LEAF SAMPLES COLLECTED FROM 350 TREES in TACF / EKU Partnership Chestnut Seed Orchard, Richmond, KY Recurrent Genomic Selection (RGS) tacf.org/tree-breeding/
Thank you to the Volunteers who completed this large Action Project (over a
three day period): Saturday May 17, Wednesday May 21, Thursday May 22.
Cassie Stark, TACF Charlottesville, VA Office Alisa Prasertphon, TACF Charlottesville, VA Office Patti Darnell, KY TACF, Mt. Sterling, KY Ken Darnell, KY TACF, Mt. Sterling, KY Tandy Deskins, EKU Facilities Team and KY TACF Richmond, KY Robert Griffin, KY TACF, Crittenden, KY Walter Rybka and Sister, KY TACF, Morehead, KY Dana Nelson, University of Kentucky Dr. Austin Thomas, US Forest Service, Southern Research Station Abigail West, University of Kentucky Jared Calvert, USFS Daniel Boone National Forest Jacob Royce, USFS Daniel Boone National Forest Rachel Hartline, USFS Daniel Boone National Forest Eric Sizemore, USFS Daniel Boone National Forest
Day One: 3,489 hybrid American Chestnut tree positions across the full
orchard were "planting spot" counted, with the 350 standing trees
numbered with a lumber latex paint marker, by Ken and Patti Darnell. This
allowed Count Work Sheets to be pre printed by Cassie and Alisa.
Day Two: Cassie (TACF Regional Science Coordinator) and Alisa (TACF
Summer Intern) traveled from Charlottesville, VA to EKU Orchard to complete
pre work and planning for the biggest day coming on Thursday May 22nd.
Tandy Deskins mowed the orchard again for the second time in two weeks to
have the grounds totally ready for collecting leaf samples.
Day Three: Thursday morning beginning 9:00 am, Cassie teaches the leaf sampling and data collection process to our awesome Volunteer TEAM. See Photos of leaf sample collection, with three
Collection TEAMS. *****
Cassie estimates that leaf samples will be completed late 2025. The
results will be used to cut out the lesser blight resistant trees in Spring
2026, to continue our selection down to the best 1-2% of the trees that will
be kept for "next generation" breeding.
Awesome TEAM Work from a variety of Partners, Volunteers, TACF Members. * * * * * * *
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Volunteering at The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) KENTUCKY CHAPTER
Volunteers are the backbone of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF), contributing their time, talents, and energy to the restoration of this iconic species. Our volunteers have always been an integral part of the Foundation and we are truly grateful for their commitment and passion to our long-term mission. We cannot do this work alone!
Volunteering with KY TACF allows you to learn new skills while participating in an historical effort to restore a species and help heal the environment. It allows you to meet other individuals whose passions align with your own, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to feel great about the work you do!
Ways to Get Involved
• Planting
• Pollinating
• Harvesting
• Orchard maintenance and tree care
• Events
• Education and outreach
• Social media and website administration
• Volunteer coordination
• Identifying wild American chestnuts
Would you click on the link below to enter your contact information and complete the VOLUNTEER WAIVER at the bottom. You only need to sign up ONE TIME for all events, all years. 😊
Typing your name works as your Signature. 😊 The process takes about two minutes. …….and if you have children that you hope to bring to Volunteer Events, please complete a Volunteer Sign Up and Waiver for each of them *****
Our compliments to the National TACF Staff for working the past two years to streamline this process. * * *
theamericanchestnutfoundation.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=99172
Or You Can Go through the TACF website: www.tacf.org / ENGAGE / VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES / KENTUCKY / APPLY NOW / Complete the information / SUBMIT
Thanks everyone
Ken Darnell Mt. Sterling, KY
KY TACF Chapter President
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Planted 17 Full American Seedlings in Partnership Germplasm Conservation Orchard at Army Corps of Engineer's Green River Lake, Taylor County Wednesday April 30, 2025
Thank you to KY TACF's long time Partners, the Army Corps of Engineers for providing the land, and deer cages for this Orchard to preserve DNA of Kentucky full American Chestnuts. Thank you to Lead Ranger Larry Lemmon, Maint. Dept's Stephen Turner, for their hands on help today, plus their mowing crew who had the site well prepared.
Additionally, special thanks to long time Partner, Steve Hartman, Scottsville, KY for sustaining his full American Orchard with Warren County DNA. Steve provided 20 nuts last fall that the KY Chapter stratified in cold storage, potted on February 12th, cared for by EKU Biology Department for several weeks, then "hardened off" on Patti Darnell's partially shaded back deck. Chapter President Ken Darnell drove the seedlings and protective tree shelters to Green River Lake today. In other words, LOTS OF TEAMWORK TO MAKE IT HAPPEN * * * * *
The Green River leaders will be planting several of our "Better" hybrid seedlings at their Office / Visitor Center for educational purposes. TACF signage is in place to help the public learn about our many actions to help RESTORE THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT. * * * * * *
We invite you to JOIN the Kentucky Team: support.tacf.org/membership Choose the Kentucky Chapter
Hannah Leeper TACF #fullamericanchestnutskentucky
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