Kentucky Tree Farm Program

Kentucky Tree Farm Program

The American Tree Farm System is a program for woodland owners who are committed to sustainably managing their woods for wood, water, wildlife and recreation.  Each state program is run by a diverse group of partners, such as state agencies, non-profit organizations, volunteers, foresters and landowners.

The Kentucky Tree Farm Committee promotes actions that sustain forests, watersheds, and wildlife habitat through the power of private stewardship. Family forests certified by for the American Tree Farm System are recognized by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and meet current standards qualifying tree farms as SFI certified wood.

The Tree Farm System operates as an informal partnership encouraging resource management professionals from all disciplines and segments (forest industries, public agencies, private forestry consultants, and forest landowner organizations) to work together and offer expertise to family forest owners.  The Kentucky Tree Farm Committee provides support by overseeing and managing the program by:

• Certifying and re-inspecting Kentucky Tree Farms as part of the American Tree Farm System.
• Providing Tree Farm certificates and signs to recognize Kentucky Tree Farmers.
• Recognize each year the Kentucky Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year.
• Recognize the Kentucky Outstanding Logger of the Year.
• Recognize the Kentucky Outstanding Inspector of the Year.
• Sponsor Tree Farm Field Days and educational programs throughout the state.
• Undertaking special projects designed to educate Kentucky landowners on proper forest management

If you are interested in the Tree Farm System download the brochure for an application: 

Tree Farm Application

Know An Outstanding Logger or Tree Farmer?

The Tree Farm Committee is accepts nominations for Logger of the Year and Tree Farmer of the Year which is honored yearly at the KFIA Annual Meeting In the spring.  The first step in the process is to submit a completed application with information on the candidate and then the Tree Farm Committee reviews the applications and narrows the choice down to two to three candidates as finalists and then visits the operations and makes a final decision.

Nominations are reviewed annually in September at the tree farm meeting and field visits are set up with the finalists with the winners being determined in February.  These awards are an excellent way to honor those who do a good job in forestry related activities that often get little attention.  

If you are interested in nominating an outstanding candidate, download the nomination form below. 

2022 Tree Farmer of the Year - Lynn Johnson Tree Farm - William Lynn Johnson, Lynn Johnson Tree Farm from Olive Hill, Kentucky has been honored as the 2022 Kentucky Tree Farmer of the Year at the KFIA 58th Annual Meeting in Lexington, KY.  Bill Knott with the Kentucky Division of Forestry in Morehead, KY nominated Johnson for the award.  

2022 Logger of the Year - TNT Logging - Tom Fetters, TNT Logging of Vanceburg, KY was recently honored as the 2022 Kentucky Logger of the Year at the KFIA 58th Annual Meeting in Lexington, Kentucky.  

Tree Farmer of the Year Nomination Form

Logger of the Year Nomination Form