2021 West Virginia Chestnut Festival

Published November 1, 2021

The 13th annual West Virginia Chestnut Festival was held on Sunday, October 10 in Rowlesburg, WV. Traditions of this festival include the annual crowning of two individuals as Mr. and Mrs. Chestnut, based on their valued contributions to the broad areas of the American chestnut heritage and tradition. Jeff and Erica Kochenderfer were crowned 2021 Mr. and Mrs. Chestnut. Jeff serves as the north zone silviculturist on the Monongahela National Forest, and current secretary of the WV-TACF Chapter. Erica has taught English for 21 years, and together they have one daughter named Evelyn.

Speakers for the festival included James Madison University’s Heather Griscom, TACF’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Science Coordinator Tom Saielli, and WV-TACF Chapter President Mark Double. Heather presented on “Chestnut Introduction Efforts in Forested Ecosystems,” and Tom joined virtually to discuss “Long-Term Phenotyping Aids in Updating Breeding Programs.” Mark Double was the event’s dinner speaker, taking this opportunity to talk about Rainelle United Methodist Church, the largest building in the U.S. to be constructed entirely of American chestnut wood.

In addition to presentations, the festival featured hot roasted chestnuts, chestnut seedlings, and hand-crafted items made of American chestnut available for purchase. Thanks to all those who made this year’s West Virginia Chestnut Festival a success!

The festival presented a variety of chestnut seedlings for sale.

Sara Fitzsimmons in 2005 with Jim Gage, Dr Phil Arnold, Dr Robert Gregg

2005
Sara Fern Fitzsimmons with Jim Gage, Dr Phil Arnold, & Dr Robert Gregg

2006, Sara Fitzsimmons pollinates at Stockers

2006
Sara pollinating at Stockers, PA

Sara rating cankers at Thorpewood

Sara rating cankers at Thorpewood, MD

Sara at the 25th Annual TACF meeting

2008
Sara at the 25th Annual TACF Meeting

Sara and the Graves tree

2009
Sara in the PSU Graves Orchard

Sara Fern Fitzsimmons in the Glenn Swank stump, 2009

2009
Sara in the Glenn Swank stump, PA

Sara at the International Chestnut Symposium, 2012

2012
Sara at the International Chestnut Symposium

Sara in Vermont

2014
Sara with Harmony Dalgleish and the Berlin American chestnut in Vermont

Kendra and Sara in the field

Sara and Kendra Collins working in the field

Sara presenting at the 2022 TACF Spring Meeting

2022
Sara presenting at TACF’s Spring Meeting

Sara (in the rocker) with TACF staff at the Fall Meeting

2023
Sara (in the rocker) with TACF staff at the Fall Meeting

Sara Fern Fitzsimmons

2024
Sara in the Penn State greenhouses