Ohio Chapter

About Us

Our Mission

The Ohio Chapter was founded primarily to bring about the restoration of the American chestnut throughout the hardwood forests of Ohio, where it once flourished. We work with the National Foundation to advance research, education, and public awareness of this important tree species. The Ohio Chapter implements this mission by education and research. Education would include projects such as establish demonstration plantings to acquaint people with the American chestnut and the blight that has almost eliminated by the blight, providing material for education, provide grants to support demonstration plantings and presenting information at appropriate forums. Research would include mine restoration plantings with American chestnuts, reforestation projects including American chestnut, test plantings of hybrid American chestnuts, finding and document surviving American chestnuts in Ohio, and supporting chestnut research in Ohio with grants.

American Chestnut in Ohio

The range of the American Chestnut was mostly restricted to the glaciated and unglaciated Appalachian Plateau region In Ohio. This is roughly the eastern half of the state. The chestnut grew mostly as part of the oak hickory forests and constituted 10-20% of the forests in eastern Ohio. They reached3-4’ DBH. Since Ohio is in the western part of the range the of the tree the blight did not completely decimate the chestnut in Ohio until the early 1940’s. Some large snags persisted for awhile but now almost the only thing left are root sprouts in the understory of the forest and ODNR now lists the American Chestnut as extirpated in Ohio.

Ohio Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation

The Ohio Chapter of the American Chestnut foundation was established in 2005. The mission of the Ohio Chapter is to support the goals of the TACF through research and education to restore the American Chestnut to its former glory. Education includes demonstration projects to increase awareness, presentations, and publications on the American Chestnut. Research efforts include restoration projects, finding surviving trees in Ohio, and sponsoring research supporting the restoration of the American Chestnut in Ohio and throughout its range.

Board of Directors

PRESIDENT
Mr. Stephen Rist
Ohio DNR Division of Forestry

Email: ohchapter@acf.org

VICE-PRESIDENT
Mr. Bruce A. Willis

TREASURER
Mr. Ryan Homsher

SECRETARY
Greg Chopko

WEBMASTER
Frank Skalak

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dale Angerman
Dr. Bob Clark
Dr. Carolyn Howes Keiffer
Kristen Lehtoma
Dr. Greg Miller
Tom Mills

Documents

Annual Meeting Minutes

Ohio Board Mtg F-2016
Ohio Business Mtg F-2016

In The News

Restoring Giants (March 2017) Ohio Cooperative Living. Pages 32-33.

Membership

Membership Form (National and Ohio Chapter)

Ohio Chestnut Inventory

Inventory Form

Ohio Small Grant Application

Application Form

Ohio Chapter Menu

National Facebook

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Ask away!

Our April 19 Chestnut Chat will provide detailed instructions on how to grow chestnuts. But we need to hear your questions so we know what to cover!

Please add your questions in the comments below and we will do our best to cover them all in the April Chestnut Chat.

Remember there are no dumb questions! We encourage everybody, from complete beginners to seasoned pros, to join in.

Let's grow some chestnuts!

Can't wait for an answer? Check out our Growing Chestnuts page in the meantime at tacf.org/growing-chestnuts
... See MoreSee Less

Ask away!

Our April 19 Chestnut Chat will provide detailed instructions on how to grow chestnuts. But we need to hear your questions so we know what to cover!

Please add your questions in the comments below and we will do our best to cover them all in the April Chestnut Chat.

Remember there are no dumb questions! We encourage everybody, from complete beginners to seasoned pros, to join in.

Lets grow some chestnuts!

Cant wait for an answer? Check out our Growing Chestnuts page in the meantime at https://tacf.org/growing-chestnuts

6 CommentsComment on Facebook

Where can we find seedlings? Seeds?

What is a good fertilizer to use for them!

we would love to grow them haven't had them since england as a girl x

I have 3 Dunstan Chestnuts planted for a few years but I want an American-Chinese Chestnut hybrid that is 75% or more genetically American Chestnut. Is there such chestnut hybrids available commercially (meaning 2 or 3 for my yard, I’m not starting a chestnut orchard) and if so, where?

What other kind of trees or vegetation should they NOT be plant near?

Best place to source from.

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Did you know that TACF has 16 state chapters? They each host a variety of events over the year and here are some that are coming up soon.

Visit our events calendar for more information on these and other TACF happenings. tacf.org/events/category/tacf/
... See MoreSee Less

Did you know that TACF has 16 state chapters? They each host a variety of events over the year and here are some that are coming up soon. 

Visit our events calendar for more information on these and other TACF happenings. https://tacf.org/events/category/tacf/

Thank you to everyone who attended a 40th Anniversary Celebration with their local chapter of TACF.

Top photo: Attendees of the TN Chapter Annual Meeting and 40th Anniversary Celebration, which took place at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens.

Bottom photo: Attendees of the AL Chapter post-meeting enjoying some brews.

To read more about these and many other TACF happenings, visit the link to read our most recent eSprout newsletter. myemail.constantcontact.com/March-2024-eSprout--Documentary-Wins-an-Award--Domain-Change--Plantin...
... See MoreSee Less

Thank you to everyone who attended a 40th Anniversary Celebration with their local chapter of TACF. 

Top photo: Attendees of the TN Chapter Annual Meeting and 40th Anniversary Celebration, which took place at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens.

Bottom photo: Attendees of the AL Chapter post-meeting enjoying some brews. 

To read more about these and many other TACF happenings, visit the link to read our most recent eSprout newsletter. https://myemail.constantcontact.com/March-2024-eSprout--Documentary-Wins-an-Award--Domain-Change--Planting-Resources--TACF-News--Featured-Photo--Chapter-News.html?soid=1106103828995&aid=M8kn7e4P1A4

Thanks to everybody who joined us Tuesday for an American chestnut demonstration planting with Jamie Van Clief (TACF Regional Science Coordinator) and Jon Taylor (chestnut enthusiast extraordinaire) at West Asheville Park's edible garden in Asheville, NC!

To find a planting event near you, vist tacf.org/events (link in bio)
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1 CommentComment on Facebook

Are those the 18-20’s from the TVA plot? Good use for them, glad to see

🎥 Have you seen the award-winning chestnut documentary yet? 🌰

Many thanks to all who came out to the screening of Clear Day Thunder: Rescuing the American Chestnut at Asheville Pizza & Brewing on Tuesday night.

Fun fact: The only two people in this photo with their backs to the screen are Jamie Van Clief and Jared Westbrook, TACF's Southern Regional Outreach Coordinator and TACF's Director of Science, both of whom are featured in the film and are probably sick of watching themselves 😎

Want to see this inspirational film yourself? Find a screening near you here: rescuingtheamericanchestnut.com/screenings
... See MoreSee Less

🎥 Have you seen the award-winning chestnut documentary yet? 🌰

Many thanks to all who came out to the screening of Clear Day Thunder: Rescuing the American Chestnut at Asheville Pizza & Brewing on Tuesday night.

Fun fact: The only two people in this photo with their backs to the screen are Jamie Van Clief and Jared Westbrook, TACFs Southern Regional Outreach Coordinator and TACFs Director of Science, both of whom are featured in the film and are probably sick of watching themselves 😎

Want to see this inspirational film yourself? Find a screening near you here: https://rescuingtheamericanchestnut.com/screenings

1 CommentComment on Facebook

I’d love to go to a screening, but there are apparently none planned for anywhere Northern Virginia where I live.. we can’t make it available to TACF members via the website?

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Latest News

Ohio Chapter Meeting September 11, 2021

Ohio Chapter Meeting September 11, 2021

September 11, 2021  Annual Meeting of the Ohio Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation The annual meeting was held virtually via ZOOM.  President Carolyn Keiffer told the membership she is retiring from Miami University at the end of the year and the presidency of...

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Ohio Chestnut Grant Applications

Ohio Chapter  Grant Applications due October 30, 2021!! Grants are available for up to $1000 for any project or plan furthering the American Chestnut by planting, education, or another manner.  These grants are available to any people or organizations who would be...

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OH Chapter Grants Applications

OH Chapter Grants Applications

Posted September 23, 2021 Ohio Chapter  Grant Applications due October 30, 2021 Grants are available for up to $1000 for any project or plan furthering the American Chestnut by planting, education, or another manner.  These grants are available to any people or...

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