VFA News

•   Completion of the Virginia's SHARP
    Logger Program.
•   Consistent adherence to Virginia's
    forestry water quality law and
    recommended Best Management
    Practices.
•   Development of an excellent safety record
    through a strong commitment to safety
    and genuine concern for their employee's
    well-being.
•   Achievement of a high level of customer
    and landowner satisfaction through a    
    long-term commitment to operational
    quality and business ethics.
•   Management of an efficient and
    productive harvesting operation that
    minimizes negative environmental impacts
    to the forest site and/or residual timber
    stand.
•   Portrayal of a positive image for the
    logging industry throughout the
    community.

Nominations are reviewed carefully and approved by a select committee of VFA members including former Merit Award recipients. Loggers receiving the award maintain Merit Logger status for five years, after which they are eligible for re-nomination.

Darrell Rasnick, Russell Fork Logging, of Bee, Va., works primarily in Buchanan and Dickenson Counties in southwest Virginia and currently manages four logging crews. Russell Fork Logging demonstrates the ability to work in some of Virginia's most challenging terrain and still maintain good logging practices. His crews have an excellent record for pre-harvest planning and adherence to BMPs and always strive to maximize efficiency from both an economical and environmental standpoint. Mr. Rasnick's operation was also featured in Southern Logging Times magazine. Russell Fork Logging was nominated by Brad Carico with the Virginia Department of Forestry and Greg Gambrel with Mountain Forest Products.

David "Buck" Morris, Glen Morris & Sons Logging, Inc. in Unionville, Va., is a third generation logger who has been logging for over 25 years, Morris works with his two younger brothers in the north central Piedmont area. Known for his professionalism both in the woods and in the forestry and logging community, Morris is active in the Virginia Forestry Association, the Virginia Loggers Association, the American Loggers Council, and is also a member of the Nashville Songwriters Association International. He has helped with trainings for the SHARP logger program, has been involved with the annual forestry bus tour, Log a Load for Kids(r), and has spoken out on behalf of logging at numerous community events. He has also spent time helping inner city youth in Washington, D.C. to gain exposure to logging professionals and rural forest management, through the provider pals program. Mr. Morris was nominated by Mike Eckley with the Virginia Department of Forestry and Adam Downing with Virginia Cooperative Extension.

J.H. Fitzgerald, Jr. of Tyro, Va. grew up in a logging family and began working on the crew at age 18. He now operates a high production logging crew specializing in mechanized thinning of pine plantations. Mr. Fitzgerald's equipment setup and dedication to quality allows him to leave a high quality residual stand while maintaining a high production level. He also has an outstanding emphasis on safety and has had no workers compensation claims on his job in the past 10 years. Mr. Fitzgerald was nominated by Dennis Austin with Georgia-Pacific Corp. and Carolyn Moon with American Forest Management, Inc.

Johnnie Dowell, J.H. Dowell & Sons Logging in Rixeyville, Va., operates in the north central area of Virginia along with his son Jeff and has been in the logging business since 1976. Mr. Dowell has a reputation for maintaining good working relationships. Landowner's objectives are a high priority for him, and he makes an effort to educate landowners about sustainable forestry and Best Management Practices (BMPs). He consistently implements BMP's to protect water quality and is always willing to learn different ways to improve BMP implementation. Mr. Dowell was nominated by Jonathan Pine with the Virginia Department of Forestry and Jeremy Clem with Blue Ridge Forestry Consultants, Inc.