Gailen “Max” W Maxwell

Ohio Tree farmer of the Year 1990 and current Publicity Chairman on the Ohio Tree Farm Committee

The Ohio Tree Farm program is the application of the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) to Ohio and is operated by volunteers through the Ohio Tree Farm Committee.

ATFS Mission:

To promote the growing of renewable forest resources on private land while protecting environmental benefits and increasing public understanding of all benefits of productive forests.

The four segments of the ATFS sign emphasize this integrated approach to the management of our woodlands:
1) Wood 2) Water 3) Wildlife 4) Recreation

Management of woodlands by the ATFS standards leads to a designation of a ‘Certified Family Forest’ that indicates the Tree Farmer’s goals are to provide a renewable resource in a sustainable manner while maintaining a healthy forest that protects water, wildlife, and recreational values.

Max has dedicated himself to the preservation and growing of renewable resources, earning the Ohio Tree Farmer of the Year award in 1990. This award annually recognizes an outstanding Tree Farm in Ohio. The Tree Farm must be certified by the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) by meeting their standards and following their 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”. Each summer a call is sent to all Tree Farm Inspectors for nominations for the award. The Awards Committee reviews these nominations and then makes a visit to the Tree Farms. The nominations are then presented to the full Ohio Tree Farm Committee at the last meeting of the year and a selection is made for the coming year. The award is presented at the Tree Farm Luncheon at the Ohio Forestry Association Annual Meeting in the spring. A Tree Farm Tour is scheduled for the fall to show the high quality of management and share experience and knowledge with other Tree Farmers and the public.

Max has been gracious in allowing our group to hunt, camp and hike his properties for the last 52 years. Some members of our group helped in planting the first trees on the Shagbark tree farm. Max visits our deercamps annually, joining us for dinner on “Prime Rib” night. We enjoy his company and conversations, especially stories of the “early days”. In return, to show our appreciation of his kindness we keep the grass mowed in the summer, and perform upkeep on the house where needed from time to time. A very small price to pay for all the years of good times and memories at the Shagbark tree farm.

Past Tree Farmers of the Year

2012 Wayne & Benita Lashbrook and Rita & Brad Franchi

2011 Steve Stone

2010 Walt & Donna Lange

2009 Bob & Karen Hunter

2008 Joe Mattingly

2007 Jim & Janet Pry
2006 Eli Hochstetler Family
2005 Jack & Janet Sweigart (’06 Regional)
2004 Scott and Krista Galloway
2003  MeadWestvaco—Ohio Operations
2002 Carl and Dorothy Young
2001 William and Bonnie Lawhon
2000 American Electric Power
1999 Dr. James and Marilyn Mills

1998 Jean Woodhull
1997 Guernsey County SWCD
1996 Ron Ott (’98 Regional)
1995 Glen and Lois Mutchler
1994 John and Susan Stephens
1993 Carl and Alice Wooding
1992 Harris and Ruth Willis
1991 George Wilson
1990 Gailen “Max” W. and Pat Maxwell
1989 Ron and Richard Potts (’90 Regional)
1988 John V. and Mary Schmidt (’89 Regional) (’89 National Tree Farmer)
1987 Harold and Elizabeth Jeffers
1986 Howard Doner
1985 Harold and Dorothy Smith
1984 Glenn Brause
1983 Frank and Avis Newell (’83 Regional)
1982 Jim & Faye Nobis

1981 Dick and Lianne Casper (’81 Regional)
1980 Clarence Heinke
1979 E.E. Hamm (Regional ’79)
1978 Bill Barricks
1977 W.E. Frasch
1976 Harold and Elizabeth Jeffers
1975 Harry Wilkie
1974 Harold & Dorothy Smith

Ohio Inspector of the Year

This award annually recognizes a Tree Farm Inspector who has done an outstanding job of interacting with landowners through inspections, certifications, and public outreach. Each fall the Area Chairs are asked for nominations that are presented to the full Ohio Tree Farm Committee at the last meeting of the year where the selection is made. The award is presented at the Tree Farm Luncheon at the Ohio Forestry Association Annual Meeting in the spring. The Inspector will be considered for nomination for the ATFS Regional Inspector of the Year. Ohio is in the North Central Region that includes eleven (11) states. The four regional winners are then candidates for the National Outstanding Inspecting Forester of the Year.

Past Inspectors of the Year

2012 Adam Beichler

2011 John Jolliff

2010 Dean Berry

2009 Cody Hacker

2008 Jerry Williams

2007 Joe Puperi

2006 Bill Serbonich

2005 Dean Berry

2004 Jeremy Scherf (’05 Regional)

2003 Jerry Williams

2002 Harold Bower

2001 Jim Elze, (’02 Regional)

2000 Randy Clum, (’01Regional)

If you want to know more about the Ohio Tree Farmers  click here