Terry Ault, far left, with the Jackson County Soil & Water Conservation District and Lee Huss, far right, of the Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association present the 2022 Charles Deam Forest Stewardship award to David and Mary Ray of Monroe County.
Submitted photo
David and Mary Ray of Monroe County are state winners of the 2022 Charles Deam Forest Stewardship award, presented by the Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association.
The Rays manage 310 acres of woodlands in Jackson County. They use the property for multiple objectives but have a great interest in creating wildlife habitat.
They are engaged with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to create grouse habitat and the National Wild Turkey Federation to promote turkey habitat and have developed watering ponds, edge feathering and wildlife food plots to create food and cover for various wildlife.
A highlight of their efforts is a 10-acre bee and butterfly habitat planting under the power line easement.
The Ray family recently was highlighted by the Natural Resources Conservation Service as a local success story for their efforts to improve the property. David Ray said expertise of the NRCS, Indiana DNR district forester and his consulting forester have all provided know-how to help him improve the property.
The family was nominated for this award by the Jackson County Soil & Water Conservation District.
The Deam award honors outstanding Indiana forest owners who demonstrate good forest stewardship. Charles Deam, Indiana’s first state forester, was a pioneer in recognizing the need for protecting woodlands and managing the forest resource.
The Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association promotes good stewardship of Indiana’s woodlands and has more than 500 members statewide. For information, visit ifwoa.org.