Georgia Chapter

About Us

Our Mission

Our mission is to bring about the restoration of the American chestnut tree as a prominent part of Georgia forests.

The Georgia Chapter was founded to bring about the restoration of the American chestnut tree as a prominent part of Georgia forests by assisting the national foundation in its propagation efforts, by promoting public awareness through education and by supporting the scientific research efforts of TACF directed at restoring American chestnuts.

Board of Directors

Executive Committee

President

Jack Rogers

Vice President

Kathy Patrick

Secretary

Zach Felix

Treasurer

Vince Payne

Tree Breeding/Preservation (Science Coordinator)

Dr. Caitlin Conn

Honorary Director

Mary Belle Price (posthumously)

Board Members

Tim Chesnut

Dr. Zach Felix

Dr. Scott Merkle

Ana Metaxas

Dr. Caitlin Conn

Taryn Heidel

David Keehn

David Green

Partnerships

The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) and the Georgia Chapter (GaTACF) seek out partners that will not only help further its chestnut restoration program but also bring attention to the importance of the chestnut in American history. These partners include major universities, private foundations and businesses, as well as state and federal government agencies. With plantings at high-profile sites such as the Carter Center, Callaway Gardens Preserve, and the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum Project, GaTACF has been able to attract significant support from many partners throughout Georgia.

Each of our partners offers a unique perspective on chestnut restoration and gives GaTACF the best possible opportunity to be successful in its efforts to bring the American chestnut back to the forests of Georgia.

Georgia TACF Partner Organizations

  • Atlanta History Center
  • Berry College
  • Bittersweet Gardens
  • Bottletree Bees
  • Byron Herbert Reece Farm & Heritage Center
  • Carter Center
  • Charlane Plantation
  • Cloudland Vineyards
  • Dalton State College
  • Douglas County
  • Elachee Nature Science Center
  • Georgia Department of Natural Resources
  • Georgia Forestry Commission
  • Georgia Governor’s Mansion
  • Georgia Piedmont Land Trust
  • Georgia State Botanical Garden
  • Kennesaw State University (Research Farm) 
  • Kistner Center
  • North Georgia Canopy Tours
  • Pettit Environmental Center
  • Rabun Gap Nacoochee School
  • Reinhardt University
  • Rising Fawn Gardens
  • Runnin’ Wild Farms
  • Smith-Gilbert Gardens
  • The Blueberry Farm
  • The Callaway Gardens Preserve
  • The Carter Center
  • Cherokee County Recreation & Parks
  • Sandy Creek Nature Center
  • The University of Georgia (UGA) Horticultural Farm
  • The UGA Mountain Research & Education Center (GMREC)
  • The UGA Warnell School of Forestry
  • The Southern Company (Georgia Power)
  • Toccoa Falls College
  • Trees Atlanta and the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum
  • University of North Georgia
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • U.S.D.A. Forest Service
  • Vogel State Park
  • Young Harris College

FOR OUTSTANDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT WE WISH TO THANK

  • Ailene Phillips Trust
  • Dr. Austin Flint
  • Berry College
  • Eleanor & Tom Ratchford
  • Georgia Appalachian Regional Commission
  • Georgia State Specialty Crops Grant
  • Lumpkin Coalition/Hemlockfest
  • Dr. Martin Cipollini & Kathryn Patrick
  • Mary Belle Price
  • Rome Rotary Clubs
  • Temple-Inland Foundation
  • Urban & Community Forestry Commission

Georgia Chapter Menu

Georgia Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Please log on to hear from Morgan Wingo, 2023 GA-TACF/Berry College summer intern, along with two other student presenters at this Friday’s TACF “Chestnut Chat”. The talks start at 11:30 am and you must preregister to get access using this link: acf.org/event/chestnut-chat-2022-fall-symposium-student-poster-session-participants-2/

The work was derived from the paper that Dr. Caitlin Conn, Dr. Martin Cipollini, and Berry College students Shanna Lee, Marshall Lynch, Noah Howie, and Eden Young published recently with TACF and VA Tech collaborators: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36383986/ . While Morgan helped collect just some of the data that went into the paper, she developed and presented the poster version of the study which was awarded 2Nd place at TACF’s Annual Meeting in Ashville, NC. Morgan then developed the Powerpoint version for the 20 min talk that she will give on Friday.

Please consider logging on and learning about what we’ve been doing!
... See MoreSee Less

Please log on to hear from Morgan Wingo, 2023 GA-TACF/Berry College summer intern, along with two other student presenters at this Friday’s TACF “Chestnut Chat”.  The talks start at 11:30 am and you must preregister to get access using this link:  https://acf.org/event/chestnut-chat-2022-fall-symposium-student-poster-session-participants-2/

The work was derived from the paper that Dr. Caitlin Conn, Dr. Martin Cipollini, and Berry College students Shanna Lee, Marshall Lynch, Noah Howie, and Eden Young published recently with TACF and VA Tech collaborators: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36383986/ .  While Morgan helped collect just some of the data that went into the paper, she developed and presented the poster version of the study which was awarded 2Nd place at TACF’s Annual Meeting in Ashville, NC.  Morgan then developed the Powerpoint version for the 20 min talk that she will give on Friday.
  
  Please consider logging on and learning about what we’ve been doing!Image attachmentImage attachment

Thanks to Karrie Ann Fadroski, her University of North Geogia (UNG) students made short work of the clear-cut debris at the soon-to-be Hurricane Creek chestnut Prr screening orchard west of Dahlonega. The next step will be to install the weed block fabric, in preparation for planting about 100 chestnuts later this month. The before-and-after drone photos show one day's work at the site.

Remember that in addition to the upcoming planting event at this site, our annual GA-TACF meeting (open to members and non-members alike) will be held at UNG on Saturday May 13 starting at 10 am. Details forthcoming.

Thanks everyone!
Jack Rogers, GA-TACF
... See MoreSee Less

Thanks to Karrie Ann Fadroski, her University of North Geogia (UNG) students made short work of the clear-cut debris at the soon-to-be Hurricane Creek chestnut Prr screening orchard west of Dahlonega. The next step will be to install the weed block fabric, in preparation for planting about 100 chestnuts later this month. The before-and-after drone photos show one days work at the site.

Remember that in addition to the upcoming planting event at this site, our annual GA-TACF meeting (open to members and non-members alike) will be held at UNG on Saturday May 13 starting at 10 am.  Details forthcoming.

Thanks everyone!
Jack Rogers, GA-TACFImage attachmentImage attachment
Load more

Latest News

GA-TACF Science Progress 2022

GA-TACF Science Progress 2022

2022 was a very productive year for the Georgia chapter of TACF and its many citizen volunteers.  Here is a quick summary of progress, starting with a summary of what we've been able to accomplish in the breeding program since 2006. Seed type Crosses American chestnut...

read more
So you want to plant some chestnuts?

So you want to plant some chestnuts?

We're happy to be hearing from so many folks like you who are interested in planting chestnuts on their property.  We’ve received a lot of requests for chestnut seedlings and that’s good news, since it indicates a high level of interest in restoring American chestnut...

read more
Georgia Chapter Activities Summer 2021

Georgia Chapter Activities Summer 2021

GA-TACF members and other chestnut enthusiasts, We just wanted to give a quick update on some of the activities going on in our chestnut breeding and disease resistance program.  Many of you have expressed interest in volunteering, and very soon we will have some...

read more