The Pike County Chapter of the Alabama Treasure Forest Association hosted its 2017 Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon Thursday at the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church of Troy.

The primary goal of the Alabama Treasure Forest Association is to teach others about responsible forest management. Therefore, the highlight of the annual meeting was the awarding of Stewardship and Treasure Forest certification to local landowners.

The  C.L. Dickert Family of Brundidge received Treasure Forest certification, which is the highest certification awarded by the Alabama Treasure Forest Association.

The Dickert farm was originally purchased by the family patriarch in 1937.

“My granddaddy bought 750 acres for my grandmother, Isie Dickert,” said Bill Weston. “The deed actually has her name on it. Pike Wilson farmed the land for nearly 40 years; I believe on halves with my grandparents. He planted row crops – cotton, corn and peanuts – until the 1970s.”

At that time, the Dickert family decided to plant the land that had been in row crops in timber.

“The first pines planted were loblolly,” Weston said. “Now, we have about 150 acres in longleaf pines. At the time we planted, there weren’t many longleaf pines and the forestry association was pushing them. We’ve also got about 150 acres in hardwoods.”

Weston said the Dickert family is dedicated to responsible forest management.

“We still have the same 750 acres that my granddaddy bought in 1937,” he said. “We are cutting fire lanes and roads. We have designed areas for wildlife habitats. We are cutting on schedule and replanting.”

The Dickert Farm has a farmhouse that is used for family gatherings and for a hunting habitat. There’s a three-acre pond on the land that is used for recreation and as a place to just sit back and relax.

The motto of the Alabama Treasure Forest Association and its Pike County Chapter is “Taking the land God loaned us and making Him proud He did.”

The Dickert family is committed to taking the land C.L. Dickert deeded to his wife and  doing what would make them both proud he did.

Jeffery and Karen Knotts’ Pike County farm received Tree Farmer certification, which is an Alabama designation for outstanding stewardship. The couple was also awarded Forest Stewardship Certification, which is national validation that they have demonstrated responsible land ethic and management  practices in accordance with national stewardship principles.

Special recognition was given to chapter members John and Carol Dorrill and Randy Hale.

“John and Carol were recognized for their outstanding and tireless efforts and constant support of the activities of the Pike County Chapter of the Alabama Treasure Forest Association,” said Deborah Huggins Davis, chapter president. “Randy was recognized as the recipient of the Alabama Treasure Forest Association Partnership Award. He received the award at the state meeting in Atmore.”

Davis congratulated all of the award recipients and expressed appreciation to the chapter members and the representatives of the Alabama Farmers Federation in attendance for their support of the ATFA and its Pike County Chapter. The federation is in partnership with the ATFA.

Davis passed the president’s gavel to Carol Dorrill who then presented a certification of merit to Davis for her outstanding leadership and her commitment to the principles of the Alabama Treasure Forest Association.

Chapter members were invited to participate in the 19th Annual Tree Giveaway by selecting cuttings to plant on their property.