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

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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The Vermont & New Hampshire chapter of TACF is now on social media. Be sure to like & follow!

Facebook: Vermont & New Hampshire Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation

Instagram: @vtnh_tacf
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The Vermont & New Hampshire chapter of TACF is now on social media. Be sure to like & follow!

Facebook: Vermont & New Hampshire Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation

Instagram: @vtnh_tacfImage attachment
2 days ago
The American Chestnut Foundation

Happy first day of Spring! 🌱 ... See MoreSee Less

Happy first day of Spring! 🌱Image attachment

Comment on Facebook

I have 83 acres in East TN, don't know if I have any Chestnut trees... I'll have to check this spring

I just found out our local school in northeast Bradford Pennsylvania . is planting chestnut trees around the school .the students have planned it all out

Friendly reminder that our Chestnut Chat is
LIVE today at 11:30 AM (EST).

We hope you can join!

Don't forget you have to be preregistered to join!https://psu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_c6Gab9NhQrS4wJZTjvTcPg
... See MoreSee Less

Friendly reminder that our Chestnut Chat is
LIVE today at 11:30 AM (EST).

We hope you can join!

Dont forget you have to be preregistered to join!https://psu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_c6Gab9NhQrS4wJZTjvTcPg
6 days ago
The American Chestnut Foundation

Here’s a little chestnut green today from The American Chestnut Foundation's Meadowview Research Farms in Virginia where we preserve, study, and breed American chestnut trees for resistance to the blight fungus. Pictured in these also: Ciera Wilbur, Nursery Manager; Cassie Stark, Laboratory Manager and Dr. Vasiliy Lakoba, Director of Research.

At Meadowview thousands of American chestnuts are at various stages of the breeding process, planted on more than 150 acres.

Photos; March 16, 2023
... See MoreSee Less

Here’s a little chestnut green today from The American Chestnut Foundations Meadowview Research Farms in Virginia where we preserve, study, and breed American chestnut trees for resistance to the blight fungus. Pictured in these also: Ciera Wilbur, Nursery Manager; Cassie Stark, Laboratory Manager and Dr. Vasiliy Lakoba, Director of Research. 

At Meadowview thousands  of American chestnuts are at various stages of the breeding process, planted on more than 150 acres.

Photos; March 16, 2023Image attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment

Comment on Facebook

Where do these trees end up?

Can those trees be bought?

Can I buy few American chestnut seedlings or seeds from you ?

Is there some place I can get them in TN?.... we have 83 acres of land and would love to plant some

When can we the public get to get some so we can plant them around our areas. To help the Chestnut 🌰 trees make a comeback..?

Colleen Amangerov . Look how cool

WOW...

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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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