Awards Breakfast October 8, 2015 Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa Hot Springs, AR
#arkforests2015
AWARDS BREAKFAST Welcome ~ Invocation ~ Logger of the Year Gentry Bros. Logging LLC ~ Communicator of the Year Kenneth Coley, Arkansas Forestry Commission ~ Outstanding Forestry Educator Jaret Rushing, UA Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service ~ AFA Forestry Scholarship Tim McClellan, UAM School of Forestry and Natural Resources ~ Break ~ Tree Farmer of the Year Coley Family Tree Farm ~ Log A Load For Kids Volunteers of the Year Nancy Loomis, Clearwater Paper Patsy Thornton, Potlatch ~ Legislator of the Year Rep. Ken Bragg ~ Door Prizes and Silent Auction ~ Adjourn
Logger of the Year Gentry Bros. Logging LLC Gentry Bros. Logging, LLC— based out of Shirley—logs primarily in Cleburne, Lonoke, Prairie, Stone, Van Buren and White Counties. Their operation is fully mechanized and headed by Gary and Jason Gentry, who have logged for Green Bay Packaging, Inc. since 2004. “Possibly the greatest attribute Gentry Bros. showcases is a willingness to go the extra mile to satisfy any company, landowner or community need,” said Matt Reynders, with Green Bay
Packaging, who nominated Gentry Bros. for the award. First-generation loggers, Gary and Jason have been logging since high school. At that time, their equipment consisted of a few chainsaws and a Ford tractor for skidding. Gary, Jason and a few sawhands ran the entire operation. Working small jobs here and there, they could move two to five loads per day. Today, Gentry Bros. moves 15 to 20 loads per day.
Communicator of the Year Kenneth Coley, Arkansas Forestry Commission Kenny Coley is the County Ranger for White County and has been with the Arkansas Forestry Commission (AFC) for 20 years. Coley is also a Tree Farmer. He has gone above and beyond his duties in wildfire suppression and prevention to help educate Arkansans in White County and beyond about tree identification and seedling planting, involvement in wildfire prevention and suppression and on a personal, local level, the value of forestry and mission of AFC. “Coley is and has been an outstanding
forestry advocate,” said Adriane Barnes, Arkansas Agriculture Department director of communications, who nominated Coley for the award. He often uses Project Learning Tree lessons in his presentations to children. He works with countless garden clubs, campuses, Master Gardener associations, and other civic groups to distribute seedlings, good planting practices, and general forestry knowledge. Coley is an outstanding individual with great speaking skills, charisma, attitude, and genuine interest in healthy forests.
Outstanding Forestry Educator Jaret Rushing, UA Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service Jaret Rushing is the Calhoun County Cooperative Extension Service agent. He works closely with public and private organizations to promote conservation education and serve as a mentor for youth in the area. Recently, he lead two teams to the National 4-H Forestry Contest, and had two teams win on the state level and three students win the 4-H Forestry O’Rama. Rushing works closely with the agriculture teachers at area school to conduct forestry activities with students. Also, he brings together
public and private funding and adult volunteers to put on the Hogskin Forestry Contest, a statewide forestry competition. “When it comes to reaching out and getting people involved in forestry, Jaret is the man for the job,” said Jessica Thomas, a Hampton High School student who nominated Rushing. “Jaret personally lives out the meaning of 4-H. He is a wonderful role model for youth and adults,” said Michelle Ivy, a parent of one of Rushing’s forestry team members
Tree Farmer of the Year Coley Family Tree Farm The Coleys’ objectives are to be good stewards of the land and enhance their tracts, which benefits forestry and wildlife. They believe in doing the right things and making the right management decisions. The story starts in 1959 with the acquisition of 80 acres in McRae. Since that time, the property has grown to a total of 750 acres and has been an official Tree Farm since 1988. The majority of the property is in plantation loblolly. Some acreage is
in bottomland hardwoods, with new pine and hardwood plantings throughout. The Tree Farm also contains several ponds and water sources. “Over the last 56 years, the Coleys have persevered through tough economic times and never strayed away from their forest management goals,” said consultant Wade Hargrave. “They are true believers in protecting water and soil and sound forest management. This will always be part of the legacy of Coley Farms Trust.”
Log A Load For Kids Volunteers of the Year Nancy Loomis, Clearwater Paper Patsy Thornton, Potlatch Since 1994, Nancy Loomis and Patsy Thornton have been a consistent, driving force in Bradley County Log A Load For Kids and work hard to bring new energy and ideas to their local committee and the statewide program, which has raised more than $7.5 million for Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) since 1993.
this because we want to help the children of Arkansas.” “I believe that all who are involved with Log A Load are very compassionate people and want to do as much as possible to keep ACH the top-notch facility it is,” Loomis said. “I’m glad to be a small part of that.”
“Being involved with Log A Load has enlightened me on how much each of us should count our blessings every day if we have healthy children and grandchildren,” Thornton said. “We do
Loomis and Thornton have also served on the National Log A Load For Kids Advisory Committee and attended the Children’s Miracle Network Celebration event in Orlando.
Legislator of the Year Rep. Ken Bragg Rep. Ken Bragg is serving his second term in the Arkansas House of Representatives and is the majority leader. He represents District 15, which includes portions of Grant, Hot Spring, and Jefferson counties. During the 90th General Assembly, Rep. Bragg served on the committee for Public Health, Welfare and Labor and the committee for Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development. He has sponsored, supported and helped pass legislation that promotes a healthy forest products industry. In the last two
sessions, his leadership and support were instrumental in passing bills that clarify and set a cap on the amount of an assessment that can be levied on timberland by a Fire Protection District, allow a higher education professor to teach elements of forestry without registering for the practice of forestry and provide a sales tax exemption on harvesting equipment and the fire protection assessment, among other important bills. We appreciate Rep. Bragg’s leadership and support in the legislature.
PAST WINNERS Logger of the Year Shannon Lassiter James Wilson Roy Hodges Larry Morgan Tim Hubbard Terry Gann Don Grillo Rob Jones Dale Proctor Ritchie Shields Greg Wahl Rex Lawrence James R. “Bud” Long Steve Richardson Don Wright Joe Griffith W.A. Winston Sam Westbrook Jerry Hartline Mack West Allen Bedell Don Freeman Charles Ledbetter Ronnie Lyons Vester Dotson Allen Bedell Melvin Mills Harry Murdock Bobby Jester
Lisa Stocker John Wainscott Bobby Taylor Sen. Jodie Mahony George Lease Jim Grant Jim Francis Roger Alabach Dr. John Gray Mike Bentley Perry Quinn and Doug Thompson Melinda Gassaway, Chris Daniel & Tim Hill Bill and Stan Sadler Joe Mosby Sheridan Headlight John Reeder, Arkansas Radio Network F.H. “Ranger Jim” Martin
Communicator of the Year Linda Williams Palmer Caroll Guffey Allen and Ginny Nipper Charles Purtle Allen Farley Harrell Wilson Dr. Matt Pelkki Teddy Reynolds Nancy Cole
Outstanding Tree Famer John L. McClellan Allen and Ginny Nipper W.J. Thomasson Bobby and Kathy Johnson Gene Bennett and Heifer Ranch Mike Cushman Tom Hasty Dan Dipert Jane Watkins
Outstanding Forestry Educator Rhea Whalen Shelley Flanary Kathy Rusert Jennifer Richardson Jay Schneider Kathey Roberts John Wainscott Heidi Campbell Jim Grant Sandy Hanna
Laura Ewing Conrad Beggs Jim Woodruff & BSA Westark Council John and Milly Harper Gary Churchill Joe Harris Bob McAnally Bob Lee Charlie Weaver Dale and Louise Givens Jim and Billie Pratt Reece Stiles Hugh Ashley & Cove Creek Scout Camp Earl Rogers Rob Parkes Dr. Lynn Harris Bennie Reddin Charles Purtle & Rogers Scout Reservation Toler Bardin John Gann Arthur Souter A.J. McFarland Thomas Ross Dr. William T. Murry Howard Gray Wayne Charton Jim Francis Clyde Smith Searcy Wilcoxon Hugh Ashley Donald Hayden Outstanding Log A Load For Kids Volunteer Gay Pace Charles Ledbetter & Brenda Lee Kip Queathem Mike Pennington Legislator of the Year Sen. Bill Sample & Rep. Jeff Wardlaw Rep. Jeff Wardlaw, Rep. Bruce
Westerman & Rep. Tommy Wren Sen. Barbara Horn Rep. Johnnie Bolin & Rep. Ken Cowling Rep. Joyce Dees Sen. Jim Hill & Rep. Larry Teague Rep. Jay Dickey Rep. Jim Lancaster & Rep. George French Sen. Mike Bearden Rep. Jim Hill Rep. James Jordan & Rep. Bill Porter Rep. Lloyd George Sen. Jim Scott Rep. Jodie Mahony Rep. John Dawson Rep. John Miller Sen. Knox Nelson Sen. Olen Hendrix President’s Award Rep. Ken Bragg & John Wainscott Susan Glaze Dick Kluender George and Maxine Clippert Joe Friend John McEntire Peggy Clark Steve McEntire & James Wilson Lee Robinette Randall Leister Jim Crouch Jim Francis Gary O’Rielly Allen Bedell Charles Edington Don Dale Jackie Bell Joe Fox James Gayle Charles Edington John Turner E.F. “Bebe” Paulus Robert Rhodes Ben Burton
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