Ohio Chapter

About Us

Our Mission

The Ohio Chapter was founded primarily to bring about the restoration of the American chestnut throughout the hardwood forests of Ohio, where it once flourished. We work with the National Foundation to advance research, education, and public awareness of this important tree species. The Ohio Chapter implements this mission by education and research. Education would include projects such as establish demonstration plantings to acquaint people with the American chestnut and the blight that has almost eliminated by the blight, providing material for education, provide grants to support demonstration plantings and presenting information at appropriate forums. Research would include mine restoration plantings with American chestnuts, reforestation projects including American chestnut, test plantings of hybrid American chestnuts, finding and document surviving American chestnuts in Ohio, and supporting chestnut research in Ohio with grants.

American Chestnut in Ohio

The range of the American Chestnut was mostly restricted to the glaciated and unglaciated Appalachian Plateau region In Ohio. This is roughly the eastern half of the state. The chestnut grew mostly as part of the oak hickory forests and constituted 10-20% of the forests in eastern Ohio. They reached3-4’ DBH. Since Ohio is in the western part of the range the of the tree the blight did not completely decimate the chestnut in Ohio until the early 1940’s. Some large snags persisted for awhile but now almost the only thing left are root sprouts in the understory of the forest and ODNR now lists the American Chestnut as extirpated in Ohio.

Ohio Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation

The Ohio Chapter of the American Chestnut foundation was established in 2005. The mission of the Ohio Chapter is to support the goals of the TACF through research and education to restore the American Chestnut to its former glory. Education includes demonstration projects to increase awareness, presentations, and publications on the American Chestnut. Research efforts include restoration projects, finding surviving trees in Ohio, and sponsoring research supporting the restoration of the American Chestnut in Ohio and throughout its range.

Board of Directors

PRESIDENT
Mr. Stephen Rist
Ohio DNR Division of Forestry

Email: ohchapter@acf.org

VICE-PRESIDENT
Mr. Bruce A. Willis

TREASURER
Mr. Ryan Homsher

SECRETARY
Greg Chopko

WEBMASTER
Frank Skalak

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dale Angerman
Dr. Bob Clark
Dr. Carolyn Howes Keiffer
Kristen Lehtoma
Dr. Greg Miller
Tom Mills

Documents

Annual Meeting Minutes

Ohio Board Mtg F-2016
Ohio Business Mtg F-2016

In The News

Restoring Giants (March 2017) Ohio Cooperative Living. Pages 32-33.

Membership

Membership Form (National and Ohio Chapter)

Ohio Chestnut Inventory

Inventory Form

Ohio Small Grant Application

Application Form

Ohio Chapter Menu

National Facebook

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Meet Taz! Taz is a 3.5-year-old Blue Heeler who wreaks havoc every day. She belongs to TACF's Director of Business Operations, Mark. Mark retired from the U.S. Army after 21 years in 2014. After retiring, he followed his wife and children to Asheville, NC. ... See MoreSee Less

The article covers the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) and The American Chestnut Foundation’s (TACF) efforts to restore the American chestnut at Lesesne State Forest. It describes three chestnut orchards: the Connecticut Hybrid Seed Orchard, American Orchard, and Backcross Hybrid Orchard. Each orchard holds genetically distinct trees, contributing to blight resistance research and breeding. Future projects aim to preserve chestnut genetic diversity through further cross-breeding and conservation. For further details, see the original article here: www.associationpublications.com/flipbook/vfa/2024/Summer/8/#zoom=true ... See MoreSee Less

The article covers the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) and The American Chestnut Foundation’s (TACF) efforts to restore the American chestnut at Lesesne State Forest. It describes three chestnut orchards: the Connecticut Hybrid Seed Orchard, American Orchard, and Backcross Hybrid Orchard. Each orchard holds genetically distinct trees, contributing to blight resistance research and breeding. Future projects aim to preserve chestnut genetic diversity through further cross-breeding and conservation. For further details, see the original article here: https://www.associationpublications.com/flipbook/vfa/2024/Summer/8/#zoom=true

In this article, TACF’s Director of Research, Vasiliy Lakoba, and Laboratory Scientist, Lauren Kerwien, explain how citizen scientists are the driving force behind TACF’s mission to restore the American chestnut tree to the eastern US. You'll also learn how you can become a part of the new Recurrent Genomic Selection breeding program, and if those words sound like nonsense to you, don’t fret: There is an explanation of how this complex model is used to predict the best crosses of parent trees that will produce offspring with improved blight and phytophthora disease resistance while maximizing American chestnut ancestry! Become part of the solution!

The full article can be found here: www.associationpublications.com/flipbook/vfa/2024/Summer/10/#zoom=true
... See MoreSee Less

In this article, TACF’s Director of Research, Vasiliy Lakoba, and Laboratory Scientist, Lauren Kerwien, explain how citizen scientists are the driving force behind TACF’s mission to restore the American chestnut tree to the eastern US. Youll also learn how you can become a part of the new Recurrent Genomic Selection breeding program, and if those words sound like nonsense to you, don’t fret: There is an explanation of how this complex model is used to predict the best crosses of parent trees that will produce offspring with improved blight and phytophthora disease resistance while maximizing American chestnut ancestry! Become part of the solution!

The full article can be found here: https://www.associationpublications.com/flipbook/vfa/2024/Summer/10/#zoom=true

1 CommentComment on Facebook

Do american chestnut trees self-pollinate?

Listen as TACF's northern regional outreach coordinator Catherine Martini is interviewed about the story of the American chestnut on Nature Nuggets. This engaging and educational episode can be listened to here, radiokingston.org/en/broadcast/nature-nuggets/episodes/nature-nuggets-episode-23-american-chestnu..., or follow the show on @hvnaturenuggets ... See MoreSee Less

Listen as TACFs northern regional outreach coordinator Catherine Martini is interviewed about the story of the American chestnut on Nature Nuggets. This engaging and educational episode can be listened to here, https://radiokingston.org/en/broadcast/nature-nuggets/episodes/nature-nuggets-episode-23-american-chestnut-tragedy-and-inspiration, or follow the show on @hvnaturenuggets

As autumn fully settles in at Meadowview Research Farms, we are beginning to witness the transformation of the Eastern hardwood forest! With the drop in temperatures, the trees start preparing for dormancy—a phase where they remain alive but halt active growth. During this time, the tree's internal processes slow down considerably, including its metabolism and water absorption, though they do not completely stop. This energy conservation strategy helps the tree to survive until spring when growth can continue as temperatures rise. Before entering dormancy, the leaves change color, with chestnut leaves turning yellow before they fall off. This process allows the tree to reabsorb valuable nutrients stored in its roots and other tissues, which are crucial for its survival through the colder months, ensuring it will thrive when warmer weather returns. Rest assured—the beautiful green leaves will make their comeback in spring! The chestnut trees are simply taking a moment for self-care!

#fall #chestnuts #americanchestnutfoundation #americanchestnut
... See MoreSee Less

1 CommentComment on Facebook

I hope we are making progress with American Chestnut tree sustainability. What a tree we have.

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Latest News

Ohio Chapter Meeting September 11, 2021

Ohio Chapter Meeting September 11, 2021

September 11, 2021  Annual Meeting of the Ohio Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation The annual meeting was held virtually via ZOOM.  President Carolyn Keiffer told the membership she is retiring from Miami University at the end of the year and the presidency of...

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Ohio Chestnut Grant Applications

Ohio Chapter  Grant Applications due October 30, 2021!! Grants are available for up to $1000 for any project or plan furthering the American Chestnut by planting, education, or another manner.  These grants are available to any people or organizations who would be...

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OH Chapter Grants Applications

OH Chapter Grants Applications

Posted September 23, 2021 Ohio Chapter  Grant Applications due October 30, 2021 Grants are available for up to $1000 for any project or plan furthering the American Chestnut by planting, education, or another manner.  These grants are available to any people or...

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