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DASNR’s Craig McKinley honored by Forest Landowners Association
STILLWATER, Okla. – Craig McKinley of Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources has been named 2009 Extension Forester of the Year by the Forest Landowners Association.
FLA provides access to essential tools and resources that help landowners achieve forestland management goals. Part of the FLA mission is fulfilled through each state’s Cooperative Extension Service, which is where Craig McKinley, OSU Cooperative Extension forestry specialist, comes into play.
“Extension foresters play a vital role in the success of the Forest Landowners Association, and in the advancement of forestry around the country,” said Steve Loveland, chair of the FLA awards committee.
Approximately 430 million of the 747 million acres of forest in the United States are privately owned. More than 10 million private forest owners manage timber in the Untied States and are responsible for about 92 percent of the wood used to make homes, furniture, paper and other products.
“(Dr. McKinley’s) intensive work with landowner education and outreach, as well as his leadership in local forestry programs, embodies the qualities that the Forest Landowners Association seeks for this award,” Loveland said. “The dedication he has shown to landowners over many years and the esteem his colleagues hold for him set him apart from the other nominees.”
McKinley was nominated for the award based on his dedication to landowner education, years of practice, presentations to and interactions with private landowners individually or in groups.
“Dr. McKinley has a long history in forestry in Oklahoma dating back to Youth Forestry Summer Camp and an undergraduate degree from OSU in 1968,” said Keith Owens, head of OSU’s Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management. “He worked in several other states during his career and brought that knowledge and experience to his Extension role in Oklahoma.”
While McKinley is pleased with the honorable recognition, he realizes that extension is about the people.
It is nice to be recognized for what you do,” McKinley said. “But this is a team effort, nobody does extension by themselves. There are numerous folks that I tip my hat to that should be recognized, but if I started naming names I’d go on for days.”
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REPORTER/MEDIA
CONTACT:
Sean Hubbard
Communications Specialist
Agricultural Communications Services
145 Agriculture North
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078-0001
Phone: 405-744-4490
Fax: 405-744-5739
E-Mail: sean.hubbard@okstate.edu
Oklahoma State University, U. S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local governments cooperating; Oklahoma State University in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures, and is an equal opportunity employer.
