The West Virginia Tree Farm Committee recently announces the 2022 Tree Farmer of the Year as Kevin Gregory of Falls Mill.
The American Tree Farm System is a program for woodland owners who are committed to sustainably managing their woods for wood, water, wildlife and recreation. The WV Tree Farm program is part of the ATFS and sponsored by the West Virginia Division of Forestry
Kevin Gregory served in the United States Army for 29 years. After retiring he always wanted to return home to West Virginia to live and do management work on his 154 acres of land.
Gregory purchased this land from the Craig family after they had it timbered in the 1990’s. His intended purpose for the property was hunting land, and so he would have a place to come home to, following his distinguished military career.
After moving eleven times in eight states, and two countries, Gregory, his wife and two daughters came back to West Virginia to make it their forever home.
Mr. Gregory is dedicated to improving overall health of the forest and personally performs or oversees work needed to accomplish his objectives. The property has the Kanawha River running through part of it.
Gregory has done his own Forest Stewardship Plan for this property and has achieved many goals outlined in his ten-year plan. He is also actively working on timber management, wildlife management, recreation, soil and water conservation, and aesthetics.
The property owner actively promotes forest management by recruiting others, voicing his thoughts to leaders, and practicing what he preaches on his own farm. Gregory is always willing to do whatever is necessary to improve his woodlands.
Kevin is also the President of the Ireland Lion’s Club, Director of Development for the Pleasant Hill Waterline Association and a member of the Braxton County Board of Education. In addition, he authors a column in the Braxton Citizens’ News regularly titled “Every Acre Counts.”
The nomination was proposed by the West Virginia Tree Farm Committee for Regional and National Recognition.
Kevin, “Walks the Talk”… he has his own Wildlife Planning and Management business to help others do Conservation work on their properties.