Tree Farmer Awards

N.C. Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year

Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year are actively involved in managing their land to a high standard and promoting wise forest management in their communities. They serve on forestry committees, host field tours and workshops, participate in a broad array of conservation programs and are great communicators about forest management. Their communities see them as leaders in conservation practices who, by their example, encourage other landowners to adopt sustainable forestry practices. Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year advocate for sound forest management policies through contact with political leaders and decision makers, and encourage other Tree Farmers to be engaged in policy issues. They meet all the American Tree Farm System Standards of Sustainability and follow the ATFS mission “to promote the growing of renewable forest resources on private lands while protecting environmental benefits and increasing public understanding of all benefits of productive forestry.” North Carolina’s Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year are below.

North Carolina is home to two National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year.

In 2016 and 2017 we recognized County Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year in one N.C. Forest Service district in each region of the state (Coastal Plain, Piedmont, Mountains).

	2024 Martha and B Townes
	2023 Jason and Tay Brown Watch video about the Browns’ First Fruits Farm
	2022 Harold and Wanda Swaim Watch video about the Swaim Tree Farm
	2019 Cherokee Scout Reservation Old North State Council Boy Scouts of America
	2018 Charles and Martha Oldham
	2017 Preston and Susan Floyd Watch video about the Floyd Tree Farm .
	2016 Tim Johnson and Sam Johnson Watch video about the Johnson Family Tree Farm .
	2015 Charles and Betty Taylor
	2014 Jim and Cathy Long
	2013 Eugene and Opal Brown Watch video about the Brown Tree Farm.
	2012 Dwight and Judy Batts Watch video about the Batts Tree Farm
	2011 Maurice and Laura Hull
	2010 Albert and Wynette Shaw Watch video of the Shaw Tree Farm
	2009 Riddick and Alice Ricks Watch video about the Ricks Tree Farm .
	2008 Leo and Eleanor Brevard
	2007 Bob and Jean Cooper
	2006 Boone and Mary Chesson
	2005 Bob and Linda Vickery
	1986 Mickey Blake
	1983 Pressley R. Rankin, Jr.
	1981 Charles Jones