SPRING 2023 9 TROPHY HUNTING (FOR TREES) The Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program hosted a morning session that began with a presentation from Big Tree hunters Byron Carmean and Charles Gardener, Arborist at Colonial Williamsburg. The program featured stunning photos of some of their notable finds and colorful stories about documenting Virginia’s largest tree species. The morning included a tour of some of the remarkable trees in Colonial Williamsburg and a lesson on how to measure trees, like the black walnut pictured here, using a variety of tools including a laser, clinometer, diameter tape and a biltmore stick. Byron Carmean (left) and Charles Gardener led the VFLEP session. day ended with a gathering on the lawn where everyone enjoyed perfect springtime weather with drinks and hors d’oeurves at the Welcome Happy Hour sponsored by International Paper Co. President Stephanie Grubb and Executive Director Corey Connors led VFA’s membership meeting to begin the second day of the Forestry Summit. Several VFA members were recognized for their volunteer service during the past year. In particular, the work of the Volunteer Leadership Task Group that included Glen Worrell, Dr. Scott Barrett, John Carroll, Matt Dowdy, Brad Fuller, Chris Harris, Martha Moore, Carolyn Mulligan, Steven Peter, Jay Phaup, Greg Scheerer, and Justin Shanks led to recommendations for changing the structure of VFA committees. These changes were approved by the membership and are now reflected in VFA’s bylaws. Our 2023–24 Board of Directors was installed for the coming year, and outgoing board members Easton Loving, Mac McDannald, Madison West and Past President Scott Shallenberger were recognized for their service to the association. Stephanie Grubb concluded the meeting by presenting the President’s Award to Steve Peter (see page 15), and announced the launch of a new two-day event focusing on strategiclevel conversations for CEOs, business leaders, and decision-makers in the forestry industry. This new “retreatstyle” format, connecting forwardthinking forestry professionals from across the state and the region, will be held September 19–20, 2023 at Wintergreen Resort. Richard “Carbo” Carbonetti spoke to the audience about his career as a forestry consultant and the necessity for forestry professionals to be engaged in conversations about the beneficial work of forest management (read details of his address on page 10). The morning ended with another trio of breakout sessions that offered information to help landowner’s understand carbon offset markets and climatesmart forestry; a trucking and transportation brief for forestry professionals; and research and production related to Virginia’s emerging biochar market. Robert Crockett and Kyle Shreeve of Advantus Strategies reviewed advocacy work undertaken during the 2023 General Assembly session on Robert Crockett and Kyle Shreeve of Advantus Strategies reviewed key legislative initiatives for the forestry community in 2023 and highlighted priority issues for the 2024 General Assembly session.
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