Kentucky News

KY TACF Partnership with USFS Daniel Boone National Forest

Thank you Scott Ray for inviting us to attend DBNF Annual Meeting held at Berea College

Dr. Ellen Crocker, Scott Ray, and Ken Darnell, KY TACF Board Members, conducted a presentation on TreeSnap and the State University of New York’s “Darling 58” transgenic American Chestnut to 120 plus leaders of the Daniel Boone National Forest.

We asked for their help to find and “Snap” more wild American Chestnuts across all of the Forest, especially “larger” trees of three inches and greater dbh (diameter breast high)

https://treesnap.org/

We also presented Hybrid American Chestnut Seedlings to Scott Ray, DBNF Supervisor and Brad Turberville, Deputy DBNF Supervisor for an educational planting on “The Boone”.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/dbnf

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JOIN US *** KENTUCKY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT FOUNDATION

Thank you KY Members and Volunteers, and national TACF Staff * * * * * * Work is Play when we have other "Chestnutters" lending a hand.

Support US. Join US. support.tacf.org/membership Choose the Kentucky Chapter.

Or contact KY Chapter President, Ken Darnell, Mt. Sterling, KY moc.rennurdaor@llenradkd

Patti Darnell Clint Patterson @Luke Amis@Kentucky Division of Forestry
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JOIN US     ***    KENTUCKY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT FOUNDATIONThank you KY Members and Volunteers, and national TACF Staff      * * * * * *      Work is Play when we have other Chestnutters lending a hand.     Support US.    Join US.           https://support.tacf.org/membership            Choose the Kentucky Chapter.Or contact KY Chapter President, Ken Darnell, Mt. Sterling, KY         dkdarnell@roadrunner.comPatti Darnell Clint Patterson @Luke Amis@Kentucky Division of ForestryImage attachmentImage attachment

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Jennifer Koslow, Hannah Leeper TACF

Tandy Ann Deskins

Wild Flower / Chestnut Hike Jesse Stuart Nature Preserve Greenup County, KY Sunday April 6, 2025

Elizabeth Burge is Founder and President of Kyova Tri-State Wild Ones and Outreach Chairman for the Kentucky Native Plant Society. She is a native of the Ashland, Ky area, energetic and motivated to advance environmental stewardship.

Elizabeth works in Child Welfare and Environmental Social work in eastern Kentucky. She is dedicated to advocating for Appalachian families and environmental justice. Her role at the Commonwealth of Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services allows her to apply her motivation and skills to impact community health and family programs.

She invited KY TACF to attend a wild flower hike Sunday April 6th, with the goal of developing partnerships with Tri-State Wild Ones, and the multiple conservation groups who are their current partners. The KY Chapter does not have a presence in that area, and only one or two American Chestnut TreeSnaps by KDF Forester Bill Galloway. Elizabeth's event provided an opportunity to share the work of KY TACF and to develop new Partnerships. * * * * *

That's Elizabeth and son Will, in the first photo taking a selfie of the participants in Sunday's hike .... all motivated to hike the wet 1.6 mile nature trail in the 710 acre Jesse Stuart Nature Preserve.

eec.ky.gov/Nature-Preserves/Locations/Pages/Jesse-Stuart.aspx

www.pbs.org/video/jesse-stuart-state-nature-preserveus-marine-hospital-5sg6qv/ Fast forward to the few minutes in this KET Video to see the Jesse Stuart Nature Preserve ***

Also check out: Kentucky Native Plant Society's Wildflower Week 2025 Botany Blitz: www.knps.org/

The last photo is from TreeSnap. With no leaves out yet, there was no chance of finding any wild Americans, so I "SNAPPED" a couple of nice white oaks for the White Oak Initiative group, and to mark Sunday's hike location. (See Yellow Pins). You will see that Jesse Stuart Nature Preserve is in nice American Chestnut habitat just south of Greenup, KY, in the NE "corner" of Kentucky.

In addition to gaining the friendship and partnership of Elizabeth, two other attendees have a strong interest in American Chestnut: Professor Adam Wilson, Ohio University and Nate Adam, owner of a nearby Terrafate native plants nursery. I donated 6 germinated EKU hybrid Chestnut Seeds, plus shelters and stakes to Nate to plant at his Nursery. **** KY TACF information sent to them to invite more involvement with the KY Chapter. www.terrafate.com/

Even though it rained all day (Day four of steady rain) ..... thanks to rain gear, we had a very pleasant hike 😊

By Ken Darnell, KY Chapter President
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Wild Flower / Chestnut Hike      Jesse Stuart Nature Preserve      Greenup County, KY     Sunday April 6, 2025Elizabeth Burge is Founder and President of Kyova Tri-State Wild Ones and Outreach Chairman for the Kentucky Native Plant Society.   She is a native of the Ashland, Ky area, energetic and motivated to advance environmental stewardship.Elizabeth works in Child Welfare and Environmental Social work in eastern Kentucky.   She is dedicated to advocating for Appalachian families and environmental justice.   Her role at the Commonwealth of Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services allows her to apply her motivation and skills to impact community health and family programs. She invited KY TACF to attend a wild flower hike Sunday April 6th, with the goal of developing partnerships with Tri-State Wild Ones, and the multiple conservation groups who are their current partners.   The KY Chapter does not have a presence in that area, and only one or two American Chestnut TreeSnaps by KDF Forester Bill Galloway.    Elizabeths event provided an opportunity to share the work of KY TACF and to develop new Partnerships.    * * * * * Thats Elizabeth and son Will, in the first photo taking a selfie of the participants in Sundays hike .... all motivated to hike the wet 1.6 mile nature trail in the 710 acre Jesse Stuart Nature Preserve.https://eec.ky.gov/Nature-Preserves/Locations/Pages/Jesse-Stuart.aspx   https://www.pbs.org/video/jesse-stuart-state-nature-preserveus-marine-hospital-5sg6qv/          Fast forward to the few minutes in this KET Video to see the Jesse Stuart Nature Preserve      ***Also check out:     Kentucky Native Plant Societys Wildflower Week 2025 Botany Blitz:    https://www.knps.org/      The last photo is from TreeSnap.    With no leaves out yet, there was no chance of finding any wild Americans, so I SNAPPED a couple of nice white oaks for the White Oak Initiative group, and to mark Sundays hike location.  (See Yellow Pins).  You will see that Jesse Stuart Nature Preserve is in nice American Chestnut habitat just south of Greenup, KY, in the NE corner of  Kentucky.In addition to gaining the friendship and partnership of Elizabeth, two other attendees have a strong interest in American Chestnut:      Professor Adam Wilson, Ohio University and Nate Adam, owner of a nearby Terrafate native plants nursery.   I donated 6 germinated EKU hybrid Chestnut Seeds, plus shelters and stakes to Nate to plant at his Nursery.    ****      KY TACF information sent to them to invite more involvement with the KY Chapter.        https://www.terrafate.com/    Even though it rained all day (Day four of steady rain) ..... thanks to rain gear, we had a very pleasant hike       😊        By Ken Darnell, KY Chapter PresidentImage attachmentImage attachment

New Partnership with Army Corps of Engineers at Buckhorn Lake, Kentucky

Thank you ACE Ranger Luke Amis for your passion for American Chestnuts!!!

The KY Chapter donated 16 germinated hybrid American Chestnuts from our TACF / EKU hybrid orchard (B3F3 nuts which are approximately 94% American, 6% Chinese genes), and and 3 dormant seedlings, ready to plant. Luke planted for Public Education at the Corp's Office/Visitor area. He will keep them watered through the summer when the rains are lacking, and will add deer cages for protection when the seedlings grow out of their tree shelters (that were also donated by KY TACF).

When in the Buckhorn Lake area, stop in and visit Luke and check on the growth of this Public Planting. ***
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New Partnership with Army Corps of Engineers at Buckhorn Lake, KentuckyThank you ACE Ranger Luke Amis for your passion for American Chestnuts!!!The KY Chapter donated 16 germinated hybrid American Chestnuts from our TACF / EKU hybrid orchard (B3F3 nuts which are approximately 94% American, 6% Chinese genes), and and 3 dormant seedlings, ready to plant.  Luke planted for Public Education at the Corps Office/Visitor area.   He will keep them watered through the summer when the rains are lacking, and will add deer cages for protection when the seedlings grow out of their tree shelters (that were also donated by KY TACF).    When in the Buckhorn Lake area, stop in and visit Luke and check on the growth of this Public Planting.   ***Image attachmentImage attachment

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United Chestnuts

Great to have their support.

Thanks to my buddy Rex Mann!

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