Kentucky News

Many Miles Completed in Search for wild, full American Chestnuts Across Kentucky

Our Kentucky Volunteers have driven and hiked many miles across the state searching wild full American Chestnuts and “Snapped” them into our data base using the free TreeSnap app. We estimate that we have observed close to 4,000 wild Americans, “Snapping” 1,543 “Observations” to date. When several small Americans are found in an area, we usually will “Snap” the largest two or three trees and enter into the comments section: “Can see X number more trees in a 30 yard radius”, or something similar.

This data helps to tell us where wild trees are growing, and the type of habitat, and also tells us size of trees being found. By far, most wild Americans observed are under 1.5” dbh (“diameter breast height, which is 4.5 feet above the soil”) which is the standard measuring point. Please DO NOT measure the tree near the base swell, which distorts the tree size for our scientists.

We are especially searching for larger wild Americans (“Large” in this case means 3” or wider diameter at breast height) … and even more importantly, we are searching for wild type Americans that are flowering, which occurs in mid to late June in Kentucky.

If you find such trees, we encourage you to utilize the TreeSnap App to enter the menu listed data, including crisp photos of top and bottom of leaves that will allow us to confirm American versus Chinese. If you find such trees or if you need assistance, please email to Ken Darnell, KY Chapter enthusiast in TreeSnap: moc.rennurdaor@llenradkd and moc.liamg@45llenradnek

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Join us for KY-TACF's 2025 Chapter Meeting in Artemus, KY (Outside of Barbourville, KY)

Date: Saturday September 6th 2025

Time: 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. EST

Location: KY National Guard Training Room, 537 TVA Road, Artemus, KY 40903
(3rd building on the left, cream colored metal building)

Hotel "Quality Inn" available in nearby Barboursville, KY

The Kentucky Chapter is excited to host our annual meeting at the Kentucky National Guard Training Center! This meeting includes opportunities to hear from TACF staff, KY Board Members, and researchers about all things American Chestnut including the latest and greatest in Chestnut Science.
You can also explore nearby Pine Mountain State Resort Park.

Come see chestnut breeding in action in our KY National Guard Orchard! All are Welcome / KY Members and Non Members * * * * * *

We invite you to bring a "Plus One" ..... or even a "Plus Two" 🙂

TO RSVP: Email KY Chapter President Ken Darnell: moc.rennurdaor@llenradkd

No Entrance Fee **** Lunch provided by KY Chapter **** We will hold a silent auction of donated items and will host a Cash $$$$$ 50/50 Raffle to defer costs 🙂

Schedule of events:
8:00-8:30AM - Social time, snacks and coffee
8:30-8:45AM - KY President Ken Darnell introduces attendees + silent auction items
8:45-9:30AM - KY Board Member and Meeting Host, Lt. Col. Dave Jackson (ret.) provides an overview of the KY National Guard Harold Disney Base and his work as KY N.G. Environmental Coordinator (We will discuss details of the TACF / KY N.G. hybrid orchard during the tour)
9:30-9:50 - Break, social time
9:50-10:50 - TACF Regional Science Coordinator Cassie Stark presents science update + Q&A
10:50-11:30 - KY Board Member Lynn Garrison presents about American chestnuts on Pine Mountain
11:30-12:00 - Annual board/officer elections
12:00-12:45 - Lunch (provided by Patti Darnell) and social time
12:45-2:00 - Hybrid Chestnut Orchard Tour lead by Dave Jackson and Cassie Stark, including an overview of orchard history, recent actions by KY-TACF, and next steps (orchard is within sight of the meeting room)

Kentucky Division of Forestry Hannah Leeper
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Join us for KY-TACFs 2025 Chapter Meeting in Artemus, KY     (Outside of Barbourville, KY)Date:          Saturday September 6th 2025Time:          8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.   ESTLocation:    KY National Guard Training Room, 537 TVA Road, Artemus, KY     40903 (3rd building on the left, cream colored metal building)Hotel Quality Inn available in nearby Barboursville, KYThe Kentucky Chapter is excited to host our annual meeting at the Kentucky National Guard Training Center! This meeting includes opportunities to hear from TACF staff, KY Board Members, and researchers about all things American Chestnut including the latest and greatest in Chestnut Science. You can also explore nearby Pine Mountain State Resort Park. Come see chestnut breeding in action in our KY National Guard Orchard!     All are Welcome / KY Members and Non Members   * * * * * *We invite you to bring a Plus One  .....   or even a Plus Two        🙂TO RSVP:      Email KY Chapter President Ken Darnell:       dkdarnell@roadrunner.comNo Entrance Fee   ****    Lunch provided by KY Chapter    ****      We will hold a silent auction of donated items and will host a Cash $$$$$ 50/50 Raffle  to defer costs     🙂 Schedule of events:8:00-8:30AM - Social time, snacks and coffee8:30-8:45AM - KY President Ken Darnell introduces attendees + silent auction items8:45-9:30AM - KY Board Member and Meeting Host, Lt. Col. Dave Jackson (ret.) provides an overview of the KY National Guard Harold Disney Base and his work as KY N.G. Environmental Coordinator (We will discuss details of the TACF / KY N.G. hybrid orchard during the tour)9:30-9:50 - Break, social time9:50-10:50 - TACF Regional Science Coordinator Cassie Stark presents science update + Q&A10:50-11:30 - KY Board Member Lynn Garrison presents about American chestnuts on Pine Mountain11:30-12:00 - Annual board/officer elections12:00-12:45 - Lunch (provided by Patti Darnell) and social time12:45-2:00 - Hybrid Chestnut Orchard Tour lead by Dave Jackson and Cassie Stark, including an overview of orchard history, recent actions by KY-TACF, and next steps (orchard is within sight of the meeting room)Kentucky Division of Forestry     Hannah LeeperImage attachmentImage attachment

Join us for KY-TACF's 2025 Chapter Meeting in Artemus, KY (Outside of Barbourville, KY)

Date: Saturday September 6th 2025
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. EST
Location: KY National Guard Training Room, 537 TVA Road, Artemus, KY 40903
(3rd building on the left, cream colored metal building)

The Kentucky Chapter is excited to host our next annual meeting at the Kentucky National Guard Training Center! This meeting includes opportunities to hear from TACF staff, KY Board Members, and researchers about all things American Chestnut including the latest and greatest in Chestnut Science.

You can also explore nearby Pine Mountain State Resort Park.

Come see chestnut breeding in action! All are Welcome / KY Members and Non Members * * * * * *

We invite you to bring a "Plus One" ..... 🙂

TO RSVP: Email KY Chapter President Ken Darnell: moc.rennurdaor@llenradkd

No Entrance Fee **** Lunch provided by KY Chapter ****

We will hold Silent Auction to help defer costs 🙂

Schedule of events:
8:00-8:30AM - Social time, snacks and coffee
8:30-8:45AM - KY President Ken Darnell introduces attendees + silent auction items
8:45-9:30AM - KY Board Member and Meeting Host, Lt. Col. Dave Jackson (ret.) provides an overview of the KY National Guard Harold Disney Base and his work as KY N.G. Environmental Coordinator (We will discuss details of the TACF / KY N.G. hybrid orchard during the tour)
9:30-9:50 - Break, social time
9:50-10:50 - TACF Regional Science Coordinator Cassie Stark presents science update + Q&A
10:50-11:30 - KY Board Member Lynn Garrison presents about American chestnuts on Pine Mountain
11:30-12:00 - Annual board/officer elections
12:00-12:45 - Lunch (provided by Patti Darnell) and social time
12:45-2:00 - Hybrid Chestnut Orchard Tour lead by Dave Jackson and Cassie Stark, including an overview of orchard history, recent actions by KY-TACF, and next steps (orchard is within sight of the meeting room)
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Join us for KY-TACFs 2025 Chapter Meeting in Artemus, KY     (Outside of Barbourville, KY)Date:          Saturday September 6th 2025Time:          8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.   ESTLocation:    KY National Guard Training Room, 537 TVA Road, Artemus, KY     40903 (3rd building on the left, cream colored metal building)The Kentucky Chapter is excited to host our next annual meeting at the Kentucky National Guard Training Center! This meeting includes opportunities to hear from TACF staff, KY Board Members, and researchers about all things American Chestnut including the latest and greatest in Chestnut Science. You can also explore nearby Pine Mountain State Resort Park. Come see chestnut breeding in action!     All are Welcome / KY Members and Non Members   * * * * * *We invite you to bring a Plus One  .....       :-)TO RSVP:      Email KY Chapter President Ken Darnell:       dkdarnell@roadrunner.comNo Entrance Fee   ****    Lunch provided by KY Chapter    ****We will hold Silent Auction to help defer costs      :-)Schedule of events:8:00-8:30AM - Social time, snacks and coffee8:30-8:45AM - KY President Ken Darnell introduces attendees + silent auction items8:45-9:30AM - KY Board Member and Meeting Host, Lt. Col. Dave Jackson (ret.) provides an overview of the KY National Guard Harold Disney Base and his work as KY N.G. Environmental Coordinator (We will discuss details of the TACF / KY N.G. hybrid orchard during the tour)9:30-9:50 - Break, social time9:50-10:50 - TACF Regional Science Coordinator Cassie Stark presents science update + Q&A10:50-11:30 - KY Board Member Lynn Garrison presents about American chestnuts on Pine Mountain11:30-12:00 - Annual board/officer elections12:00-12:45 - Lunch (provided by Patti Darnell) and social time12:45-2:00 - Hybrid Chestnut Orchard Tour lead by Dave Jackson and Cassie Stark, including an overview of orchard history, recent actions by KY-TACF, and next steps (orchard is within sight of the meeting room)Image attachmentImage attachment

Partnership Action by Kentucky Division of Forestry at KDF Morgan County Tree Nursery

Ongoing care of the 43 full American seedlings, of various parentages, planted May 2, 2024 and a few replacement plantings completed April 29, 2025. Thank you KY Division of Forestry * * * * *

Top photo shows Charlie Saunders who has many years of service with KDF, and has been an active Board Member of the KY Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation for the last five years. Charlie is side dressing the seedlings with slow release DAP ( Diammonium Phosphate) 18-46-0 fertilizer which works well for KDF's thousands of tree seedlings that they plant in their main tree seedling orchard each Spring for sale to Kentucky customers in the Fall. KDF also waters these seedlings when rain does not provide enough natural watering.

The bottom two photos show KDF partners coordinating with KY Chapter President Ken Darnell, May 2, 2024, to plant 43 seedlings to enlarge the older full American Chestnut Orchard that is maintained and utilized in Partnership with the KY TACF Chapter.

This full American Chestnut Orchard preserves DNA from a variety of sources across Eastern Kentucky, to be utilized in future breeding, as our TACF Scientists guide us. * * * * * * *

Kentucky Division of Forestry
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Partnership Action by Kentucky Division of Forestry at KDF Morgan County Tree NurseryOngoing care of the 43 full American seedlings, of various parentages, planted May 2, 2024 and a few replacement plantings completed April 29, 2025.    Thank you KY Division of Forestry   * * * * *Top photo shows Charlie Saunders who has many years of service with KDF, and has been an active Board Member of the KY Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation for the last five years.   Charlie is side dressing the seedlings with slow release DAP ( Diammonium Phosphate) 18-46-0 fertilizer which works well for KDFs thousands of tree seedlings that they plant in their main tree seedling orchard each Spring for sale to Kentucky customers in the Fall.    KDF also waters these seedlings when rain does not provide enough natural watering.The bottom two photos show KDF partners coordinating with KY Chapter President Ken Darnell, May 2, 2024, to plant 43 seedlings to enlarge the older full American Chestnut Orchard that is maintained and utilized in Partnership with the KY TACF Chapter.    This full American Chestnut Orchard preserves DNA from a variety of sources across Eastern Kentucky, to be utilized in future breeding, as our TACF Scientists guide us.          * * * * * * *Kentucky Division of ForestryImage attachmentImage attachment
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