The Colorado-Wyoming Society of American Foresters held its annual meeting in Loveland, Colo., March 21-22, 2024. This event featured technical sessions covering a variety of important forestry topics, from monitoring to communication and from tree seedlings to wildlife. The national 2024 SAF meeting will take place in Loveland in September.
At the banquet, Colorado State Forester Matt McCombs presented the keynote address. Among other award winners, three members of the CSFS were recognized for their professional achievements and their commitment to advance forestry in Colorado.
Amy Bulger – Journalism Award
Amy Bulger, a forestry communications specialist at the Colorado State Forest Service, received the CO-WY SAF Special Award in Journalism. Through her writing, photography and videography about a variety of forestry topics she’s helped educate Coloradans about the condition and value of Colorado’s forests.
Bulger was nominated in large part for the mini-documentary Progress at Poncha Pass she produced in 2023. This video demonstrates the value of the Good Neighbor Authority and the work CSFS foresters do through the eyes of a local landowner. It’s been used to help partners, legislators and the Forest Health Council understand the impact of cross-boundary work on Coloradans.
Bulger has been with the CSFS since 2019, and throughout her tenure at the agency her storytelling skills have advanced forestry science, management and education.
Steve Rudolph – Young Forester Award
Steve Rudolph, a forester in the Woodland Park Field Office, received the CO-WY SAF Young Forester Leadership Award. In addition to his forester duties, Rudolph also serves as the Administrative Chair for the CO-WY SAF state society, and he has been instrumental leading this group. Rudolph devotes a lot of time to recruiting and facilitating both statewide and national SAF events, and he worked hard to coordinate the 2023 state meeting in Alamosa.
Rudolph brings a positive and supportive attitude to all of his different roles. He is a highly skilled forester, and his teammates agree that he makes long field days not only tolerable, but enjoyable – which is no easy task! Rudolph is highly respected by his local cooperators, peers and the members of the CO-WY SAF state society.
John Twitchell – Career Achievement Award
For his 40+ years of dedication to excellence in the SAF and the forestry profession, John Twitchell received the CO-WY SAF Career Achievement Award. Twitchell has had tremendous influence on young foresters during his time at the CSFS, where he now works in the Steamboat Springs Field Office. Through the course of his career, Twitchell has been involved with numerous partnerships and fire districts, helping advance the state of forestry across Colorado. Twitchell has also shared his extensive knowledge of forestry with private landowners. He’s tireless in his quest to support and improve both forestry and the SAF.
Twitchell is known to describe his motivation in this way: “I did not get into this field for the money or fame, but for the walks in the woods and the opportunity to do good for the environment and the next generation.”
Thanks for all you do, John!