2012 Fall Forestry Field Day Friday, October 19th

This year the Kickapoo Tribe will host the Fall Forestry Field Day on their Pow Wow grounds located immediately west of Horton. The Tribe has been in its present area since the 1832 Treaty of Castor Hill. The reservation’s current size of 19,200 acres.

Since the reservation sits on a rock formation which blocks access to groundwater, water shortages have been an issue for the Tribe which uses the Delaware River as its water source. Consequently, a large focus of the Fall Forestry Field Day will be the important role trees play in sustaining water quality and quantity.

The day will begin with a welcome from Tribal Chair, Steve Cadue, followed by ceremonial prayer, and an overview of the natural resources management of the reservation by Curtis Simon. There are also rumors that Smokey Bear may make a personal appearance!

The Kansas Forest Service, Kansas Forestry Association, Kansas Tree Farm Committee, and the Kansas Chapter of the Walnut Council place a lot of value in recognizing woodland owners who are good stewards of their forest resources. At the field day, these landowner service-oriented groups will collectively recognize Paul Dean and his family as the 2012 Forest Stewardship Tree Farmer of the Year. The Dean’s have done an exceptional job managing the rangeland and woodlands on their Greenwood County Tree Farm through tree planting, timber harvests, timberstand improvement projects, and native grass buffer establishment. Paul has also milled logs left over from timber harvests, dried the lumber in a kiln he built, and utilized the wood in a variety of projects. Additionally, Paul has donated his legal expertise as a lawyer to assist the Kansas Forestry Association with their articles of incorporation as a non-profit. One of the great benefits of the field day is the venue it provides for woodland owners to swap information about successful projects, lessons learned, and experiences with forestry consultants, loggers, and all the players necessary for forest management.

Featured at the field day will be a successful streambank restoration project on the Delaware Riverwhere bank loss from erosion was threatening the Kickapoo Pow Wow grounds. This project reformed the “U” shaped stream channel to a gentler slope, placing rock at the toe (the point where the streambed joins the streambank). Rock “veins” were also built into the channel to deflect flow from the streambank and to trap sediment. Willow cuttings and some trees were also planted to assist with stabilization. Marlene Bosworth, Delaware River Water Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) Coordinator, and Phil Balch, a nationally recognized expert in stream restoration, will lead a discussion about stream restoration techniques, local water quality issues, and solutions for addressing them.

Knowing how to successfully plant trees and shrubs can save a lot of heartache and wasted resources. Luke Terry, Environmental Director of the Kickapoo Tribe and consulting forester, will lead a session on appropriate tree planting techniques and considerations.  

For many people, understanding the basics of tree identification is the first step to caring for woodlands and trees. Dr. Charles Barden, Kansas State University Research and Extension Forester, will walk participants through the woods while offering helpful tips on identifying Kansas trees.

Managing woodlands and grasslands to provide the best habitat possible for wildlife is often a primary goal for many woodland owners. Holly Wilkins, Pheasants Forever Biologist, will teach participants how to assess the quality of wildlife habitat and suggest practices that can make a better home for the animals they want to see.

Native Kansas trees are an underutilized resource. Portable bandsaws can produce a variety of wood products that might otherwise have little or no commercial value. Kansas Forest Service foresters will offer a sawmill demonstration, explain appropriate uses of Kansas native woods, and how harvesting can actually sustain the health of a forest.

Knowing how and when to market Kansas timber and the potential value of a standing tree are important considerations for woodland owners who are actively managing their forests. Foresters and loggers will lead discussions on evaluation of log quality, current market values, and methods of attaining fair market value for Kansas timber.

The location of the field day is about 40 miles north of Topeka. Turn east off of U.S. Highway 75 onto Kansas Highway 20 and drive 4 miles to Foxtail Road which enters the Pow Wow grounds on the north side

Thunder Alley BBQ from Horton will provide a hot lunch and a $12 registration fee is being requested to cover the cost of the meal, refreshments, and other field day expenses. A brochure and additional information may be obtained from the Web at www.kansasforests.org by clicking on Calendar of Events or by calling the Kansas Forest Service at 785-532-3300 or e-mail Atchison@ksu.edu.