Awards

Visit the National SAF website to see the many awards offered and how to nominate your fellow colleagues to encourage them in their excellence!

Below are the awards issued to our own Montana society members over the years.

  • One of the highest honors for members of the Society, the rank of Fellow is an exceptional recognition bestowed on a member by their peers for outstanding contributions and service to SAF and the profession.

    • 1979, Vernon O. Hamre

    • 1982, Charles E. Hardy

    • 1989, Jack Ward Thomas

    • 1990, Gary G. Brown

    • 1990, Robert S. Gibson

    • 1990, Edward G. Heilman

    • 1990, Wyman C. Schmidt

    • 1990, Eugene L. Yahvah, CF

    • 1993, Charles F. Brooks

    • 1994, Ronald H. Buentemeier, CF

    • 1995, Alfred (Sam) Gilbert

    • 1999, Fred D. Hodgeboom

    • 1999, David S. Klehm

    • 2000, Richard R. Faltonson

    • 2001, Bonner J. Armstrong

    • 2001, Scott L. Kuehn, CF

    • 2001, Gordon D. Sanders, CF

    • 2003, Charles E. Keegan III

    • 2003, Remington Kohrt

    • 2003, Robert D. Pfister

    • 2003, David M. Stack

    • 2004, Ronald H. Wakimoto, CF

    • 2005, Dennis M. Davaz

    • 2005, Danny L. Pittman, CF

    • 2006, Stephen F. Arno

    • 2006, Perry J. Brown

    • 2006, Carl Fiedler

    • 2007, Abigail R. Kimbell

    • 2008, Ted L. Giesey, CF

    • 2009, John W. Manz Jr.

    • 2010, Russel S. Gautreaux

    • 2011, Steven W. Hayes, CF

    • 2011, Patrick E. Hefferman

    • 2012, Tim G. Love, CF

    • 2013, Bev Yelczyn

    • 2014, Dale Kerkvliet

    • 2015, Lorrie Woods

    • 2016, John Ottman

    • 2017, Peter Kolb

    • 2018, Holly McKenzie

    • 2019, Jeff Jahnke

    • 2020, Dale Bosworth

    • 2021, Dave Atkins

    • 2022, Bruce Schlaebitz

    • 2022, Gary Ellingson

    • 2024, R. Jason Parke

  • The Presidential Field Forester Awards recognize foresters who have dedicated their professional careers to the application of forestry on the ground using sound, scientific methods and adaptive management strategies. The awards are presented to individuals who have displayed uncommon talent, skill, and innovative methods to achieve a record of excellence in the application of forest management.

    • 2001, Ron Buentemeier

    • 2002, Dale Kerkvliet

    • 2005, Craig Cowie

    • 2006, John Ottman

    • 2013, Ed Levert

    • 2016, Allen Chrisman

    • 2021, Dennis Davaz

    • 2024, Gary Ellingson

  • Award for project and activities that increase the impact of SAF and grow the organizations

    • 1997, Missoula Chapter

  • The Technology Transfer Award recognizes outstanding performance in the areas of technology transfer, implementation, and extension.

    • 2014, Dr. Peter Kolb

  • The Barrington Moore Memorial Award recognizes outstanding achievement in biological research leading to the advancement of forestry.

    • 2008, Dr. Stephen Arno

  • The Outstanding Forestry Journalism Award recognizes high quality journalistic coverage of topics that increase the American public's understanding of forestry and natural resources. 

    • 2001, Ian Marquand

  • The Outstanding Local Unit Achievement Award recognizes the outstanding achievement of a local unit for sustained leadership or a special project benefiting SAF, the forestry profession, and the practice of forestry.

    • 2022, Missoula Chapter

  • The John A. Beale Memorial Award recognizes outstanding efforts over a sustained period of time by an SAF member in the promotion of forestry through voluntary service to the Society.

    • 2014, Scott Kuehn

    • 2016, Eugene (Ed) Stoots

  • The Sir William Schlich Memorial Award recognizes broad and outstanding contributions to the field of forestry with emphasis on, but not limited to, policy and national or international activities.

    • 2022, Gordy Sanders, CF

  • The Young Forester Leadership Award recognizes outstanding leadership by a young forestry professional in the development and promotion of an individual program or project, or for a sustained leadership role benefiting the practice of forestry and the Society.

    • 2014, Amy Helena

    • 2018, Jason Parke

    • 2019, Jared Richardson

National awards

State Awards

  • SAF members who have practiced forestry for at least 15 years and for whom a major portion of career was in application of field forestry. Award winners demonstrate and understand forest science along with adaptive management process to achieve landowner objectives and insure forest sustainability.

    Montana SAF Chapters typically nominate Chapter Field Foresters and submit their award winners to MTSAF Awards Chair by February 15.  MTSAF submits nominations for Montana Field Forester to SAF National office by March 15.

    • 2001, Ronald Buentemeier

    • 2002, Dale Kerkvliet, CF

    • 2003, Stephen E. Patterson

    • 2005, Craig G. Cowie

    • 2006, John J. Ottman

    • 2010, Richard W. Trembath

    • 2011, Henry Fassnaught

    • 2011, Mark Boardman

    • 2012, Jared Richardson

    • 2013, Frank Maus

    • 2013, Marvin E. Levert, CF

    • 2014, Chris Damrow

    • 2015, Andrew Beltz

    • 2016, Allen B. Chrisman

    • 2021, Dennis Davaz

    • 2023, Frank Maus

  • SAF members who have demonstrated significant effort in advancement of the profession of forestry.

    • 2011, Brian Hobday

    • 2011, Amy Helena

    • 2013, Tony Liane

    • 2013, Sarah Lyngholm

    • 2014, Lorrie Woods

    • 2014, Scott Kuehn

    • 2016, Bob Castaneda

    • 2023, Eric Johnson

  • SAF members who have demonstrated significant effort in advancement of the profession of forestry, especially through the means of public education, service to SAF, public outreach or other noteworthy accomplishment.

    • 2003, Scott Kuehn

    • 2010, Beth Dodson

    • 2011, Peter Kolb

    • 2013, Bob Harrington

    • 2013, Triple W Equipment

    • 2015, Cindy Peterson

    • 2018, Brian Sugden

    • 2019, Gary Ellingson

    • 2023, Paul Donnellon

  • The Young Forester Leadership Award recognizes “outstanding leadership by a young forestry professional in the development and promotion of an individual program or project, or for a sustained leadership role benefitting the practice of forestry and the Society of American Foresters.  Evaluation will be based on:

    1. Under 40 years of Age at close of nomination due date

    2. Outstanding leadership in the Profession

    3. Outstanding leadership in SAF

    4. Sustained leadership roles benefitting the practice of Forestry

    • 2016, Bradley Shoemaker

    • 2017, Owen Retzlaff

    • 2019, Clay Stephenson

    • 2023, Justin Crotteau

Local Chapter Awards

    • 1997, Scott Kuehn, Outstanding Citizen of the Year

    • 2011, Henry Fassnacht, Field Forester of the Year

    • 2011, Amy Helena, Forester of the Year

    • 2011, Peter Kolb, Outstanding Citizen of the Year

    • 2012, Bob Harrington, Outstanding SAF Citizen

    • 2012, Sarah Lyngholm, Forester of the Year

    • 2012 Jared Richardson, Field Forester of the Year

    • 2013, Triple W Equipment, Outstanding SAF Citizen

    • 2013, Frank Maus, Field Forester of the Year

    • 2013, Tony Liane, Forester of the Year

    • 2014, Cindy (Bertek) Peterson, Outstanding SAF Citizen

    • 2014, Kent Bevington, Forester of the Year

    • 2014, Dylan Brown, Field Forester of the Year

    • 2015, Marvin Troutwine, Lifetime Achievement Award

    • 2015, Dave Atkins, Outstanding SAF Citizen

    • 2022, Frank Maus, Outstanding SAF Citizen

    • 2022, Lexi Smith, Student Leadership

    • 2023, Frank Maus, Field Forester of the Year

  • Flathead note: year refers to award period, not year of issue

    • 1988 – Fred Hodgeboom, Citizen/Forester of the Year        

    • 1989 – Dave Klehm, Citizen/Forester of the Year                             

    • 1990 – Ron Buentemeier, Citizen/Forester of the Year          

    • 1991 – Rem Korht, Citizen/Forester of the Year        

    • 1992 – Tom Tintinger, Citizen/Forester of the Year              

    • 1993 – Ken Brewer, Citizen/Forester of the Year                  

    • 1994 – Floyd McCubbins, Citizen/Forester of the Year         

    • 1995 – Patrick Heffernan, Citizen/Forester of the Year          

    • 1996 – Deb Mucklow / Starling, Citizen/Forester of the Year                      

    • 1997 – Eric Kurtz, Citizen/Forester of the Year                    

    • 1998 – Bryan Donner, Citizen/Forester of the Year   

    • 1999 – Ed Lieser, Citizen/Forester of the Year                      

    • 2000 – Bill Morgan, Citizen/Forester of the Year      

    • 2000 – Lorrie Woods, Field Forester of the Year                             

    • 2001 – Scott Hicswa, Citizen/Forester of the Year     

    • 2001 – Ron Buentemeier, Field Forester of the Year

    • 2002 – Paul McKenzie, Citizen/Forester of the Year  

    • 2002 – Carl Sobczak, Field Forester of the Year      

    • 2003 – Mark Boardman, Citizen/Forester of the Year          

    • 2003 – Dave Jones, Field Forester of the Year                                             

    • 2004 – Holly McKenzie, Citizen/Forester of the Year         

    • 2005 – William Pursell, Citizen/Forester of the Year           

    • 2005 – Rebecca Hendrix, Field Forester of the Year

    • 2006 – Charles Roady, Citizen/Forester of the Year

    • 2006 – James Simpson, Field Forester of the Year

    • 2007 – Henning Stabins, Citizen/Forester of the Year          

    • 2007 – Dave Jones, Field Forester of the Year         

    • 2009 – Rick Trembath, Field Forester of the Year

    • 2010 – Jim Kranz, Citizen/Forester of the Year          

    • 2010 – Louis Bowne, Field Forester of the Year      

    • 2011 – Brian Hobday, Citizen/Forester of the Year    

    • 2011 – Mark Boardman, Field Forester of the Year                                     

    • 2012 – Brian Sugden, Citizen/Forester of the Year    

    • 2012 – Paul McKenzie, Field Forester of the Year

    • 2013 – Lorrie Woods, Citizen/Forester of the Year    

    • 2013 – Chris Damrow , Field Forester of the Year

    • 2014 – Andrew Beltz, Field Forester of the Year                 

    • 2015 – Heidi Trechsel-Sobczak, Citizen/Forester of the Year          

    • 2015 – Allen Chrisman, Field Forester of the Year  

    • 2016 -  Deb Mucklow Starling, Field Forester of the Year               

    • 2017 – Heidi Trechsel-Sobczak, Citizen/Forester of the Year            

    • 2017 – Paul Donnellon, Field Forester of the Year               

    • 2018 – Clay Stephenson, Citizen/Forester of the Year           

    • 2018 – Holly McKenzie, Field Forester of the Year 

    • 2019 – Zack Miller, Citizen/Forester of the Year       

    • 2020 – Heidi Trechsel & Carl Sboczak, Citizen/Forester of the Year          

    • 2020 – Rick Trembath, Field Forester of the Year

    • 2021 – Tye Sundt, Field Forester of the Year

    • 2022 – Andy Reed, Field Forester of the Year