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VFA News
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Kitchen Earns
VFA Outstanding Member of the Year Award
The Outstanding Member of the Year award is given each year
to honor an individual who has gone above and beyond his or
her normal duties to promote the interest of Virginia
Forestry. This year’s winner, Ollie Kitchen, truly fits this
definition.
Ollie graduated from Virginia Tech in 1972 with a B.S. in
Forestry. After three years with the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers he joined Westvaco Corporation. His competence was
rewarded with ever increasing job responsibilities and in
1995 was promoted to Regional Wood Manager of the
Covington/Luke Mills. With recent sales and reorganization
he is presently Regional Wood Manager of the Covington mill
for MeadWestvaco, one of the largest operations on the East
Coast.
Ollie has been a board member, served on the executive
committee and is a past president of the Virginia Forestry
Association. Additionally, he has chaired numerous
committees for our Association. He has tirelessly served on
and chaired many professional and community boards,
benefiting each with his knowledge and experience.
Ollie has a passion for his family, turkey hunting and trout
fishing. When asked, he has never caught more than six trout
per day, but when really pressed the story becomes maybe six
per trip. Only Gayle knows how many trips constitute a
fishing day and she isn’t telling.
Kitchen accepted the award at the VFA Annual Convention in
Williamsburg on April 21, 2007.
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Kari Abbott is PLT
Outstanding Educator for 2007
This year’s Project Learning Tree (PLT)
Outstanding Educator is Kari Abbott of Williamsburg. Kari
volunteers more than 1,300 hours a year to bring
conservation education to young people in James City County
and Williamsburg and to teachers all over eastern Virginia.
She is a wife and mother, a 4-H leader, a Master Gardener,
and soon to be a Master Naturalist. Wearing her
characteristic overalls, Kari is always ready to lead others
outdoors for a hands-on learning experience.
Kari was the first in Virginia to become a PLT facilitator
via a mentoring program, rather than through traditional
facilitator training. Kari uses numerous PLT activities to
enhance her creative teaching methods. She is skilled at
adapting lessons to a level her students will understand, no
matter what their age or abilities. PLT activities with Kari
are often enhanced with field trips. Whether venturing into
the schoolyard, to a tree farm, or into a marsh at York
River State Park, Kari immerses her students in the natural
world.
Kari currently volunteers two or three days a week to bring
hands-on learning and field experiences to more than 300
students at three schools in her area. Last year Kari raised
over $5,000 in grant funds and materials donations to
benefit the children she teaches. Her programs help students
gain the knowledge and critical thinking skills that will
prepare them to be good stewards of our natural resources.
Kari’s passion for connecting children with nature ensures
that “no child is left inside.”
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