FELTON, Del. — The Delaware Forestry Association’s 2019 Annual Meeting and Banquet will be held on Thursday, March 21  from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Felton Fire Hall (9 E. Main St., Felton, DE 19943)  Highlights will include the Delaware Tree Farm Committee’s presentation of its 2019 “Tree Farmer of the Year” Award and recognition of 25-Year Tree Farmers. The American Tree Farm System was established in 1941 and is one of the oldest forest landowner organizations. Delaware’s first Tree Farm was certified in 1959; today there are more than 200 Tree Farms covering 20,000 acres.

The DFA will also hold its annual business meeting and elect its 2019 Board of Directors. Tickets are $27 each for adults, $13.50 for ages 6 to 12.

To reserve tickets, please download the 2019 Meeting Registration Form and mail to:

Delaware Forestry Association
P.O. Box 344
Bridgeville, Delaware 19933

For more information contact:
Steve Ditmer (phone: 410-896-9283)

Delaware Forestry Association Scholarship 

Each year, the Delaware Forestry Association will award a $1,000 scholarship to a full-time student who has chosen forestry or a related major and plans to enroll at a two-year or four-year accredited school program.  The application deadline is April 1 and the winner will be notified by May 1. The successful applicant will receive his or her award at the Delaware State Fair on Governor’s Day.

2018 Delaware Forestry Association Scholarship winner Shawn Mitchell (center) received a ceremonial $1,000 check at the Delaware State Fair joined by (from left) his father David Mitchell, DFA director Brian Michalski, his mother Mellissa Mitchell, Agriculture Secretary Michael Scuse, and Gov. John Carney.

Applicants must show financial need and academic merit.  All applicants shall be in the top 25% of their class in high school, and maintain an acceptable grade point average in college.  The award will be sent directly to the college in which the student is enrolled.  All applicants must submit a short essay describing their personal goals and reason they feel they are deserving of this award.  Applicants may be requested for a personal interview by the scholarship committee.

View the rules and download the 2019 Delaware Forest Association scholarship application

Applications may be mailed to:

Delaware Forestry Association
c/o Sam Topper
Delaware Forest Service
Redden State Forest
18074 Redden Forest Drive
Georgetown, DE 19947

The Delaware Forestry Association is inviting those interested in forestry to join the DFA or renew their membership for 2019. Members can select from one of the five membership categories and use the membership form to register.

• Student $ 5.00
• Harvester $ 50.00
• Individual $15.00
• Corporation $200.00
• Family $25.00

2019 Delaware Forestry Association Annual Meeting Agenda

6:00 p.m. — Registration & Social Hour

Silent Auction … remains open until 7:45 pm

7:00 p.m. —  Buffet-Style Dinner

Fried Oysters, Chicken Salad, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Dumplings, Cole Slaw, Roll, Dessert, and Beverage

8:00 p.m. —  Welcome

• DFA Annual Business Meeting
• Election of 2018-2019 DFA Board of Directors
• Delaware Tree Farmer-of-the-Year Awards
• Delaware Forest Service – Forestry Administrator’s Update

9:00 p.m.  — Wrap-up

Announcement of Silent Auction Winners/Adjourn

• If you can DONATE items to the Silent Auction, please bring them or contact a DFA Board Director
• We will receive 2019 DFA Membership dues at the door, or pre-send them with meeting registration

BRIDGEVILLE, Del. – Douglas R. Simpson of Bridgeville is Delaware’s 2018 Tree Farmer of the Year for his longtime dedication to forest conservation and landowner education. Presented by the Delaware Tree Farm Committee, the award recognizes landowners who practice exceptional management and promote sustainable forestry. Simpson is a Delaware native who owns tree farms on approximately 700 acres in Sussex County, which were first certified in 1995. The award was given at the annual meeting and banquet of the Delaware Forestry Association at the Bridgeville Fire Hall.

Using comprehensive stewardship plans developed in partnership with the Delaware Forest Service, Simpson manages his forestland for natural beauty, wildlife habitat, water quality, and wood products. In 2009, three of his properties totaling 350 acres were selected in the initial round of conservation easements purchased in Delaware AgLands Foundation’s landmark Forestland Preservation Program; these Tree Farms are now permanently protected from development. In 2017, he exemplified his commitment to forest management education on the Delmarva Peninsula by hosting the 20-state Northeastern Area Association of State Foresters’ Cooperative Forest Management Committee at his state-of-the-art custom sawmill.

The Delaware Tree Farmer of the Year Award was presented by the Delaware Tree Farm Committee at the Delaware Forestry Association’s annual meeting in Bridgeville on March 22, 2018. The American Tree Farm System was established in 1941 and is one of the oldest forest landowner organizations. Delaware’s first Tree Farm was certified in 1959; today there are more than 200 Tree Farms covering over 20,000 acres.

For more information, contact Laura Yowell, 302-856-2893 or laura.yowell@delaware.gov.

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Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the Delaware Forestry Association (DFA) will present its 2017 “Tree Farmer of the Year” award on Thursday, March 23 at its annual banquet and meeting at the Bridgeville Fire Hall, 311 Market Street, Bridgeville, Delaware 19933, (302) 337-7272. Tickets are $27 for adults and free for children under 12. Reservations are kindly requested by March 17. Registration forms are available in the current edition of the DFA Winter Newsletter.  Checks should be made payable to the “Delaware Forestry Association” and sent to: Delaware Forestry Association, P.O. Box 344, Bridgeville, DE 19933.

Delaware’s Tree Farm Committee is part of the American Tree Farm System, founded more than 75 years ago to recognize landowners who practice proper forest stewardship by developing comprehensive management plans for diverse objectives such as wood products, wildlife habitat, water quality, and recreation.

Highlights from the 2016 DFA Annual Meeting and Tree Farmer of the Year Award

The Delaware Forestry Association is also offering its annual $1000 scholarship to a student who chooses forestry or a related major at a two-year or four-year accredited college or university. Applications are due by April 1 and the winner will be notified by May 1. Students will be eligible for up to 4 years of undergraduate study, upon reapplying, meeting the requirements, and being selected. All applicants must show financial need and academic merit. All applicants shall be in the upper 25% of their class in high school and maintain at least a 2.75 grade point average in college, based on a 4.0 scale. Scholarship money can be applied toward tuition, room and board, or books. The money will be sent directly to the college in which the student is enrolled. All applicants must submit a short essay describing their personal goals and reasons they feel they are deserving of this award. Applicants may be requested for a personal interview by the scholarship committee. The successful applicant will receive his or her award on Governor’s Day at the Delaware State Fair in Harrington.

Application forms can be downloaded at: http://delawareforest.com/scholarship. For more information, contact: Sam Topper at (302) 856-2893 or sam.topper@delaware.gov.

Agenda:

• 5:30 p.m.  – Registration & Social Hour (Silent Auction remains open until 7:45 p.m.)
• 7:00 p.m. – Country-Style Dinner:  Crab Cakes, Oven-fried Chicken, Roast Beef Au Jus, Beef Dumplings, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Cole Slaw, Rolls & Butter, Dessert, Beverages (Coffee, Ice or Hot Tea, Water)

DFA Business Meeting

•  8:00 p.m. – Welcome
  • Election of 2017-2018 DFA Board Directors
  • Delaware Tree Farmer-of-the-Year Award
  • Delaware 25th Anniversary Tree Farmer Recognition
  • Delaware Forest Service – Forestry Administrator’s Update
• 9:00 p.m. Wrap-up – Announcement of Silent Auction Winners – Adjourn

Attendees who are able to donate items to the Silent Auction are asked to please bring them or contact a DFA Board Director. To expedite the evening’s activities, DFA members are asked to pre-send 2017 DFA Membership dues with their reservation forms.

March 18, 2016 (FELTON, Del.) – Daniel J. Tartt, Jr. of Harrington was honored with the 2016 Tree Farmer of the Year Award by the Delaware Forestry Association (DFA) at their annual meeting at the Felton Fire Hall.

Tartt’s 46-acre property near Harrington has been a certified Tree Farm since 2003 and was recognized as a model of sustainable management and sound forest practices. The award was presented by Delaware Tree Farm Program director Dot Abbott and Chris Miller, Kent County service forester for the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, who worked with him on his property’s woodland and wildlife management plans. Presenting a proclamation from the Delaware General Assembly were Reps. William R. “Bobby” Outten (R-30) and David L. Wilson (R-35).

“I’ve always wanted to be a forester,” Tartt said. “I told myself that one day when I get my own woods, I’m going to be a forester – I’m going to make my own woods and manage my own forest. I’ve got a combination of a wood management and wildlife plan. And now that I’ve been awarded Tree Farmer of the Year… well, it doesn’t get any better than that,” he told the audience.

The DFA also recognized the  Middletown High School’s FFA forestry team – comprised of students Alana Hodge, Lauren Berry, Brandon Dawson, Laura Melancon and their advisor Jeff Billings – for representing Delaware and winning team and individual honors at the FFA forestry event at the 88th National FFA Convention and Expo in Louisville, KY. Overall, Delaware’s forestry team received a Silver Emblem in the nationwide competition, and team member Brandon Dawson ranked fourth in the individual scores across the entire United States.

Silver Anniversary Tree Farmers Carl Solberg, George & Gladys Kirk, and David Hastings were honored for celebrating 25 years in the American Tree Farm System.

In addition, the event celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the American Tree Farm System’s founding in 1941. Delaware’s first Tree Farm was certified in 1959 and today there are over 200 Tree Farms covering more than 20,000 acres.

Governor Markell delivered a video message (YouTube: https://youtu.be/7YIB5MqANbs ) to congratulate the Delaware Forestry Association and recognize the award winners for 2016.

For more information on the Delaware Tree Farm Program, contact Dot Abbott at (302) 730-4000 or by email – dotad@udel.edu.

Bernice and Douglas Moore were honored as Delaware Tree Farmers of the Year at the annual meeting of the Delaware Forestry Association on March 12 in Felton. The Moores were recognized for their continuous commitment to sustainable forest management and stewardship planning, as well as extensive engagement in forestry education and outreach. Their 102-acre property near Georgetown has been a certified Tree Farm since 1993. On hand to present a proclamation from the Delaware General Assembly were Reps. David L. Wilson (R-35) and Harvey R. Kenton (R-36). Governor Markell also sent a video message to congratulate the Moores for their accomplishment.