By Lynn Bramer, Ken. Division of Forestry

In 1987, Jack Stickney purchased a small, wooded farm in Estill County and began a long list of tree farming practices that include everything from planting trees to producing shiitake mushrooms to selling carbon credits on a newly emerging market.  Hard work, a desire for self-sufficiency, and a genuine appreciation for forest management are undeniable attributes of Stickney and this year his efforts are being recognized by the Kentucky Division of Forestry (KDF).  Stickney was nominated by KDF foresters for Outstanding Forest Steward of the Year, and although the competition was tough, he was chosen as the winner for 2008.           

            Managing the Forest

            Stickney, a geologist for the Kentucky Rural Water Association, recognized the need for proper forest management immediately after purchasing the property 22 years ago.  Initially, he sought assistance from the Kentucky Division of Forestry for advice on planting trees and improving existing timber stands.  In 1997, he became certified as a Forest Steward after signing up for the division’s forest stewardship program which provides free forest management advice to landowners with over 10 acres of woodlands. 

            Over the years, he has planted more than 800 trees on his 133 acre farm.  Black walnut and pecan trees are planted along the rich bottomlands adjacent to Twin Creek and soft mast trees are planted throughout the woodlands to improve wildlife habitat.  He has also completed over 50 acres of timber stand improvement (TSI) by removing vines from crop trees, cutting cull trees, pruning trees and thinning undesirable species.      

            Stickney works closely with numerous KDF foresters and ranger technicians in the Kentucky River District including Kristy Whitaker, Chris Osborne, Jason Hunt and Chad Brothers and he is quick to credit the division for much of the forestry knowledge he has acquired.  He is also an important voice for conservation in his community as evidenced by a string of Tree Farm and Stewardship Forest signs along the back road leading to his property.   

            Utilizing the Resource

            Self-sufficiency is perhaps the most interesting aspect of life on the Stickney farm.  Stickney has built a cabin, a barn, a dry kiln, numerous nesting boxes for wildlife and raised beds for organic gardening out of the timber resources on his property.  Stickney, along with his wife, Teresa, and son, Caleb has also ventured into farming one of Kentucky’s upcoming alternative crops—shiitake mushrooms.

            “Farming log-grown shiitake mushrooms in shaded, moist woodlands has great potential for Kentucky,” said Stickney.  Shiitake mushrooms are a non-timber forest product that can provide additional income for a small farm with plentiful woodlands.  Stickney raises the mushrooms for personal use as well as to sell to local restaurants and farmer’s markets.  The mushrooms are cultivated on small diameter hardwood logs that are left over from cutting and thinning cull trees while doing TSI on his woodlands. 

            Enterprising with MACED

            The newest venture for Stickney has been enrolling as the first landowner in the new carbon credit program administered by Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED).  The basis for the program is that trees naturally remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help reduce greenhouse gases.   Stickney hopes to add value to his woodlands by receiving payments for the carbon stored in the trees on his property.  MACED’s program is aimed at landowners who have a management plan and inventory of their forest.  The program requires limited logging of higher quality timber, and therefore, will benefit forest health. 

            Looking Forward

            The Stickney’s have hosted numerous field days and tours on their farm in an effort to educate other landowners about sustainable farming and forestry and the land will be a legacy for anyone interested in conservation.  Stickney’s 9 year old son is proof and testament.  Caleb, who has a natural curiosity and an interest in botany, recently found several American chestnuts sprouting along a steep slope on the farm.  There is little doubt that good stewardship will be a part of this farm for many years to come. 

            Forest landowners like Stickney are critical to sustaining our woodlands.  Nearly half of the land in our state is forested and private landowners manage the majority of these forests—89 percent to be exact.  This is why KDF foresters are committed to providing forest management advice and to recognizing landowners like Jack Stickney, who are proven to be “outstanding stewards”. 

This article first appeared in the July 2009 Issue of The Southern Perspective.

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