Hunter Fodor of Hunters Land Management in Coleman recently won the 2022 Tree Farm Inspector of the Year award from the American Tree Farm System. The prestigious award is given annually to just one forester among 2,100 volunteer foresters who help 35,000 landowners nationwide take care of their woods using Tree Farm’s Standards of Sustainability.

American Tree Farm System is a national network that provides community, recognition and legacy for family forest landowners. Active in 42 states, Tree Farm  has been in Michigan since 1949. About 1,400 landowners in Michigan are “Tree Farmers” who practice excellent stewardship and want to pass well-managed forest on to future generations. 

Certified family forests are natural or planted forests between 10 acres and 20,000 acres in size; 40 to 160 acres is typical. They’re sustainably managed for recreation, wildlife, water and wood. To join Tree Farm, landowners must develop a forest management plan and invite an inspecting forester like Fodor to walk their woods with them to confirm their eligibility and compliance with the Standards of Sustainability. Many woodland owners join Tree Farm when they are developing a forest management plan to lower their property taxes in Michigan’s Commercial Forest Program or Qualified Forest Program.

“The American Tree Farm System would not be possible without volunteer inspectors,” said Kayti Wilson of the American Forest Foundation. “Hunter is an outstanding inspector and we value his entrepreneurial spirit to leverage the Tree Farm brand to grow his business while helping landowners. We thank and congratulate Hunter for his hard work on behalf of Tree Farmers in Michigan.”

Fodor started his consulting forestry business in 2018 to provide services for family forest landowners. Fodor writes forest management plans, administers timber sales and does wildlife habitat projects. He installs a “Certified Tree Farm” or “Certified Family Forest” sign for his clients with a supplemental sign to show their woods are managed by a professional forester.

He also encourages his clients to join the Michigan Forest Association to network with other landowners and learn from their peers about what works in their woods.

“We nominated Hunter because he empowers landowners to be great forest stewards and uses Tree Farm to recognize and promote good work in family forests,” said Winona Grieshop, chair of the Michigan Tree Farm Committee. “Volunteers deliver Tree Farm in Michigan and we want to celebrate Hunter as one of our best.”

Fodor invests in youth and his community. He includes high school students in the projects he does to  develop forest stewardship plans for school forests and Scout camps. Fodor mentored Amaya Golovich, a Scout from Wayne County, about forest management. Amaya wants to study forestry in college because of her forestry merit badge. Fodor’s  business is a corporate sponsor of Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger, which encourages hunters to donate extra venison to local food pantries. He also is an active member of the Society of American Foresters and Association of Consulting Foresters.

"Consulting foresters like Hunter are professionals who manage forests and market forest products for private woodland owners. Their work with family forest landowners is critical to the American Tree Farm System," said Shannon McCabe, executive director of the Association of Consulting Foresters. "ACF congratulates Hunter on this well-deserved recognition of his work to support and grow the Tree Farm program while educating and engaging his community in forest management."