CHARLES DEAM FOREST STEWARDSHIP AWARD
Sponsored by the
Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
Charles Deam was one of Indiana’s early pioneers in the awareness for the need to protect woodlands from fire and livestock, and to encourage forest landowners to do a better job of managing their woods. Deam was concerned, early on, that the needs of Indiana’s forest industries could not be met if forest landowners did not begin to take a greater interest in the proper management of their forest resources. Even though botanizing was his first love, his involvement with other early conservationists and with the Forestry Commission (forerunner to Indiana’s Division of Forestry) was instrumental in laying a firm foundation for the practice of forestry in Indiana.
Deam experimented with tree planting soon after the state purchased its first State Forest in 1903. The remnants of many of his early planting can still be found at Clark State Forest where he also experimented with woods improvement. He was very much involved in encouraging the legislature in 1921 to pass the Forest Classification Law. Because of the incentive offered by this program to private landowners, it has been the backbone of forestry in Indiana.
Though Deam was a pharmacist by trade, he became Indiana’s first State Forester. He laid the foundation for Indiana Forestry. Realizing his limitations and the fact that he wished to devote his full time to botanizing, he received permission in 1926 to hire the state’s first professional forester as the Assistant State Forester.
In its appreciation of Deam’s contribution toward many of the forestry programs and information that we now enjoy, the Association began sponsoring the Charles Deam Forest Stewardship Award Contest in 1992 which seeks annually to find the forest landowner who is carrying out the best forest stewardship program within that ownership
IFWOA annually honors the outstanding Indiana forest owner who follows Charles Deam’s example and demonstrates exceptional management of their woodlands.
Every year candidates are submitted as nominees for district winners. The local forester and the IFWOA forestry committee then nominate district winners. As a district winner, a landowner will compete with four other district winners for a $100.00 award, an outdoor sign, and plaque to be presented at the IFWOA annual meeting held in the fall. The five district finalists along with their spouses are invited as guests of IFWOA at the banquet and awards ceremony. All runners up will be presented with a plaque as well. The nominating foresters are also invited as guests.
The Deam Award has been a successful way to promote excellence in the woodlot and we want to continue finding and honoring these people. IFWOA’s goal is to bring these standards to the attention of other woodland owners and the general public via the Deam Award.
Nomination forms will go out April 15th to all district, consulting, and industrial foresters. A June 15th deadline each year has been set to return the completed nomination forms. If you have a nominee in mind contact your local district or consulting forester and let them know!
For more information on the selection of Deam Award Nominees contact Carl Diehl at 574-453-3488, 1843 W 500 N, Warsaw, IN 46582.
2004 – Lenna Sheets Ransburg – District 4
2003 - Al & Ida Meyer – District 2
2002 – Art Bowman – District 1
2002 – Woody & Ann Barton – District 3
2001 – Wayne & Betty Bessinger - District 1
2000 – Phil Etienne & Family – District 5
2000 - Lowell Miller – District 2
1999 – Cornelius R. & Sandra Collignon – District 5
1998 – Aloysius J. & Aggie Ubelhor – District 5
1997 – Dr. &Mrs. Douglas C. Wier, DDS – District 3
1996 – Dr.Allen W. Butler, DDS – District 5
1995 – Dr. George F. & Dorothy Parker – District 2
1994 – Hubert & Esther Raver – District 4
1993 – Archie & Blanche Burnett –District 2
1992 – Robert Kern – District 1
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