Newberry Alumnus Recognized as 2020 South Carolina Tree Farmer of the Year

The Forestry Association of South Carolina named LeGrande “Guerry” Burnett (Delta Epsilon–Newberry ’13) of Taylors, South Carolina, the 2020 SC Tree Farmer of the Year.

“Guerry Burnett is an outstanding advocate and ‘poster child’ for the American Tree Farm Program,” says Walt McPhail, 2012 National Tree Farmer of the Year. “His turning point on forest management began when he received his Tree Farm Management Plan from Jimmy Potts in 2002. Guerry utilizes good forest management practices on his farms and shares his knowledge and enthusiasm with forest landowners. He is a charter member of the Greenville Forestry & Wildlife Society, serving as Vice Chair and providing meals for meetings for 15 years. He’s directly responsible for 5 landowners joining the Tree Farm program and the Greenville Forestry & Wildlife Society with over 1,000 acres. He is very active in statewide Tree Farm activities, speaking at county forestry meetings, attending state Tree Farm tours, and Tree Farm Legislative Days. He goes above and beyond to promote sustainable forestry and the Tree Farm program.”

Guerry Burnett owns 400 woodland acres which have been under a written forest management plan since Aug. 2002. The property became a certified Tree Farm on Dec. 12, 2003. Primary objectives are timber, wildlife, recreation, and financial. 

Burnett maximizes every opportunity to learn more about forest management and Tree Farming. He has attended: six SC Tree Farm Legislative Days; eight Forestry Association of South Carolina Annual Meetings; a National Tree Farm tour to Germany; and numerous other tree farm/forestry tours including six Annual Field Tours hosted by the SC Tree Farm Committee on properties owned by SC Tree Farmers of the Year. 

Burnett is a member of: 

• Forestry Association of South Carolina 
• Forest Landowners Association 
• National Wild Turkey Federation 
• Quality Deer Management Association 
• Greenville Forestry and Wildlife Society — Vice Chair in charge of networking and meals for over 15 years.