A Wet Fall and Early winter

As 2018 comes to a close it has been really wet.  The hunting has been lousy. Roads are too wet to travel and prescribed burning is nearly at a stand still.  I did get one of the main roads worked last week and just over a week ago we got a burn in under 12 year old longleaf pines.  

All this rain and wet weather has been good for mushrooms though.  I just inoculated some oak logs with shiitake spores for mushrooms in 2019.  Got to go with the  flow!

2018 Alabama Treasure Forest Association President

I recently completed my term as President of the Alabama Treasure Forest Association.  I conducted the business at our final state business meeting for 2018 in Pratville at the Alabama Landowners Conference.  This was such an honor for me to be in a line of great presidents that have guided our organization down through the years.  Our next president, Gary Cole, will be a great president for our organization.  

People usually serve two annual terms in this position but I agreed to serve only one because in November I became the State Chairman for the Alabama Tree Farm Committee.  I had already made this commitment to Tree Farm early and had been serving as vice-chair for the past four years.

These are two great organizations for forest landowners having different objectives but both do great work for those they represent!

Classroom in the Forest 2018

Well, today we completed the 2018 Classroom in the Forest sponsored by the Clay County Forestry Planning Committee/Treasure Forest.  This program is offered to all fifth graders in Clay County.  Part of the counties students went thru the program Wednesday and the other part on Thursday.  We offer our property to educate the students on environmental education.

Visit by Congressman Rogers

We met with Congressman Rogers yesterday to discuss the Farm Bill and its impact on Rural America here in Clay County.  It is so important to all rural people in ways we have not thought of.
We looked and talked about how the bill helps keep our water safe and pure; how it effects jobs in our community; and how wildlife habitat is protected.

Fall Plantings

I worked on fall plantings for wildlife yesterday.  It was good to have my dad, 81, helping me!  I love to hear him talk about where the deer will come from to these fields and stories about deer he has taken on our property through the years.  We have this transmission line across the property and we try to use it to our advantage.

Event in Clay County

The Longleaf Leader Magazine

It was such an honor recently being recognized in The Longleaf Leader Magazine.  We strive to manage our longleaf to be productive and provide the best possible longleaf habitat for wildlife.