Daniel Tartt of Harrington named Tree Farmer of the Year

Daniel J. Tartt Jr. of Harrington was honored with the 2016 Tree Farmer of the Year Award by the Delaware Forestry Association at its annual meeting at the Felton Fire Hall.

Tartt’s 46-acre property near Harrington has been a certified tree farm since 2003 and was recognized as a model of sustainable management and sound forest practices.

The award was presented by Delaware Tree Farm Program Director Dot Abbott and Chris Miller, Kent County service forester for the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, who worked with Tartt on his property’s woodland and wildlife management plans.

Presenting a proclamation from the Delaware General Assembly were Rep. William R. “Bobby” Outten, R-Harrington, and Rep. David L. Wilson, R-Bridgeville.

“I’ve always wanted to be a forester,” Tartt said. “I told myself that one day when I get my own woods, I’m going to be a forester - I’m going to make my own woods and manage my own forest. I’ve got a combination of a wood management and wildlife plan. And now that I’ve been awarded Tree Farmer of the Year… well, it doesn’t get any better than that.”

In addition, the event celebrated the 75th anniversary of the American Tree Farm System’s founding in 1941. Delaware’s first tree farm was certified in 1959, and today there are over 200 tree farms covering more than 20,000 acres.