Washington, D.C. The American Tree Farm System (ATFS), a program of the American Forest Foundation, named Tom and Sherry Fox of Lewis County, Washington, as the 2005 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year. The Foxs received their award during the National Tree Farmer Convention held in Springfield, Mass. This annual ATFS award recognizes outstanding sustainable forest management on privately owned forestland.

Tom and Sherry, owners of a forestry consulting firm, Tree Management Plus, were selected from a long list of certified Tree Farmers throughout the nation. Having been actively involved in promoting tree farming and the benefits of sustainable forestry in their community for years, the Foxs tree farming history is saturated with activities, organizations, and projects dedicated to advancing the good name of tree farming.

Tom and Sherry started small in their forest management endeavors. A job relocation gave them the courage and the opportunity to move to five acres in Lewis County, Washington. By the mid-90s they had acquired additional parcels; their Tagshinny Tree Farm is now 144 acres of managed land. The Foxs have planted 55,000 genetically improved seedlings, thinned tress, and conducted regeneration harvests.

Certified Tree Farmers own at least 10 acres of forestland and actively follow a forest management plan developed in partnership with an ATFS volunteer forester. The plan addresses forest sustainability, wildlife habitat, recreation, and water and soil conservation.

The future of forestry depends on proper land management, said Bob Simpson, Senior Vice President-Forestry of the American Forest Foundation. Family forest owners, like Tom and Sherry, actively manage their forests because they believe it is essential for sustainability. Their work is a testament to the positive impacts that sustainable forestry has not only on todays forests but on the forests of tomorrow

Tom and Sherry have spent the last two decades engaged in issues affecting family forestland owners in Washington State. They have served on local and state chapters of their forestry association and were the first family to get approval for a federal Habitat Conservation Plan. They also were intrically envolved in the creation of a Small Forest Landowner Office in the Washington Department of Natural Resources. A Forest Riparian Easement Program that pays small landowners impacted by stream buffers also was enacted thanks to the Foxs work. In fact, advocating on behalf of land owners in Washington has been an integral part of their Tree Farming philosophy.

The Foxes have made responsible forestry the cornerstone of operating their tree farm and have become the go to voice on Washingtons forestland for state agencies. It is for these reasons and so many more, that the Foxes received their award surrounded by a standing ovation.

ATFS also recoginized the following Regional Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year.

David and Carol Clemens, of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania (Northeastern). The Clemens purchased their Tree Farm in 1968 as an investment. It was not long before the 494-acre Tree Farm in Susquehanna County, Pa., evolved from its status as a business investment to a labor of love for the entire Clemens family. The Clemens personally undertook un-doing damage done in the early 1950s by high-grading, ultimately treating over 100 acres on the best northern hardwood growing sites during the years 1972 1990.

The Dyches Family of Savannah, Georgia (Southern). Four generations of family members are involved in the Dyches Family Tree Farm, Bo Beep, ranging from two years-old to 86 years old. The original 396 acres was purchased in 1991 as a hunting retreat. The Dyches eventually purchased adjoining tracts for a total land holding of 891 acres.

Nick and Carol Thoney, of Daggett, Michigan (North Central). Tree farming has been a life-long passion for Nick. At 10 years-old he began acquiring forest land. By the time he reached 17 years of age, he had purchased 40 acres. Today, Nick and Carols ownership consists of approximately 2,400 acres, over half of which is managed timberlands.

For more information visit http://www.treefarmsystem.org/cms/pages/37.html or contact Brigitte Johnson, APR, Director of Communications, 202.463.5163, Email bjohnson@forestfoundation.org or visit ATFS at www.treefarmsystem.org

The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) is a national program that promotes the sustainable management of forests through education and outreach to private forest landowners. Founded in 1941, ATFS has 33 million acres of privately owned forestland and 51,000 family forest owners who are committed to excellence in forest stewardship. Tree Farmers manage their forestlands for wood, water, wildlife, and recreation with assistance from 4,000 volunteer foresters. ATFS is a program of the American Forest Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works for healthy forests, quality environmental education, and informed decision-making about our communities and our world.