The Southwest Mississippi Forestry Association honored longtime Amite County tree farmer J.B. Robinson by naming its annual scholarship after him Friday night at the organization’s annual membership banquet.
Association executive vice president Tedrick Ratcliff told the audience gathered at the Southwest Mississippi Community College Student Union Building that Robinson and Jeff Little were instrumental in establishing the scholarship.
“Forestry has been good to us. Everybody needs to get some land and plant some trees,” said Robinson, who started tree farming in 1939.
“I knew how important the association helping forestry students was. All the scholars are good students and love forestry,” Ratcliff said, noting that the endowment goes to Mississippi State University students majoring in Forestry.
Cody Wright is the 2012 scholarship recipient.
Association secretary Richard Hay said more than $13,000 is in the scholarship fund.
Each year the hat is passed around during the banquet to raise money for the scholarship fund. By the end of Friday evening, the collection totalled $1,393, and an anonymous donor chipped in $1,500 for a total of $3,893.
“What an opportunity to fund the future of farmers. You are to be commended. We as an association will continue to support the scholarship fund,” Ratcliff said.
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The association also gave out Tree Farmer of the Year and Friend of Forestry awards to recipients in Pike, Amite and Wilkinson counties.
The Pike County Tree Farmer of the Year is George and Teresa Shapley, while Pike County extension agent Mike Tynes was named Friend of Forestry.
Owl’s Nest Plantation was Wilkinson county Tree Farmer of the year. Owners are Susan and John Hudson, and Elizabeth and David Wilkerson. Jody Sessions is the plantation’s forester.
Douglas and Linda Easley were named Amite County Tree Farmer of the Year, and Richard Hay was named Friend of Forestry.
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Ratcliff also spoke about the association’s endeavors to educate Mississippians on forestry and conservation.
He said the association also has committed $250,000 in donations to the Mississippi Children’s Museum.
He said the forestry association is active in teaching conservation workshops, working with state legislators to ensure the law benefits farmers and working with the Mississippi Development Authority to bring in new forestry-related industry.
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SMCC President Dr. Steve Bishop updated members on the progress of the college’s workforce training center, which is under construction.
“We hope to be in it by September. They had previously said August, but with all the rain we’ve had and may yet have, there have been some delays. We look forward to enhancing the current workforce training program,” he said.
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For more information about forestry and conservation or how to become a member of the forestry association contact the Pike County Extension office at 783-5321.
