March Council Meeting Summary

The March 2022 Winston County Natural Resources Council meeting was held at Mat Hannah's Tree Farm in Arley. The Council will hold Forestry Awareness Week Now - FAWN for Winston County 6th graders at the Arley Tree Farm on May 5-6. The majority of the March meeting was spent planning FAWN logistics. The Winston County Soil and Water District contirbuted $1000 to the Natural Resources Council in support of FAWN. The Council also brainstormed ideas to hold a future landowner workshop at the Arley Tree Farm. The primarily loblolly pine forest is about 50 acres and is being managed for wildlife and aesthetics. Active management includes thinned pine plantations which are under prescribed burn rotation, a pond managed for bass and bream, orchard, wildlife openings, beaver habitat, streams and riparian areas, road and trail improvements and active privet control. 

 The April 2022 meeting will be on April 21st at the Bill Self farm in Marion County to plan a Fall 2022 Landowner workshop in conjunction with the Marion County Natural Resources Council. 

 Casey Hammack volunteered to serve as Treasurer and all approved. Casey will transition these duties with Peter Gossett. The Council thanks PJ for his service as treasurer and welcomes Casey into this new role! 

 The Bankhead National Forest will hold the Kids Fishing Derby in June this year at the Black Warrior Work Center. The Council will support this event, as we have in the past. More information will be shared soon. 

 The Council agreed to join the NATR group for this year. 

 The Council will plan a future meeting at the Johnston property to learn about the Mississippi State University shortleaf pine research project and tour the forest.

In attendance at the March meeting were Mat Hannah, Zack Brannon, John Creed, Maggie Johnston, Jamie Seagroves, Casey Hammack and Allison Cochran.