A group of 40 tree farmers and forestry professionals gathered on George Stanton’s property on Feb. 21 in Lake Ozark, for the pre-conference timber stand improvement demonstration led by MU Extension Forester Hank Stelzer and Consulting Forester Fred Crouse. Participants viewed examples of tree inventory plots and learned techniques to improve their own wooded land holdings for a future timber sale.
Following the demonstration the group was given a guided plant tour of the nearby moulding and millwork division of Stanton Manufacturing Company, Inc. This Lake Ozark business processes cedar and walnut logs and has been continuously owned and operated since 1947 by Stanton family members.
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| State Tree Farmer of the Year Award presented to George and Elizabeth Barnitz of Lake Spring, MO. |
The conference, which was held on Feb. 22 in Lake Ozark, was attended by 90 people. The featured speaker was Bruce Moltzan, Forest Pathologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation, who gave an overview on Forest Health.
Winners of the Tree Farm’s awards program were also announced, including certificate winners, regional tree farm winners and the State Tree Farmer of the Year. This year’s State Tree Farmer award went to George and Elizabeth Barnitz of Lake Spring, MO.
The Barnitz’s were nominated by Mike Fiaoni for their outstanding efforts managing a farm that has been in their family for over a century. The Barnitz’s make particular efforts to care for the natural resources on their land, which awarded them the Centennial Stewardship Farm Award in 2000 and has made them an inspiration to others.
There was a new award added to the program this year. The John P. Slusher award is given for distinguished service to the Tree Farm Program on a sustained basis. The recipient was Bill Kickbusch from Rolla, MO.
Next year’s conference will be held on February 27-28. For information, contact Julie Rhoads at (573) 882-3234 or RhoadsJ@missouri.edu.