Forest Landowner Awards
FLA Awards & Recipients
The Forest Landowners Association’s (FLA) Awards Program aims to recognize outstanding landowners and forestry professionals contributing to the advancement of the private forest landowner community.
Learn More About Our Awards
The Forest Landowners Association and The Forest Landowners Foundation present awards each year at the Annual Conference of Private Forest Landowners held during the summer.
To nominate landowners and professionals for our highest honors, you must include a written statement of the nominee’s accomplishments, projects, publications, and any other pertinent information addressing the desired qualities listed below in the awards criteria.
Forest Landowner of the Year*
- Individual, not a corporation
- FLA member in good standing
- Suggested minimum land ownership time of 10+ years
- Outreach or promotion of land ownership and/or forestry
- Use of professional forestry advice and/or forestry expertise
- Involved in advocacy or leadership for private forest landowners.
Extension Forester of the Year Award*
- Awarded to an individual
- Dedication to landowner education
- Minimum time in the practice of 5 years
- Presents or publishes education material geared toward private landowners
- Interacts with private landowners individually or in groups
- Personal contribution to FLA is desirable, but not required
Next Generation Forest Landowner of the Year Award*
- Under the age of 50
- FLA member in good standing
- Recipient may either own land himself/herself or work in a family business with land but must be actively involved in the management of the forestland
- Active in state/local associations and FLA
*These awards depend on nominations sent in from other forest landowners.
Association and Foundation Nominated Awards
- Partner of the Year
- Consulting Forester of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Leadership Award
- Foundation Champion of the Year
Past Award Winners
2024 Award Winners
Forest Landowner of the Year
Lee Wright
Next Generation Landowner of the Year
Reese Thompson II
Consulting Forester of the Year
American Forest Management
Partner of the Year
University of Florida
FLA Leadership Award
PRT/IFCO
Foundation Champion of the Year
American Forest Management
2023 Award Winners
Forest Landowner of the Year
Reese Thompson
Next Generation Landowner of the Year
Carter Crosby
Extension Forester of the Year
Dr. Adam Maggard
FLA Leadership Award
Advance Land and Timber
Consulting Forester of the Year
Steve Templin
Corporate Partner of the Year
ArborGen
Foundation Champion of the Year
Joe Hopkins
2022 Award Winners
Forest Landowner of the Year
Gray Skipper
Next Generation Landowner of the Year
Eric Clapp
Extension Forester of the Year
David Dickens
FLA Leadership Award
John Pait
Consulting Forester of the Year
Marshall Thomas
Foundation Champion of the Year
Harry and Jackie Haney
2021 Award Winners
Forest Landowner of the Year
Barrett McCall
Next Generation Landowner of the Year
Alex Ingraham
Extension Forester of the Year
David Coyle
Corporate Recognition
Enviva
Consulting Forester of the Year
Mary Clapp
Foundation Champion of the Year
Robert Crosby
Past Forest Landowner of the Year Recipients
Past Next Generation Landowner of the Year Recipients
Past Extension Forester of the Year Recipients
Past Corporate Recognition Recipients
Past Consulting Forester of the Year Recipients
Past Foundation Champion Recipients
Lifetime Achievement Award Winners
- 2019 – Bill Seigel
- 2018 – Blake Sullivan
- 2016 – Harry and Jackie Haney
- 2014 – Jane Hearn