Kentucky Forest Industries Association

Press release

Clifton Taylor, from Danville, was recently honored as the 2017 Kentucky Tree Farmer of the Year at the Kentucky Forest Industries Association (KFIA) 53rd annual meeting in Louisville. Christopher Will, Consulting Forester with Central Kentucky Forest Management nominated Taylor for the award. In addition to a plaque recognizing his achievement, Taylor was presented a Stihl chainsaw donated by Bryan Equipment Sales from Loveland, Ohio who is the regional distributor for Stihl Incorporated. Taylor was selected from a number of nominations submitted to the state Tree Farm Committee from throughout Kentucky.

Taylor’s 1,100 acre Tree Farm in Casey/Boyle County, is managed for a wide range of benefits including timber production, wildlife and recreation. The farm has been certified as a Tree Farm since 1972 and has consistently improved the woodland through a number of active management practices.  Improvements on the farm have included harvesting white oak logs for Irish Distiller’s “American Oak Project” and extensive work on 150 acres to maintain future availability of oak. There has also been work completed on miles of forest roads to maintain access for forest management, fire control and recreational purposes.

The wide range of management activities have not only improved timber production but also resulted in better wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities on the property. Taylor is a past winner of the 2016 Kentucky/Tennessee Society of American Foresters Baggenstoss Award that honored him for his lifetime commitment to forest management. Taylor takes an active role in all forest management on the property and has encouraged others to practice good forest management and stewardship. He is very active with a number of organizations that support forest management and conservation.

The Kentucky Tree Farm Committee is sponsored by the Kentucky Forest Industries Association which is the statewide trade association dedicated to serving and promoting the forest products industry and forestry interests of Kentucky. Founded in 1965, it has over 500 members in the areas of primary and secondary wood industry, supplier and service industries, wholesale, loggers and landowners. The Tree Farm Committee oversees the program in Kentucky and is part of the National Tree Farm Program that promotes sound forest management through sustainable forestry.

For more information about the association or how you can become a certified tree farmer contact Bob Bauer at (502) 695-3979.