Tom Westergreen wins ATFS National Outstanding Inspector of the Year

bryanBLOG

We are happy to report that the American Tree Farm System has given its 2017 National Outstanding Inspector of the Year award to a Washington forestry leader: Tom Westergreen.

From the ATFS press release:

Westergreen has a life-long passion for tree farming and ATFS. He was raised on and currently manages his family tree farm (in Whatcom County), land that has been sustainably managed by his family since 1888. It is one of the oldest Tree Farms in Washington, having been recognized by ATFS for decades. He became an ATFS Inspector in the early 1980’s and currently serves as a Region Inspection Coordinator in Washington.

Westergreen is an active member of the forestry community in Washington. For example, he has testified at state legislative committee hearings on topics and issues that are important to Washington’s landowners and forests. He is also responsible for developing and overseeing the Whatcom Women in Timber “Woods Tour,” an annual event that for more than 30 years has taken the public out to the woods to see sustainable forestry management first-hand. Westergreen was nominated by the Washington Tree Farm Program.

You can learn more here about the longtime Westergreen Tree Farm. According to ATFS, Tom Westergreen stood out for his commitment to forestry and to helping other foresters.

The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) is pleased to recognize Tom Westergreen of Sumas, Washington as the 2017 National Outstanding Inspector of the Year. Westergreen was selected from among four regional winners for his exceptional on-the-ground work with family forest owners in Washington and commitment to the American Tree Farm System.

The Outstanding Inspector of the Year award annually recognizes forest inspectors for exceptional sustainable forest management and exemplary work for ATFS. The award was presented on February 23 at the 2017 ATFS National Leadership Conference in Greenville, South Carolina.

“Tom does what he loves most: talking to, sharing with, and learning from his fellow Tree Farmers,” said Tom Martin, president and CEO of the American Forest Foundation, which manages ATFS. “He uses his personal story to help other landowners understand the importance of sustainable forest management and recognizes that his role as an Inspector goes beyond assigned reviews.”

Capital Press also covered the news of Tom’s ATFS award.