Francis "Champ" Zumbrun received Lifetime of Service Award


for steadfast commitment to promoting the guiding principals of forest conservation and stewardship to be presented to Francis "Champ" Zumbrun of LaVale, Maryland

Francis "Champ" Zumbrun retired after 31 years of service with the MD DNR Forest service. He began his career at the Allegany County Forest Project and then moved to Green Ridge State Forest in 1981, and became Forest Manager there in 1988. He has been a tireless promoter of scientific forest management, and has used the 46,000-acre mixed oak forests of Green Ridge to demonstrate ecologically sensitive management techniques. Aware of the opportunity that forest recreation offers in regard to helping citizens better understand the benefits that forests provide, Champ worked to get the Great Eastern Trail routed through Green Ridge State Forest, which no runs from the Potomac River to the Pennsylvania state line.
He is probably best known to his fellow MFA members as Maryland's own forest historian, complete with authentic 1930's era field uniform (pictured at right), his extensive research on the creation of Maryland state forest and park resource and its first state forester, Fred Besley, and his singing of the Smokey the Bear song.

Due to family needs, Champ was unable to attend the banquet,
so his award will be presented to him at a later time

Furman Forest Services, LLC has been named as the Maryland Forests Association Logger of the Yea

Furman Forest Services, LLC has been named as the Maryland Forests Association Logger of the Year for 2009. The family-run business has thirty years of experience in the wood products industry, and has operated in its current form since 2001. The Furmans are well known for their high standards in customer relations, their drive for innovation, and their dedication to getting the job done right.

Mark, Randy, and Matt leave every customer satisfied, and use practices that leave the job site at its highest potential to grow the next stand of timber. When heavy rain threatens to damage the soil if logging operations continue, the Furmans sacrifice productivity and shut down for the day. They often take extra time to leave the site just as the landowner requests, whether it be with a firewood pile or an additional circle drive, and always retire a site with adequate mulch and seed. On the rare occasion that a landowner has an issue or dispute after the job is closed out, the Furmans act quickly and professionally to right the wrong.

The Furmans keep a close watch on current market conditions as well as emerging trends. In order to operate in tight quarters with high efficiency, the Furmans recently purchased a John Deere 120 tracked feller/buncher. Only 8 feet wide, this machine helps them to complete thinning jobs quickly and with minimal damage to the residual stand. Products are sorted on the landing for as many as nine different markets from tops and branches to veneer. Their experience in harvesting and hauling tops and branches puts them ahead of the curve when the biomass market expands.

Mark and Randy have both been active Master Loggers since 2004, and also participate in New Page's Controlled Forest Management Certified Wood Program. These programs help set them apart from the competition, and ensure their clients that they are choosing loggers with up-to-date training and a history of good practices.

Furman Forest Services is located in Frostburg, Maryland (Allegany County). They were nominated by foresters Dan Hedderick of the MD DNR Forest Service and Juls Wood of Reynwood Forest Management Inc.

2009 Conference Exhibitors

ACM Forestry Program

Appalachian Mountains Woodcook Initiative

Community Woodlands Alliance

Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology, Inc

MARBIDCO

Maryland Chapter of American Chestnut Foundation

Maryland Environmental Trust

MD/DE Master Logger Program

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Outdoor Underwriters

Society of American Foresters (SAF) MD/DE Division

The Nature Conservancy

U of MD Cooperative Extension Service

Conference Sponsors

MFA's 33rd Annual Conference was made possible in part through the support of the following members and friends of MFA:

GOLD CIRCLE

Bituminous Insurance Companies
Lutherville, MD

Edrich Lumber Company
Dick and Bobbie Stanfield
Windsor Mills, MD

MAR-LEN Environmental
Westminster, MD

NewPage Corp Luke Mill
Luke, MD

Outdoor Underwriters
Columbia, SC

The Mill
Bel Air, MD

USI Insurance Services
Falls Church, VA


SILVER CIRCLE

Borden Mining Company
Jamestown, NC

Forest Resources Association
Rockville, MD

MARBIDCO
Annapolis, MD

Ota Stevenson, Inc
Salisbury, MD

Timber Harvest, Inc.
Cordova, MD

University of Md Cooperative Extension
College Park, MD

David W. Weissert
Denton, MD


BRONZE CIRCLE

Carl W. Neutzel Services
White Hall, MD

Long Forestry Services
Manchester, PA

MidAtlantic Farm Credit, ACA
Westminster, MD

Renshaw Logging
Eden, MD

Ronald Seibel
Adelphia, MD

Southern MD RC&D
Waldorf, MD

The Laws Corporation
Snow Hill, MD

Western Pocahontas Properties
Huntington, WV

Student Scholarship Sponsors
MAERDAF grant plus
Fritz Bowers
Ben & Wendy Clements
Wade Dorsey
George Gilmore
Chris & Lynn Holmes
Robert B. Shives
Dick & Bobbie Stanfield
David W. Weissert

Thank you to the following for making MFA's 33rd Annual Conference such a success!

Forest Tour of Evergreen Estates brochure cover

Janice Keene and Family
logger Matt Diehl
forester Dan Hedderick
Carl W. Neutzel Equipment Services
ACM ~ bus transportation

2009 Annual Conference Speakers


Keynote Presentation

Richard Pawling ~ History's Alive!

Saturday Educational Sessions
Session I

Bill Imbergamo , Valerie Connelly , Chris Holmes
Session II
Ken Roberts , Mike Schofield , Dylan Jenkins
Session III
Dan Hedderick , Collin Miller , Jim Howell
Session Moderators
Bob Eaton , Donnelle Keech , John Jastrzembski

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Tim Smith - The Mill
providing Canvasback Drake decoys for speaker gifts

Dick & Bobbie Stanfield - Edrich Lumber
Hospitality Hosts and centerpieces

Atlantic Tractor
Chainsaw Safety Chaps and Helmet System
for MFA Logger of the Year

Annual Conference Program Committee
Dan Hedderick , Donnelle Keech , John Jastrzembski
plus
AV Coordinator - Steve Resh
Exhibit Coordinator - Donnelle Keech
Silent Auction Coordinator - Bob Shives
Registration Desk - Bobbie Stanfield and Lynn Holmes

Logistics - Karin Miller, MFA Executive Director