We Invite You to JOIN US
Membership in the Kentucky Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation:
support.tacf.org/membership
16 State Chapters are working together under the umbrella of The American Chestnut Foundation, headquartered in Asheville, NC. TACF has been working for 44 years to develop blight resistant American Chestnuts. With the latest science in Genomic Testing, the ability to measure which of our hybrid American Chestnuts (with some amount of Chinese Chestnut genes via our breeding programs) have the highest degrees of blight resistance to date, progress toward that goal is speeding up.
tacf.org/tree-breeding/ 4:34 minute video that explains "Recurrent Genomic Selection"
...and we promise that you will enjoy the "Chestnutters" who you meet along the way 😃🐸🌳🌳🌳🌳
We encourage you to SHARE this INVITATION from the Kentucky Chapter * * * * *
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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
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INVITATION to all Members, Prior Members and VOLUNTEERS of the Kentucky Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation to JOIN US at our 2026 ANNUAL
We have 10 seats still open for KY Chapter's ANNUAL MEETING, which will be held this year in the Woodlands Conference Center, next to the Hemlock Lodge of Natural Bridge State Park. Saturday September 12, 2026
No charge for Attendance or for Lunch ****** But first come, first serve for those few remaining seats. You do not need to be a MEMBER to attend 🙂
Attendees must RSVP to Ken Darnell, KY Chapter President. Please let us know ASAP if you can JOIN US. We must cut off RSVP's after these final 10 seats are filled. Via email: moc.liamg@45llenradnek or TEXT: 859 585 9520
.... and we INVITE YOU to BECOME A MEMBER of TACF and the Kentucky Chapter: support.tacf.org/membership
(See KY Chapter FACEBOOK): www.facebook.com/KYTACF/
Presentations include: "TreeSnaps" of wild American Chestnuts found in Natural Bridge State Park and in adjacent Red River Gorge, Update of the Partnership Planting of 200 advanced hybrid American chestnuts into the Daniel Boone National Forest April 13, 2026, the "latest science of Genomic Testing for best blight resistant hybrid Americans". We are also allocating "Social Time" for small group discussions.
We will begin the meeting with Social Hour from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. with a variety of muffins and pastries, with coffee and juices.
Deli Style lunch in the meeting room to maximize social time: Sliced turkey, ham and roast beef, an assortment of breads and cheeses, tossed garden salad or creamy cole slaw, cookies/brownies, soft drinks and bottled water.
Presentations of action updates of national TACF and of the Kentucky Chapter will begin at 8:30 a.m., and conclude shortly after lunch, followed by optional short hikes in the area to see wild American Chestnuts, or optional social time in the meeting room. Some hikes will be by individual choice. Additionally, we will guide a hike from The Hemlock Lodge that is less steep than a hike up to Natural Bridge, to see some wild American Chestnuts growing in their natural, original habitat.
There are many activities in the area to enjoy: Explore | Natural Bridge State Resort Park Natural Bridge State Park, a Kentucky State Park located near Irvine, Richmond
For those who wish to stay in the lodge or one of the one or two bedroom cottages in the forest near the lodge: Kentucky State Park rules are that a Friday or Saturday reservation, MUST be for both of those nights.......We suggest that you book early as they sell out quickly
Kentucky State Parks Lodge Reservations - Book Your Stay Reservations website (606) 663-2214
parks.ky.gov/explore/natural-bridge-state-resort-park-7796
There are also several RV campgrounds nearby.
There are no charges for admission or for the drinks, snacks and lunch that will be provided by the Kentucky Chapter. We will offer cash raffle and silent auction to help the KY Chapter offset some of the meeting costs. …and of course, donations of any size are always welcome.
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