SC Tree
Farmer of the Year]: “Getting to know for-
estry professionals and tapping into their
bank of knowledge, which they so generously share, has been invaluable.”
Dr. Walt A. McPhail, Mauldin, SC [2012
NATIONAL Outstanding Tree Farmer of
the Year]: “Forestry education has been
important. The more I’ve learned about forest management and how to improve our
forest, the more I’ve wanted to help other
landowners and share information with
them.”
Johney L. Haralson, Denmark, SC [2004
SC Tree Farmer of the Year]: “The SC
Forestry publication which is so up to date
and informative on all aspects of sustainability and legislative issues.”
Joanna Angle, Chester, SC [2012 SC
Tree Farmer of the Year]: “Having my
South Carolina Forestry Commission Project Forester, Roy H. Boyd, Rock Hill, SC, to
guide and mentor me.”
Mark T. Jones, Piedmont, SC [2009 SC
Tree Farmer of the Year]: “Networking
with more experienced Tree Farmers has
really benefited me. The Tree Farm program makes this happen.”
Billy Nowlen, Camden, SC [2014 District
2 Tree Farmer of the Year]: “It’s a com-
bination that includes growing a product for
future generations; putting in the hard work
while enjoying watching the trees grow; the
income and personal benefits such as managing for wildlife, water quality, etc. -- it’s the
total package. My mother instilled in me at a
very early age that no matter what challenges
you face in life, the more you’re willing to put
into something, the more you’ll get out of it.”
Dennis Hiltner, Columbia, SC [2012 District 6 Tree Farmer of the Year]: “The
knowledge that, with care, trees grow well
in SC. ‘With care’ is the key point. Learning to care for trees is not a ‘one thing’
journey. It encompasses using life experiences, good judgment, all the professional
help available and then having nature smile
upon our farm.”
Wallace B. Wood, Jr., Parksville, SC
[2011 SC Tree Farmer of the Year]:
“What helped me was working as a county
Forestry and Natural Resource agent for
many years and also the people who have
been willing to share their knowledge about
forestry. That includes foresters and landowners.”
Continued next page
April 2015/SC Tree Farm News/Page 3
Advice
Continued from page 3
Mike Meetze, Newberry, SC [2013 SC
Tree Farmer of the Year]: “My agricultural
background and appreciation for what the
land can provide have really helped me.”
Edward R. Drayton, Hartsville, SC [2008
SC Tree Farmer of the Year]: “My 55
years of experience in understanding how
forests grow and how to manage the forest
holistically for wood, water, recreation, and
wildlife as a good steward of the land.”
William McCrary, Columbia, SC [2013
District 6 Tree Farmer of the Year]:
“Probably the encouragement I received
when I was recognized as District 6 Tree
Farmer of the Year. That has helped me prepare for my ultimate goal which is to have a
property that can be used as a ‘classroom’
for educating others and introducing them
to complete forest management: timber,
wildlife, water and conservation.”
Jimmy Sanders, Greenwood, SC [2014
SC Tree Farmer of the Year]: “Tree Farm-
ing is the opportunity to work with many individuals, agencies and organizations that
have shared knowledge, assistance and
encouragement to help me care for my forestland.”
Dennis L. Bauknight, Easley, SC [2010
SC Tree Farmer of the Year]: “What has
helped me as a Tree Farmer is learning that
there is MUCH MORE to tree farming than
just growing trees.”
John E. Spearman, Jr., Lane, SC [1999
SC Tree Farmer of the Year]: “The knowl-
edge of others!”
Above: Ken Leach, Georgetown, SC [2013 SC Tree
Farm Committee Chairman] confers with Joanna Angle,
Chester, SC [2012 SC Tree Farmer of the Year].
April 2015/SC Tree Farm News/Page 4
Checking The Value
of Your Investment
By Dwight L. Stewart, Jr., owner, Dwight L. Stewart, Jr. & Associates
If you invest in the stock market, you likely know how to check the value of your investment on a daily basis. If you’re a farmer, you can monitor prices for commodities such as
corn, wheat and cotton through various reporting services. However, what if your investment consists of growing and selling trees? What type of pricing information is available?
Unlike stocks, bonds and farm commodities, the price for trees on the stump, commonly
known as stumpage, may not be quickly available. Further, there are a number of variables
such as logging conditions, size and types of trees, and weather conditions that can affect
stumpage prices. There are several sources of information available for landowners and
others who invest in growing trees.
 Timber Mart-South. Frank Norris initiated Timber Mart-South in 1976 to benefit both private landowners and forest industry professionals. Mr. Norris retired from his
involvement in the publication in 1995 and since then, the Frank W. Norris Foundation
through the Daniel B. Warnell School of Forest Resources at the University of Georgia has
compiled and published Timber Mart-South quarterly reports. The publication is a result
of surveys that report market activity of a broad cross section of the timber industry. The
reports are from companies and individuals who are actively engaged in the day to day
operation of selling and buying timber on the stump and delivering it to yards and mills.
From these reports, over each quarter, the data is sorted and tabulated to arrive at a group
of price ranges from low to high. From these groupings, a simple average is obtained for
the state, area, and product. As pointed out on Timber Mart-South reports, prices vary
greatly depending on many factors and these may or may not reflect local sales. [www.
timbermart-south.com]
 Forest2Market. Another information service is Forest2Market, founded by Pete
Stewart. Pete started the business by building a stumpage price data base. The company
now provides many pricing reports for stumpage and lumber, price forecasts for stumpage,
wood base supply and demand assessments and bench marking services for delivered
wood, raw materials and lumber traders. In 2011, Forest2Market launched a recovered
paper benchmark to this list of products. Forest2Market collects real time market data
to exacting standards of completeness, timeliness and accuracy. The company accepts
transaction level data from industry participants throughout the supply chain. The data is
collected discretely and disseminated anonymously and evaluated by experienced foresters. [www.forest2market.com] The company also reports on wood fiber supplies as they
relate to the woody biomass and alternative forms of energy from wood.
RISI. Another source of information is RISI which was founded in 1985 as Resource Information Systems, Inc. The company is an independent economic analysis for the global
forest products industry. It’s headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts and has operations
throughout the United States, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, and Singapore. [www.risiinfo.com]
 Each of these companies can be reached by their respective web sites for more information and for subscription services. The SC Forestry Commission and Forest2Market,
have teamed up to give South Carolina landowners access to quarterly price reports for
major classes of forest products. The information is on the Commission’s web site [www.
trees.sc.gov]. In addition, several consulting forestry firms provide general timber pricing
information for their clients. Any of these reporting services should provide
good guidelines in assisting forest landowners. However, remember that like
politics, all timber pricing is local, so make sure you have information that is
specific for your marketing area.
About the Author: Dwight L. Stewart, Jr., is owner of Dwight L. Stewart, Jr.
& Associates, LLC of Manning, SC. He can be reached at 803/435-2301 (O),
803/473-8055 (C), [email protected]
Join The
South Carolina
Certified
TREE
FARMPROGRAM
IMPORTANT: The SC Tree Farm Program will fully transition to Certification on December 31, 2015. Tree Farmers who have not joined the
new program by that date will be removed from the Tree Farm Program.
Take action now and stay in the program.
The SC Tree Farm Program was established in 1946 as recognition for good forest practices by volunteers from the wood
supply chain with the addition of third party
verified certification in 2003.
The landscape has changed over the
years as forest industry volunteers and
funding has drastically dwindled. In 2012,
The National Tree Farm System launched
a pilot program in 4 states seeking financial support from Tree Farmers. In 2013,
the Board of the American Forest Foundation decided not to pursue this project on
a national basis, but let individual states
determine a financially sustainable program to benefit their Tree Farmers. States
must elect by 2015 to be a recognition only
program or a recognition and certification
program and be financially self supporting
by 2018.
After meeting with forest landowners
and foresters in focus groups around the
state, our SC Tree Farm Committee determined that the recognition and certification
program option is best for South Carolina.
This will provide greater access to markets,
preference in times of quota restrictions, with
the possibility of more bids for Tree Farm
certified wood resulting in potentially higher
prices.
The South Carolina Certified Tree
Farm Program (SCCTFP) has several
key goals including membership activity in
advocacy, networking and strengthening
the capacity of the state committee with
a part time paid administrator (Contact
Guy Sabin at: [email protected] or
803/798-4170); and providing landowner
communications -- email and printed, outreach and education opportunities and on
the ground services to woodland owners.
The Certified Tree Farm Program is
establishing a group of Tree Farmers who
know and care that they’re part of the Tree
Farm community, value their membership
in the program, proudly display the Tree
Farm sign, and are actively engaged in
sustainable forestry and wildlife habitat
and diversity while managing to American
Tree Farm System standards for certification.
PUBLICATIONS/COMMUNICATIONS
REQUIREMENTS
We trust you see the benefits of being in
the SC Certified Tree Farm Program and
that you’ll actively engage fellow woodland
owners to join -- leaving our forests better
than we found them for the next generation.
Ten forested acres with approved
Tree Farm/Stewardship management
plan and Tree Farm Inspection.
TREE FARMER MEMBERSHIP
Membership will be for a one year period.
Certified Tree Farmer
Has a current management plan and a
Tree Farm Inspection completed in 2010
or later.
 Certified Tree Farmer for one year
Needs an upgraded management plan
and a Tree Farm Inspection within a year
to continue as Certified.
 New Tree Farms
Have all benefits except Certification.
Needs a management plan and a Tree
Farm inspection within two years of
joining to move from Pioneer status
to Certified Tree Farmer.

You’ll receive:
 Quarterly Woodland Magazine
 Semi-Annual South Carolina Tree
Farm News
 Emails on forestry issues (provide us
with your current email)
www.MyLandPlan.com is available
on the web to help you manage your property.
MAIN CONTACTS
 George D. Kessler
[email protected], 864/868-9487
 Walt A. McPhail
[email protected], 864/288-7618
 Scott Phillips
[email protected], 803/667-1067
 Eric W. Smith
[email protected]
843/745-3258
 Ken Leach
[email protected]
843/520-5657 (O), 843/344-0400 (C)
CURRENT TREE FARMERS
who elect not to be paying members
will not be certified after Dec. 31, 2015.
Sign up now and ask your neighbor/fellow
forest landowner to also sign up.
FEE CALCULATION
$60 for the first 100 forested acres
and 10 cents per acre for all additional
forested acres up to a maximum
annual fee of $1050.
ENROLLMENT
Mail your enrollment form to:
SC Tree Farm
P O Box 211173
Columbia, SC 29221
How Your Dues Are Allocated
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BENEFITS of Being a Tree Farmer: What The
 American
Tree Farm Program Does For You
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 APPLICATION
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MEMBERSHIP: Provides you with membership in a national organization that is a
leader in representing private landowners,
keeps you abreast of new developments
and political trends, gives you a voice in
decisions affecting land management, and
provides you with an opportunity to shape
the future.
NETWORKING: Making connections with
other landowners, sharing ideas, learning
from each other, connecting with professional foresters, avoiding problems others
have had, becoming part of a community
that works together for better land management.
RECOGNITION: The green and white diamond shaped Tree Farm sign recognizes
Tree Farmers for meeting the standards of
the Tree Farm System with a written, approved management plan. We’re proud to
be Tree Farmers.
CERTIFICATION: Tree Farm Certification
that meets international, third party standards
of sustainable forest management may provide greater access to markets with more bids
on your timber, potentially higher timber pric-
es and preference when mills are on quota.
EDUCATION: Landowner education programs, tours, and field trips are provided
for forest landowners. Tree Farm foresters
provide on the ground assistance during initial and reinspections. Woodland magazine
(quarterly) and semi-annual South Carolina
Tree Farm News are provided.
ADVOCACY: Tree Farm advocacy protects your property rights and the right to
grow timber in South Carolina. Federal advocacy by National Tree Farm staff and local
SC grassroots efforts have been instrumental in keeping the current capital gains tax
and raising the estate tax exemption levels
to help keep your farm in the family.
The National Tree Farm staff works on
issues related to Tree Farming, soil and water conservation, and much more. Notable
success includes the $5.43 milllion estate
exemption and the Farm Bill making Tree
Farmers equal to farmers and ranchers for
government programs.
PRIORITY STATE ISSUES: Recent priority
state issues that Tree Farmers and the SC
PROTECT YOUR
PROPERTY RIGHTS.
JOIN TREE FARM.
Tree Farm Committee successfully advocated for:
 The Trespasser Responsibility Act
(H. 3266) protects landowners from lawsuits from trespassers.
 Protected the Agriculture Use Exemption for forest lands by advocating that
SC maintain the current system of taxation
of agricultural and forest lands based on
use value.
 The Right to Practice Forestry Act
(H. 3651) prevents local governments from
adopting or enforcing an ordinance or permit related to the practice of forestry on forest lands.
 SC Tree Farm supports Private Property Rights because ownership of private
property is specifically protected by the
Constitution of the United States.
Contact Name ________________________________Tree Farm or Organization Name___________________________________
Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
City _________________________________________________________________ State___________ Zip__________________
Home Phone____________________________ Work Phone_________________________ Cell Phone ______________________
County that Tree Farm is located in________________________________________________________________________
(Print) Email Address
Membership Categories:

 Individual Family Unit - Husband/Wife/Children
 Business or Organization

I would like to join the South Carolina Tree Farm Grassroots Advocacy Group on forestry issues
Do you have a Tree Farm management plan?  Yes
Number of forested acres______________________
Do you have a Tree Farm number?  Yes  No
 No
 Yes  No
Date plan was prepared and/or updated_____________________
If yes, please provide your Tree Farm number_________________________
Fee Calculation: $60 for the first 100 acres and 10 cents per acre for all additional acres up to a maximum annual fee of $1050.
Payment
Total amount submitted_______________________________________
Check (payable to SC Tree Farm Program)
Credit Card:  Visa  MasterCard -- (Processing fee of 2% + 15 cents will be applied for credit card payments.)
Card #____________________________________________________ Exp._______________Security Code_____________________
Name (as it appears on card)____________________________________________________________________________________
Do you have a forester you consult?  Yes  No
Forester’s Name and Address___________________________________________________________________________________
City__________________________________________________________________ State___________ Zip___________________
Home Phone_____________________________ Work Phone_________________________ Cell Phone_______________________
Send completed form and payment to:
South Carolina Tree Farm, P O Box 211173, Columbia, SC 29221
Ask your fellow woodland owners to join! Additional
forms are available from [email protected]
InDesign 4-2-2015
Jimmy Sanders
Why I am a TREE FARMER
By James “Jimmy” C. Sanders, 2014 SC Tree Farmer of the Year
I am a Tree Farmer because I truly love the land and appreciate the opportunity God
has given me to use my ability as a steward of the natural resources He provides. My
experience has been gained over a life-long exposure to a philosophy that places natural resource conservation in the highest priority of human responsibility.
While working as a Conservation Officer with, what is now the South Carolina Dept.
of Natural Resources, my father bought a small tract in the Santuck Community of
Union County as a part-time farm venture. He and Mother raised my two younger
brothers and me on the farm and taught us the value of hard work. We converted, what
had been a badly eroded, worn-out cotton farm into a very efficient beef cattle farm.
In developing the farm, Daddy used US Dept. of Agriculture Programs available
through our local conservation district, and recommendations from Clemson Extension
Service. Lessons he learned in proper land use, erosion control, and soil and water
conservation became a way of life for our family.
Development of our family farm coincided with the era in which large tracts of abandoned Piedmont farmland were acquired by wood industries and developed for managed timber production. Along with US Forest Service timberlands, industrial timberlands provided habitat for restoration of deer and wild turkey. So, as a result of my
father’s employment, I learned the value of well managed timberland in providing wildlife habitat.
After graduating from Union High School in 1964, I attended Berry College, near
Rome, GA, where I majored in Agriculture and Biology. To assist with college expenses, I worked part-time with the school’s Forestry Department on the 20,000 acre
Berry College Forest. This provided me with practical experience in forest management activities from timber cruising to tree planting. My college work experience in the
mountainous terrain of Northwest Georgia also taught me a greater appreciation for the
land use of forestry in protecting soil and water quality.
In 1968, I married Janis, finished college and joined the army as an infantry soldier
during the Vietnam War. When I finished active military duty, I began a career with
the US Dept. of Agriculture-Soil Conservation Service (now called Natural Resources
Conservation Service – NCRS). During my career with NRCS, I worked in a number
of South Carolina locations as a Professional Soil Conservationist until my retirement
in 2006 as a Natural Resource Specialist. My work raised my esteem for forestry as a
wise use of land and tree farming as a retirement alternative.
Since my retirement, I’ve become a full- time tree farmer. Janis and I now own approximately 525 acres of timberland in three counties: Abbeville, Saluda, and Union.
About 80% of this land is devoted to managed pine plantations with the balance in
hardwood forest, open fields, wildlife openings, and a headquarters area. We hope,
some day, to pass the land along to our son, Jay and his wife, Alayna.
I am a tree farmer because my life’s experiences have taught me the value of planting,
managing, and harvesting a crop that provides the highest degree of natural resource
protection, while serving as an investment to be passed on to the next generation.
Contact information: Jimmy Sanders, 101 Quail Run Court, Greenwood, SC 29646, 864/223-7790 (H),
864/993-4421(C), [email protected]
Tree Farmer
Nominations
Sought
The SC Tree Farm Committee is accepting nominations for outstanding district Tree
Farmers. Contest purpose is to:
 promote sustainable forest management
on privately owned lands,
 recognize Tree Farmers who have done
an outstanding job of managing their
property, and
 educate the public about benefits of
sustainable forest management.
Qualifications required:
 exceptional on-the-ground multiple use
(timber, wildlife, protection of soil and
water, aesthetics, and recreation)
forest management,
 active involvement by the landowner in
management of his/her land, and
 active in promoting forestry and the
Tree Farm program in his/her community.
The individual selected as Outstanding
Tree Farmer of the Year for the state, attends the South Carolina Forestry Association’s (SCFA) Annual Meeting as a guest of
the SC Tree Farm Program and SCFA. The
Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year will be
presented a plaque and chainsaw.
Submissions must be made by May 29, 2015.
For more information: Russell Hubright -- Recognition Chair, SCFC, P O Box 21707, Columbia, SC
29221, 803/896-8823, [email protected]
April 2015/SC Tree Farm News/Page 7
Recording History: Mary-Julia C. Royall, Mt. Pleasant, SC [1982 South Carolina
Tree Farmer of the Year] has written two
books: Mount Pleasant: The Victorian Village and Mount Pleasant: The Friendly
Town. She is a historian, a member of the
South Carolina Federation of Museums,
and a long time member of the South Carolina Forestry Association.
Royall is pictured above with consulting forester Gary Hermann.
TREE FARM Field Tour Set For Sept.
 The 2015 SC Tree Farm Field Day & Awards Ceremony will be held Sept. 25 at Jimmy
C. Sanders’ Tree Farm in Greenwood, SC. Sanders, a retired Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) District Conservationist, manages his property for: timber, erosion
control, water quality, wildlife habitat, recreation, and aesthetics. He is a member of the
South Carolina Forestry Association’s Board, and was 2011 Greenwood County Forest
Farmer of the Year. He is President of Greenwood County Forestry Association, a member of Abbeville Forest Landowners Association, and the Soil and Water Society.
For additional information about the Tour, contact Tour Chairman Roy H. Boyd at
803/325-1926 (O), 803/230-0143 (C) or [email protected] or Jimmy Sanders at
864/223-7790 (H), 864/993-4421(C), or [email protected]. The tour will be limited to
125 registrants so make plans now to attend.
forestry 202
Brochure: Wallace B. Wood, Jr., Parksville, SC [2011 SC Tree Farmer of the Year]
and Linda Floyd, Troy, SC owner of Dream
Catcher Farm, and US Farm Service Agency/retired, developed content for a brochure
touting the benefits of Tree Farming/forestry in McCormick and surrounding counties.
SCFA Communications Director Frances
Taylor, Columbia, SC assisted with design/
layout of the four-color, tri-fold publication.
Wood is pictured above on his Tree Farm.
“From the Dirt to the Truck”
 Walt McPhail, 2012 NATIONAL Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year, was coordinator
for the Greenville Forestry & Wildlife Society’s Forestry 202 program held at University
Center Auditorium, Greenville, SC. The six week, comprehensive forest management
course covered everything forest landowners and forest resource personnel need to know
to grow and manage timber. It began March 4 and ran through April 8 followed by a Field
Tour.
Above, Walt McPhail works with Beth Richardson, Area Extension Forester -- Clemson
Extension Service, Orangeburg, SC, during a class segment. Photo: Carolyn Dawson
April 2015/SC Tree Farm News/Page 8
Scholarship: For several years, Randell
Ewing, Sr., Hartsville, SC [1998 SC Tree
Farmer of the Year] has provided a $500
scholarship for forestry students pursuing a
career in forestry.
Last year, Justin Brown, Elgin, SC, was
the recipient. He’s the son of Jeff Brown,
owner of Forest Resource Professionals,
Elgin, SC. Jeff was 2000 Chairman of the
SC Tree Farm Committee and has long
served as the District 6 Chairman.
Application deadline for the scholarship is
May 10, 2015. It is open to any graduating
senior entering any agricultural, environmental, forestry, or land management field.
For more information or an application, call
843/498-6888. The scholarship is administered by the Pilot Club of Hartsville, SC.
Ewing is pictured above with his son and
grandson on their Indian Summer Tree
Farm. Photo: supplied by Randell Ewing, Jr.
NEWSMAKERS
AFF Advisor: SC Forestry Association President and CEO Cam Crawford, Columbia, SC is serving as a trade association representative on the
American Forest Foundation’s Woodland Operating Commitee. The group
advises the AFF Board of Trustees and staff on all AFF woodland-related
activities including the American Tree Farm System, their place-based projects, policy, and other activities. Crawford will serve a three year term on the
Committee.
New SC Forestry Commission Leadership:
Dr. Walt A. McPhail, Mauldin, SC has been elected Chairman of the South
Carolina State Forestry Commission.
He is 2012 NATIONAL Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year; Forest
Landowner Association’s 2011 National Forest Landowner of the Year;
2012 and 2003 Southern Regional Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year;
2001 SC Tree Farmer of the Year; and 2001 SC Master Tree Farmer of
the Year. He serves on the SC Tree Farm Committee and chairs the Outreach and Education Committee. He was 2010 recipient of the Lieutenant
Governor’s Palmetto Patriot Award, 2004 national winner of the Outstanding Achievements in Sustainable Forestry Award, and 2003 recipient of the
South Carolina Wildlife Federation’s Conservation Award. He is a former
Chairman of the SC Forestry Association Board and President of the Greenville County Forestry and Wildlife Society.
 J. Bradford “Brad” Thompson, Greenwood, SC is Vice Chairman of the
South Carolina State Forestry Commission. He started Thompson Forest
Consultants in 1979. He is a former South Carolina Forestry Association
Board member and has long been active in the Tree Farm program.
 Jesse C. Neville, Walhalla, SC, is the newest member of the South Carolina State Forestry Commission and will fill a lumberman slot. He is managing partner for his family’s forests and a volunteer firefighter in Oconee
County.
Crawford
McPhail
Tucker Honored: Sally W. Tucker was recognized Feb. 25 for outstanding service as the State Tree Farm Administrator. She was honored during
the SC Tree Farm Committee’s Legislative Day luncheon held at the Capital
City Club, Columbia, SC. Tucker, who served as Tree Farm Administrator
from 2012 through mid-2014, is currently Director of the Timber Operations
Professional (TOP) Program.
Bauknight Recognized: Dennis L. Bauknight, Easley, SC was recently
honored for his outstanding leadership on the Dacusville Volunteer Fire
Dept. Board of Directors. He’s served on the Board for more than 20 years.
Bauknight is a former SC Forestry Association Board member. He serves on
the SC Tree Farm Committee and was 2010 SC Tree Farmer of the Year. He
serves on the Pickens Co. Forest Landowners Association, Clemson Extension Planning Committee, Pendleton Farmers Society, and SC Association
of Retired Conservation Professionals. He received the SC Wildlife Federation’s Forest Conservation Award in 1998. He’s a Master Tree Farmer and
prescribed fire manager.
Upcoming SC Tree Farm
Committee Meetings
The South Carolina Tree Farm Committee will meet:
June 3
Columbia, SC
September 2 Columbia, SC
December 2 Columbia, SC
Thompson
Neville
Chastain Elected: George K. Chastain is the new Chairman for the
South Carolina Division of the Appalachian Society of American Foresters.
Chastain is Executive Director of the Belle W. Baruch Foundation, Hobcaw
Barony, in Georgetown, SC and a former South Carolina Forestry Association Board member.
Chastain served as 2008 Chairman of the SC Tree Farm Committee.
Ewing Recognized: Randell C. Ewing, Sr., Hartsville, SC was recently
honored for his outstanding leadership and service to the South Carolina
Tree Farm Committee during 2014. Ewing is a former SC Tree Farmer of the
Year and owner of Indian Summer Tree Farm. He is a former SC Forestry
Association Board member, and has served as Chairman of the SC Forestry
Commission’s Advisory Committee.
Abbeville Tree Farmers Honored:
Robert and Elizabeth Blackwell recently received the Abbeville County Tree Farmers
of the Year award from the Abbeville Co.
Forest Landowners Association. The couple has owned forestland in Abbeville since
2008 and had land in the Forest Stewardship program since 2011. They manage
more than 150 acres for timber production
and wildlife habitat and have an active prescribed burning program.
Former SC Tree Farm
Committee Chairmen
Chastain
Ewing
Tucker
Bauknight
A salute to all the individuals who have
chaired the South Carolina Tree Farm Committee. Here’s a list of some leaders from recent years.
1992
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Russell K. Hallberg, Rock Hill, SC
Tom W. Patton, Jr., Lexington, SC
Dan A. Scheffing, Andrews, SC
Dan A. Scheffing, Andrews, SC
Steven C. Moore, Mullins, SC
Brian M. Fox, Holly Hill, SC
Randall Johnson, Walterboro, SC
Jeff Brown, Elgin, SC
Gordon E. Gale, Hardeeville, SC
Bruce White, Chester, SC
Wayne Anthony, Prosperity, SC
C. Scott Pellum, Hampton, SC
John E. Spearman Jr., Lane, SC
Michael S. Windhorn, Catawba, SC
Johney L. Haralson, Denmark, SC
George Chastain, Georgetown, SC
Eric W. Smith, Kinards, SC
L. Denise Bonnette, York, SC
L. Denise Bonnette, York, SC
Dr. George D. Kessler, Central, SC
Ken Leach, Georgetown, SC
C. Randell Ewing, Sr., Hartsville, SC
April 2015/SC Tree Farm News/Page 9
SC Tree Farm Committee DIRECTORY 2015
BOARD
MEMBERS
Chairman Bob Franklin
District 2 Chair Brent Reed
Chairman [2015-’16], Member [2015-12/31/19]
Member [2015-12/31/19]
American Forest Management
P O Box 27, Chester, SC 29706
803/385-6017, 803/480-2344
[email protected]
401 Ravenwood Road, Walterboro, SC 29488
843/893-7775, [email protected]
Vice Chairman J. Kirk Weyman
V. Chairman [2015-’16], Member [2015-12/31/19]
District 1 Chair
404 Loblolly Drive, Anderson, SC 29625
864/226-8476 (H), 864/934-1393 (C)
[email protected]
Past Chairman Randell C. Ewing, Sr.
District 3 Chair Roy H. Boyd
Field Tour Chair
Member [2015-12/31/19]
SC Forestry Commission
2790 Fire Tower Rd., Rock Hill, SC 29730
803/325-1926 (O), 803/230-0143 (C)
[email protected]
Past Chairman [2015-’16],Member [2015-12/31/19]
1108 Hill Crest Road, Hartsville, SC 29550
843/601-2466, [email protected]
Secretary/Treasurer Scott Phillips
Sec./Treas. [2015-’16],Member [2015-12/31/19]
SC Forestry Commission Rep.
P O Box 21707, Columbia, SC 29221
803/896-8844 (O), 803/667-1067 (C)
[email protected]
At Large Dr. George D. Kessler
At Large [2015-’16]; Member [2015-12/31/19]
Membership Coordinator
Natural Connections, Inc.
4008 Six Mile Highway, Central, SC 29639
864/868-9487, 864/608-4040 (C)
[email protected]
Tree Farmer Jimmy C. Sanders
Tree Farmer [2015-’17]; Member [2015-12/31/19]
SC Tree Farmer 5
2014 SC Tree Farmer Of The Year
101 Quail Run Court, Greenwood, SC 29646
864/993-4421 (C) or [email protected]
Tree Farm Inspector Eric W. Smith
Tree Farm Inspector [2015-’18], Member [2015-12/31/19]
Inspections Chair
District 11 Chair
KapStone Charleston Kraft, LLC
P O Box 118005, Charleston, SC 29423
843/745-3258 (O), 864/993-8653 (C)
[email protected]
______________________________________
State Program Administrator Guy Sabin
SC Tree Farm, P O Box 211173
Columbia, SC 29221
803/798-4170 (O)
[email protected]
______________________________________
April 2015/SC Tree Farm News/Page 10
District 4 Chair Michael J. Grant
Member [2015-12/31/19]
Forestry Consultant
825 Mt. Valley Road, Blythewood, SC 29016
803/714-0655 (O), 803/360-4043 (C)
[email protected]
District 12 Chair Scott Pellum
Member [2015-12/31/19]
KapStone Charleston Kraft, LLC
P O Box 545, Hampton, SC 29924
803/943-3410 (O), 843/893-7768 (C)
[email protected]
ACF Rep. Kirk Bell
Member [2015-12/31/19]
Richardson, Bell, McLeod, & Wetzel
1073 Brookhaven Dr., Aiken, SC 29803
803/648-4142 (O), 803/646-6468 (C)
[email protected]
Clemson Rep. Tom Brant
Member [2015-12/31/19]
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service
P O Box1150, McCormick, SC 29835
864/852-2112, Ext. 115
[email protected]
Publicity Chair Tom W. Patton, Jr.
District 5 Chair -- TBA
Member [2015-12/31/19]
SC Forestry Commission
P O Box 21707, Columbia, SC 29221
803/667-1149(C), [email protected]
District 6 Chair Jeff Brown
Recognition Chair Russell Hubright
Member [2015-12/31/19]
Member [2015-12/31/19]
SC Forestry Commission Representative
P O Box 21707, Columbia, SC 29221
803/896-8823, [email protected]
Forest Resource Professionals
PO Box 722, Elgin, SC 29045
803/513-3340 (C), 803/438-1350 (O)
[email protected]
District 7 Chair David Nagel
Member [2015-12/31/19]
American Forest Management
P O Box 240, Bennettsville, SC 29512
843/454-0015 (O), 843/921-3607 (C)
[email protected]
District 8 Chair David Schneider
Fundraising Chair
Member [2015-12/31/19]
Gelbert, Fullbright, Randolph
Forestry Consultants, PLLC
1009 Middle Drive, Florence, SC 29501
843/610-3707 (M), [email protected]
District 9 Chair Doug Costin
Member [2015-12/31/19]
International Paper
1515 Bourne St., Georgetown, SC 29440
843/520-5634 (O) 843/240-4504 (C)
[email protected]
District 10 Chair Warren Duncan
Member [2015-12/31/19]
Milliken Forestry
P O Box 23629, Columbia, SC 29224
803/788-0590, 803/730-1249
[email protected]
SC Forestry Association Rep.
Frances L. Taylor
Member [2015-12/31/19]
P O Box 21303, Columbia, SC 29221
803/798-4170 (O), [email protected]
SIC Rep. Tom D. Merriman
Member [2015-12/31/19]
Georgia-Pacific, 288 Georgia Pacific Rd.
Prosperity, SC 29127
803/808-2564 (O), 803/537-6428 (C)
[email protected]
Sam Cook
Member [2015-12/31/19]
Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation
1535 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., Suite D
Charleston, SC 29407
843/745-7055, [email protected]
Edward R. Drayton
2008 SC Tree Farmer Of The Year
Member [2015-12/31/19]
Cattails Tree Farm, LLC
200 Westover Drive, Hartsville, SC 29550
843/332-6123, [email protected]
Randell Ewing, Jr.
Member [2015-12/31/19]
2547 Millbrook Court, Hartsville, SC 29550
843/858-1515, 843/857-9114
[email protected]
Franklin
Reed
Weyman
Boyd
Ewing
SC Tree Farm Committee
Phillips
Grant
Brown
Kessler
Nagel
Sanders
Schneider
Smith
Sabin
Duncan
Costin
Pellum
Bell
Brant
Patton
Hubright
Taylor
Merriman
Cook
Drayton
Ewing
Ewing, Jr.
Gibbs
Hegler
Leach
McPhail
Spearman
Whatley
Bauknight
Wood
Angle
Meetze
Emma Gibbs
Travis Whatley
Member [2015-12/31/19]
Member [2015-12/31/19]
International Paper
P O Box B, Eastover, SC 29044
803/353-7482 (O), 803/667-6554 (C)
[email protected]
RockTenn
P O Box 6829, Florence, SC 29502
843/667-6252 (W), 843/319-3633 (C)
[email protected]
T. Dave Hegler
SC Tree Farmer 1 Dennis L. Bauknight
Member [2015-12/31/19]
2010 SC Tree Farmer Of The Year
Member [2015]
1967 Earls Bridge Road, Easley, SC 29640
864/421-5836, [email protected]
Milliken Forestry Company
P O Box 23629, Columbia, SC 29224
803/788-0590 (O), 803/920-5819,
[email protected]
SC Tree Farmer 2 Wallace B. Wood, Jr.
Ken Leach
International Paper
1515 Bourne St., Georgetown, SC 29440
843/520-5657 (O), 843/344-0400 (C)
[email protected]
Dr. Walt A. McPhail
Outreach & Education Chair
2001 SC Tree Farmer Of The Year
Member [2015-12/31/19]
2 Jenkins Ct., Mauldin, SC 29662
864/288-7618 (O), [email protected]
2011 SC Tree Farmer Of The Year
Member [2015-12/31/19]
Pineview Farm, 452 Price’s Mill Rd.
Parksville, SC 29845
864/333-2393 (O), 864/993-5012 (C)
[email protected]
SC Tree Farmer 3 Joanna G. Angle
2012 SC Tree Farmer Of The Year
Member [2015-12/31/19]
Cedarleaf Farm, 2762 Blaney Road,
Chester, SC 29706
803/377-8940 or [email protected]
John E. Spearman, Jr.
1999 SC Tree Farmer Of The Year
Member [2015-12/31/19]
Deer Hill, P O Box 37, Lane, SC 29564
843/387-5906 (H), 843/676-5500 (C)
[email protected]
SC Tree Farmer 4 Mike Meetze
2013 SC Tree Farmer Of The Year
Member [2015-12/31/19]
458 Piester Rd., Newberry, SC 29108
803/276-2696 or [email protected]
South Carolina Tree
Farm DISTRICTS
County
District
Abbeville
Aiken
Allendale
Anderson
Bamberg
Barnwell
Beaufort
Berkeley
Calhoun
Charleston
Cherokee
Chester
Chesterfield
Clarendon
Colleton
Darlington
Dillon
Dorchester
Edgefield
Fairfield
Florence
Georgetown
Greenville
4
5
10
1
10
10
12
11
10
11
3
2
7
9
12
7
8
11
5
6
8
9
1
Greenwood
Hampton
Horry
Jasper
Kershaw
Lancaster
Laurens
Lee
Lexington
Marion
Marlboro
McCormick
Newberry
Oconee
Orangeburg
Pickens
Richland
Saluda
Spartanburg
Sumter
Union
Williamsburg
York
4
12
8
12
2
2
1
6
5
8
7
4
4
1
10
1
6
5
3
6
3
9
3
April 2015/SC Tree Farm News/Page 11
Frances L. Taylor/InDesign 4-2015
The
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Columbia, S.C.
4901 Broad River Road
P O Box 21303
Columbia, SC 29221-1303
803/798-4170
PERMIT No.1005
Recognition Corner
Upcoming Events
The 2014 SC Tree Farm Field
Day & Awards Ceremony will be
held September 25 at the Greewood
Co. Tree Farm of Jimmy Sanders.
For additional information, contact
Coordinator Roy H. Boyd at 803/3251926 or [email protected] or
Jimmy Sanders at 864/223-7790 (H),
864/993-4421(C), or jsanders2@nctv.
com.
Former NAT
NATional
Tree Farmers of the Year
2000
2012
Former Regional Tree
Farmers of the Year From SC
1996
2000
The annual Tree Farm Forest
Owners Program is slated for
Nov. 11 in conjunction with the SC
Forestry Association’s annual meeting. It will feature a tour of Resource
Management Service’s property and
International Paper’s mill in Georgetown, SC. Program coordinator is
Dr. Walt McPhail, 864/288-7618 or
[email protected].
The South Carolina Forestry As-
sociation’s Annual Meeting will be
held Nov. 11-13, at Marriott Resort at
Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, SC. For
more information: www.scforestry.org
or [email protected].
S C T r e e Fa r m
C o n ta c t I n f o r m at i o n
For more information about
SC Tree Farm, visit www.sctfs.org
Email: [email protected]
Write: South Carolina Tree Farm
P O Box 211173
Columbia, SC 29221
April 2015/SC Tree Farm News/Page 12
Dr. A. G. “Skeet” and Gail Burris,
Cummings, SC
Dr. Walter A. McPhail, Mauldin, SC
2003
2004
2005
2007
2012
Dr. A. G. “Skeet” and Gail Burris,
Cummings, SC
Dr. A. G. “Skeet” and Gail Burris,
Cummings, SC
Dr. Walter A. McPhail, Mauldin, SC
John & Mary Rebecca Spearman,
Lane, SC
Dyches Family, Savannah, GA
Johney L. Haralson, Denmark, SC
Dr. Walter A. McPhail, Mauldin, SC
Former SC Tree Farmer
of the Year Winners
‘80-’81
‘81-’82
1982
‘83-’84
‘84-’85
‘85-’86
‘86-’87
‘87-’88
‘88-’89
‘89-’90
‘90-’91
‘91-’92
‘92-’93
‘93-’94
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
S. Guerry Stukes, Summerton, SC
Ben S. Williamson, Darlington, SC
Mary Julia Royall, Mt. Pleasant, SC
Rufus B. Lawrimore, Hemingway, SC
Brookes Lawton, Allendale, SC
John W. Kemp, Jr., Edgefield, SC
Charles W. Redfearn, Beaufort, SC
Carroll & Jane Brown, Colleton Co.
John Carter, Sharon, SC
James W. Hunt, Jr. Eastover, SC
Robert Cecil Gentry, Salem, SC
Tom Turner, Rock Hill, SC
Francis A. Snelgrove, Lexington, SC
W. R. “Roy” Watkins, Cassatt, SC
Dr. A. G. “Skeet” Burris, Beaufort, SC
Gordon E. Gale, Hardeeville, SC
William E. Eutsler, Cheraw, SC
Randell C. Ewing, Hartsville, SC
John Spearman (Deer Hill), Lane, SC
Fred Gantt, Columbia, SC
200
2001
2002
2003
2004
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Dr.
D Walter
W lt A.
A McPhail,
M Ph il M
Mauldin,
ld SC
Dyches Family, Savannah, GA
John M. McPhail, Abbeville, SC
Johney L. Haralson, Denmark, SC
Bookman Station, LLC, Columbia, SC
Ben Herlong, Saluda, SC
Edward R. Drayton, Hartsville, SC
Mark T. Jones, Piedmont, SC
Dennis L. Bauknight, Easley, SC
Wallace B. Wood, Jr., Parksville, SC
Joanna Angle, Chester, SC
Mike Meetze, Newberry, SC
National Tree Farm
Inspector of the Year
2010
J. Kirk Weyman, Anderson, SC
southern regional
tree Farm Inspector
of the Year Recipient
2010
2002
J. Kirk Weyman, Anderson, SC
Tom W. Patton, Jr., Columbia, SC
George D. Kessler
SC Tree Farm Inspector of
the Year Recipients
2000 Tom W. Patton, Jr., Columbia, SC
2003 Jeffrey G. Brown, Elgin, SC
2009 J. Kirk Weyman, Anderson, SC
2012 Robert “Bob” G. Miller, Kinards, SC
2013 McCullough Ardrey, Lancaster, SC
Note: Dr. A. G. “Skeet” Burris, Cummings, SC,
was instrumental in establishing the award. Burris named the award after Dr. George D. Kessler
in honor of his many years of service to the South
Carolina Tree Farm program.
National Field Leadership
Award Recipient
2005
Jeff Brown, Elgin, SC
This publication is printed on paper from SFI Certified Fiber Sourcing.