About Us
The West Virginia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation (WV-TACF) was established in 2009, the last of TACF’s 16 state chapters to be incorporated. Hybrid chestnut trees have been planted at 68 sites in 26 WV counties. We have initiated germplasm conservation orchards (pure American chestnut plantings) at seven sites in the state. Chapter members help support the mission of the national organization by planting hybrid chestnuts, conducting education, research, and outreach.
If you would like to participate in this group please join us. We include people from all areas that have an interest in restoring this magnificent tree to our forests. When you join The American Chestnut Foundation, a portion of your dues will be shared with the WV-TACF Chapter.
To learn more about who we are and what we do, read our monthly newsletter!
2025 West Virginia Grant Program
We invite members of the West Virginia chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation and other interested parties to apply for grants up to a maximum of $2,000 to support education, outreach and scholarly activities related to American chestnut in the State of West Virginia. Grants are available to assist individuals with active restoration projects in the State, outreach activities, as well as with their scholarly activities. For more information please download the application form. Submissions are due January 31, 2025.
American Chestnut: The Once and Future Tree
Click play below or watch on YouTube.
In the spring of 2023, a group of film students from the George A. Romero Filmmaking Program traveled throughout West Virginia and Maryland to record oral histories from a group of individuals with a passion for the American Chestnut, in an effort to preserve pieces of the tree’s past, present and future.
Chestnut Identification
Distinguishing American from Chinese and European Chestnut
Sometimes, individuals who come across a tall chestnut tree in a forest setting, assume it must be an American chestnut. This is not always the case. In forest settings, Chinese chestnut, like its American cousin, also can grown straight and tall. Leaf shape, leaf hairs and twig color are good characteristics to distinguish American from Chinese chestnut. American chestnut leaves are generally long and slender with a “V” at the leaf base. Chinese chestnuts have a wider leaf and they are often shiny. Chinese chestnut leaves have a “U” shape at the leaf base. Most striking are the hairs on the under-surface of Chinese chestnut leaves. American chestnut leaves have no hairs. Chinese twigs, generally brown in color, also have hairs. American twigs, generally exhibit a reddish color, and like the leaves, the twigs have no hairs. Buds are another characteristic–American buds are pointed compared to rounded Chinese buds.
In some areas of the eastern U.S., European chestnut trees can be found. In comparison, European twigs are much stouter than either American or Chinese chestnut. Buds on a European are often large and green in early spring, turning darker by mid-summer. Buds are green in the spring, turning dark in summer.
Click here for more chestnut leaf and tree identification information.
WV Chapter Board of Directors
President
Mark Double, Morgantown
Vice President
Jerry Legg, Elkview
Secretary
Jeff Kochenderfer, Petersburg
Treasurer
Sam Muncy, Philippi
Board Members
Dr. Lewis Cook, Fayetteville
Linda Coyle, Keyser
Dr. Joe Golden, Beckley
Jimmy Jenkins, Flatwoods
Carla Kesling, Bridgeport
Dr. Don Kines, Davis
Dr. Brian Perkins, Elkins
Charles Sypolt, Glenville
Dr. Melissa Thomas-Van Gundy, Elkins
West Virginia Chapter Menu
National Facebook
Chestnuts Roasting is finally here! Come on down to Sweetbay Brewing Co and experience the iconic holiday tradition of roasted chestnuts. Sweetbay Brewing will be unveiling a limited edition chestnut beer, and settle in for the inspiring story of the American chestnut and live music. If you aren't convinced yet, check out some of our past Chestnuts Roasting events! Don't forget we changed the time to 5PM, can't wait to see you there!
#fall #chestnuts #americanchestnutfoundation #americanchestnut #ChestnutRoasting
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We are thankful for this abundant and resilient tree that brings us together. Thankful for a species with such a rich history touching millions of lives across this land, from animal to arthropod. Thank you for sharing this journey with us. #theamericanchestnut #theamericanchestnutfoundation #meadowviewresearchfarms #CastaneaDentata
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The American Chestnut Foundation's national office will be closed starting today, Thursday, November 28 through Sunday, December 1. We will reopen Monday, December 2.
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Here at Meadowview Research Farms, we do it for the trees and we do it for the team! Teamwork is a huge part of our daily operations at the farm. It takes a group effort for our team of six to get projects done, big and small. Recent team projects included replacing the current greenhouse walls with new plastic and our fall planting. Trees grown in the greenhouse are used for research or are grown out to be planted in the field for observation or future breeding, the work of each individual impacts the group as a whole. From putting a chestnut in a pot, to applying research treatments and taking data, to planting in the field, MRF staff work together as a team to get it all done. FOR THE TEAM!
#CHESTNUT #americanchestnut #meadowviewresearchfarms #theamericanchestnutfoundation #teamwork #greenhouse #planting #science #conservationscience #research
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Exciting update from TACF's Meadowview Research Farms! Please enjoy some footage from the ongoing 4-season research greenhouse construction. Contractors from GrowSpan Greenhouse Structures have been working hard for the past two weeks to get the greenhouse up and have made amazing progress so far. Beyond framing, the polycarbonate roof and side walls are going up and just today, heaters are being mounted! Once the exterior is complete, work will begin on building out the necessary environmental controls including the evaporative coolers and automated shading. With the weather growing continuously colder we are looking forward to having a warm and safe new home for TACF seedlings and experiments. We are so grateful to our generous donors for their dedication to the TACF mission and excitement for this project.
#greenhouse #research #TheAmericanChestnutFoundation #science #restoration #chestnut #ConservationScience #AmericanChestnut #MeadowviewResearchFarms
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