South Carolina Forestry personnel receive appreciation recognition

Those who put their lives on the line to extinguish forest fires and make sure they protect life and property within Hampton and the surrounding counties were recognized recently for their efforts.

The South Carolina Forestry Commission held an employee appreciation luncheon for employees within the Edisto Unit on May 24 at the Niederhof Seed Orchard in Tillman. Some of this unit includes Hampton, Jasper, Allendale and Beaufort counties. Other units from around the entire state are also participating in their areas with other similar events in recognition of their service.

The unit includes the following employees who were able to attend the event. Those not in attendance were working as the commission has to have some employees on duty at all times due to the nature of the job. Those attending included Jacqueline Lintzenich, Tyler Greiner, Russell Mixson, Terrell Smith, Moses Maine, David Smith, Charlie Boles, Marc Green Louis Ramsey, Russell Hubright, Lou Sanders, David Hart, Lowell Parnell, Rusty Barker, Pete Stuckey, Chris King, Stacy DeLoach, Scott Ulmer, Don Mixon, Bryan Smith, Neal Murdaugh, Calvin Bailey, and Daniel Beach.       

Some forestry personnel from the region were also deployed to Florida during the recognition luncheon. The SCFC recently welcomed back 16 of its wildland firefighters who were sent to Florida for two weeks to help battle nearly 150 active wildfires across the state. 

State Forester Gene Kodama wished to thank the employees for all that they do each day for the commission.

"The state of South Carolina holds a Public Servant Appreciation Day every year, but we celebrate our employees every day at the Forestry Commission,” Kodama said. We have people stationed in every county of the state, so while we can’t all be in the same place at the same time to recognize the outstanding service our personnel provide to the citizens of South Carolina, we make sure to do it whenever and wherever we can.”

 Just last year, Kodama said the South Carolina Senate recognized the Forestry Commission with an A+ rating for our frugality, efficiency and overall effectiveness.

“I echo that recommendation proudly,” he said.  “I also feel honored to be a part of this great team and appreciate the dedication and service of each employee."​

Awards and mission accomplishment coins were also presented to those personnel who worked the Pinnacle Mountain Fire in November of last year as well as commemorative coins were presented to all employees in recognition of the commission’s 90th anniversary.

Commission celebrates 90th anniversary

The South Carolina Forestry Commission was founded in 1927 and began with only one forester. The commission promotes, enhances and nurtures forest lands of the state in a manner ‘consistent with achieving the greatest good for its citizens,’ according a SCFC press release.

In April during a press conference at the state house as a part of ‘Forestry Day’ as proclaimed by Governor Henry McMaster, SCFC officials announced the economic impact of the state’s forestry sector. It unveiled a large backdrop depicting the industry’s $21 billion contribution to the state’s economy. A tree planting ceremony was also held during the event.

The event was the culmination of a nearly decade-long initiative among forestry advocates called the 20-by-15 Project, whose goal was to increase forestry’s economic impact from $17 billion on 2008 to $20 billion by 2015, which is the last study year reflected in the Clemson University analysis.

Some of the other economic contributions of forestry include:

- Forestry is the state’s number one manufacturing sector in terms of jobs (84,000) and labor income

-Forestry represents the number one harvested crop in the state

-Forestry products rep   resent the number one export commodity from the Port of Charleston