Using Pollen from Land Between The Lakes

The American Chestnut Foundation - Kentucky Chapter

1 day ago

Successful Controlled Pollinations were completed June 16, 2026 at TACF / EKU Partnership Hybrid Orchard, using pollens from other TACF BEST trees

Resulting in 368 fertile nuts harvested from two of our genetically tested BEST trees, #722, tested to be 84.9% blight resistant and #2370, tested to be 65.9% blight resistant. * * * *

The KY Chapter also collected pollen from four other chosen BEST trees on June 16th, genetically tested to have blight resistances of 65.4%, 68.7%, 69.9% and 72.2% and overnight shipped to TACF's National Chestnut Orchard in Meadowview, VA.

September 28, 2026: We proudly handed over those 368 nuts to TACF Regional Science Coordinator Kaitlyn Harless who traveled from Charlottesville, VA, to collect fresh data on our genetically tested BEST trees. We also called on Volunteers to join us that day to conduct heavy orchard maintenance.

These results began with hybrid trees planted in 2016 and 2017. Weak trees were cut out regularly every year to get down to our "BETTER" 300 trees, out of 3,550 seedlings planted. New science of genetic testing was completed on those trees in 2025, which ID'd our BEST 1% (37 trees) of all those trees, all of which were proved to have blight resistance of 60% or better ******** (Americans are 0% resistant on that scale, Chinese are near 100% resistant)

So...............Great news for the Kentucky Chapter and for TACF national !!!!

Those pollens and nuts will now be used by national TACF to develop the "Next Generation" of hybrid Americans, utilizing Control Pollinated nuts from several TACF State Chapters. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

We are MAKING IT HAPPEN 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳

We INVITE YOU TO JOIN US: support.tacf.org/membership Choose the Kentucky Chapter ... See MoreSee Less

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The American Chestnut Foundation - Kentucky Chapter

3 weeks ago

The KY Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation had a successful and fun Annual Meeting with 34 Attending. Awesome Teamwork that began January 2026 to prepare for this get together of Kentucky "Chestnutters" * * * * * * *


ANNUAL KY TACF CHAPTER MEETING
WOODLANDS CONFERENCE CENTER, NATURAL BRIDGE STATE PARK
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2026
AGENDA

7:30-8:30 a.m. - Pick Up Name Tags, Social time, breakfast snacks and coffee

8:30-8:45 a.m. - KY President Ken Darnell introduces KY Board Members + silent auction items, with Charlie Saunders. Invitation to Membership KY Chapter tacf.org

8:45-9:30 a.m. - Ken Darnell will use “TreeSnap” MAPS to discuss wild American Chestnuts growing in Natural Bridge State Park and adjacent Red River Gorge

9:30-9:50 a.m. - Break, Social Time

9:50-10:50 a.m.- Jake Royse, RESTORATION TRIAL: 200 advanced hybrid seedlings were planted April 13, 2026 in the London District of Daniel Boone National Forest Four Way Partnership: National TACF, KY Chapter, USFS DBNF, KY Div of Forestry

10:50-11:00- a.m. Annual Elections: KY Board recommends James McCoy, USFS Land Between the Lakes Recreational Area to be approved as Vice President and Dr. Austin Thomas to be approved as Secretary. No new Board Member Nominations.

11:00-12:00 - noon TACF Regional Science Update will be presented by Dr. Austin Thomas, KY Chapter Board Member and contributing Scientist to national TACF

12:00-12:45- p.m. Lunch provided by the Kentucky Chapter and Social Time

12:45-1:15 – p.m. Final Silent Auction Bids. Announce Winners

1:15 p.m. - Optional Activities:

1. Social Time in Woodlands Center. We have the room until 9:00 pm. Socialize, play cards. Ask questions.

2. Individual hikes on one of the many trails in Natural Bridge State Park or adjacent Red River Gorge

3. Group Hike on nearby Whittleton Arch Trail to see some wild American Chestnuts located and “TreeSnapped” by Ken Darnell. Optional to hike the short side trail to Whittleton Arch.

4. Enjoy the adjacent Hemlock Lodge and Tavern, watching Alabama vs Kentucky football ... See MoreSee Less

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