Mississippi Forestry Commission donates to �̾��Ƶstudent foresters

MFC donation to Forestry Club with students and staff — Pictured with an enclosed trailer donated by the Mississippi Forestry Commission are current and former �̾��ƵSAF members, left to right, Daniel Grebner, forestry senior, Starkville; Assistant Professor Adam Polinko; Chris Jacobson, forestry senior, Armuchee, Georgia; Kylie Birchfield, forestry junior, Cumming, Georgia; Emily White, recent forestry graduate, Sherman, Texas; Colton Hulsey, agribusiness management graduate student and recent forestry graduate, Hamilton, Alabama; Logan Lowery, Butler, Alabama; Cole Browning, Pickensville, Alabama; and Gracie Knight, Smithdale, all recent forestry graduates; and MFC State Forester Russell Bozeman. (Photo by David Ammon)

STARKVILLE, Miss.—A recent contribution from the Mississippi Forestry Commission is providing immediate, practical benefits for Mississippi State forestry students and the university’s nationally ranked student chapter of the Society of American Foresters.

The MFC’s donation of an enclosed trailer and $12,000 are enhancing the chapter’s equipment capabilities and bolstering the College of Forest Resources’ prescribed burn team, known as Fire Dawgs.

MFC State Forester Russell Bozeman, an �̾��ƵCFR alumnus, said meeting students from the university’s award-winning SAF chapter helped him realize a need and recognize a way to help.

“They had some equipment that needed attention, and we talked about how they transported their equipment for forestry competitions. They were loading their saws, axes and gear into the same passenger van they were riding in, and I knew MFC could help,” Bozeman said.

MFC had trailers being taken out of service but in good condition, equipment usually transferred to surplus property or exchanged with other state agencies. Bozeman saw the chance to donate a trailer for student use since �̾��Ƶalso is a state agency.

“We had a nice, enclosed trailer that we could put an �̾��Ƶwrap on to give them a place to store conclave equipment. We also sponsored $12,000 for equipment that needed repairs for their competitions. Part of this sponsorship also supplied certain protective equipment for the Fire Dawgs prescribed burn team,” he said.

Bozeman said his own time as an �̾��ƵSAF chapter member had a positive impact on him.

“I loved the connections I made as part of the club, which also provided me with numerous professional development opportunities. The �̾��ƵCollege of Forest Resources has always done an excellent job with its students, so I am honored to be able to support Mississippi State right now. Hopefully, one day, some of these students will come to work for us,” he said.

Adam Polinko, assistant professor of forestry and faculty advisor of the university SAF chapter, said the donation is a tremendous help for one of the nation’s top-performing SAF chapters.

“When I came to Mississippi State, the student chapter already was the top forestry club in the country, winning the Outstanding Student Chapter Award five years in a row,” said Polinko, who emphasized that the MFC donation will further enhance the chapter’s performance in future competitions.

For more on the �̾��ƵCollege of Forest Resources, visit . For more on the Mississippi Forestry Commission, visit .

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