TFS Forest Tour to show the new director, Al Davis, an example of forest management in East Texas.
The people featured in this photo, dated 14 July 2021, are (from left to right): Billy Whitworth, Assistant Chief Regional Fire Coordinator; Wes Moorehead, Assistant Director Forest Resource Protection; Jason Ellis, District Forester III Jacksonville District; Jordan Herrin, Central East Texas Regional Forester; Phil Power, President of TNFLA; Al Davis, Interim Director- TFS; Jake Donellan, East Texas Operations Department Head; and, Bill Oates, Associate Director Forest Resource Development.
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Texas A&M AgriLife honors Jason Ellis with Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (January 13, 2023) — Texas A&M Forest Service District Forester Jason Ellis has been awarded the 2022 Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence for Public Service in Forestry.
The award, the highest employee award given by Texas A&M AgriLife, was presented Jan. 12 on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station.
Ellis has worked at Texas A&M Forest Service for 20 years. Since 2006, he has managed the Jacksonville District, a three-county area on the western fringe of the Texas Piney Woods that includes the 2,788-acre I.D. Fairchild State Forest.
“As a District Forester, Jason has excelled in assisting non-industrial private forest landowners with the sustainable management of their forestlands,” said Jordan Herrin, Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Forester for East Texas. “Jason is looked upon, by both the landowners he serves and his peers in the field, as not only a technical expert but also an excellent practitioner of the principles in which he recommends.”
Ellis and his team have done extensive work to restore areas of Fairchild State Forest to native shortleaf pine habitat. Ellis has implemented projects to advance forestry practices that promote multiple uses, including timber harvesting, habitat management for endangered species like the red-cockaded woodpecker, and recreation. He uses different areas of the forest to demonstrate to landowners the benefits of reforestation, prescribed burning, mulching and herbicide applications. Ellis and his staff hold numerous workshops, tours, youth hunts and Eagle Scout projects at Fairchild State Forest, using the land to showcase best practices and build relationships.
Ellis credits his staff for making the Jacksonville District a model of good forestry.
“We’re managing intensively, which means more time and more effort, not just from me but from my staff,” he said. “I’m very fortunate to have a solid team, and I don’t think I’d be receiving this award unless I had really good people around me.”
Al Davis, Texas A&M Forest Service Interim Director, said Ellis is known as a mentor to those around him and exhibits the tenets of Aldo Leopold’s land ethic philosophy, which connects care for people with care for the land.
“Jason Ellis is a sterling example of a selfless servant. As a leader of people, on a routine basis, he exhibits a commitment to their safety, technical and professional development and their well- being. Simply stated, he cares,” Davis said.
The Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence program was established in 1980 to recognize the commitment and outstanding contributions of faculty and staff across Texas A&M AgriLife and provide opportunity to celebrate the achievements of those honored. Learn more at https://agrilifeawards.tamu.edu.
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Texas A&M Forest Service Contacts:
Jason Ellis, District Forester, 903-586-7545, jellis@tfs.tamu.edu
Communications Office, 979-458-6606, newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu
TNFLA Board accepting the First Place Conservation Award for the State of Texas!
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TNFLA Wins the Texas Conservation Award for both Region 4 and Statewide in 2019!
The Trinity Neches Forest Landowners Association was recognized as the First-place winner, in Region IV, which is made up of 50 Texas Counties.
This organization also was recognized in October 2019, as the 1st place winner for the entire State of Texas.
TNFLA President (Phil Power) and TNFLA Director (David Fulton) accept the First Place Award in Area IV - and, there were 50 counties vying for the award!