AUFC Award Winners 2018

The Arkansas Urban Forestry Council (AUFC) honored three for outstanding work in planting and managing trees in their communities, as well as encouraging others to do likewise. The awards luncheon on April 17 was held at the Butler Center in Little Rock during AUFC’s workshop, Green Infrastructure Approach to Development – Improving Water Quality. Awards are for accomplishments in 2017.

The 2018 Outstanding Community of the Year award was given to the City of Clarksville. The city, which has an ongoing beautification program, has its own greenhouse to grow seedlings. When seedlings are 3-5 feet tall, they are planted to replace failed trees or cover bare spots in the city’s four parks. The award was accepted by Jackie Verwiebe.

Tri Cycle Farms, in Fayetteville, was recognized as the 2018 Outstanding Organization of the Year. Tri Cycle Farms, located on a two-acre, all low-impact site, is an urban food forest with a commitment to solve food insecurity problems in their community. The award was accepted by Don Bennett.

The 2018 Outstanding Professional of the Year award was given to Kenny Smothers. He was recognized for going above and beyond his duties as an Arkansas Forestry Commission urban representative by helping promote urban forest efforts.

All were presented a certificate of award and an autographed copy of Linda Williams Palmer’s book, Champion Trees of Arkansas.

Go to our awards page to see pictures of the awards ceremony in 2018.