(From left) Glenn, Madeline, and Jason Gill (center), recipients of the 2025 Outstanding Tree Farm of the Year Award, are joined by Susan Stutts (right), TFA Senior Director, and Michael Easley (far right), Chair of the Texas Tree Farm Committee, during the Texas Forestry Association's annual meeting in Nacogdoches, Texas.
October 30, 2025 - Texas Forestry Association (TFA) presented Glenn, Madeline, and Jason Gill of Tenaha with the 2025 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Award during its annual meeting held October 22-24, 2025, at The Fredonia Hotel and Convention Center in Nacogdoches, Texas.
"The Gill family exemplifies exceptional forest management and stewardship," said TFA Executive Director Rob Hughes. "Their dedication to following the Eight Standards of the American Tree Farm System, their active involvement in forestry organizations, and their commitment to doing much of the work themselves demonstrate the highest level of tree farming excellence."
Glenn and Madeline Gill purchased their 275-acre tract between 1980 and 1996 from 15 different people in 14 tracts and 7 deeds, assembling what is now one contiguous property. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the property's enrollment in the American Tree Farm System.
The Tree Farm comprises 164 acres of mixed pine and hardwood, 90 acres of pine plantation, 15 acres of hardwood, and the family homesite. Special features include a sawmill, a historic church site, and a pond stocked with hybrid bluegill and channel catfish. The property also includes a shooting range for family and friends, and Glenn and Jason maintain mowed roads around the house for walking trails.
"The Gill's primary objectives are timber production, recreation, and wildlife habitat," said Hughes. "What sets them apart is that all the work is done by Glenn and Jason themselves, except for logging, prescribed burning, and herbicide application."
The family keeps extensive records of all harvesting and management activities, including 11 harvesting operations with 8 different logging contractors. Glenn and Jason established three burn units, each of which has been burned twice. In 2008, they initiated a spray program to control yaupon and privet, demonstrating their commitment to active forest management.
Glenn is a consulting forester and owner of Jason Forest Products. He joined TFA in 1995, and Jason became a TFA Life Member in 2010. Both serve on TFA's Administrative Committee and have become fixtures at the Outstanding Tree Farm Tours each year.
"Glenn and Jason are deeply committed to the Tree Farm program and TFA's mission," said TFA Senior Director Susan Stutts. "Jason helps with tour logistics and sells Tree Farm raffle tickets every year, while Glenn enjoys learning from other outstanding tree farmers."
The Gills are also members of the Louisiana Forestry Association, Lifetime members of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Go Texan Committee and have been members of the Shelby County Cookers for the past 20 years.
"The Gill family's commitment to professional forest management, their active participation in forestry organizations, and their 30 years of dedication to the Tree Farm program make them exemplary recipients of this prestigious award," said Hughes.
The Outstanding Tree Farm of the Year Award is presented annually to recognize exceptional forest management practices based on the Eight Standards of the American Tree Farm System, including the following Best Management Practices, identifying species of concern, proper site preparation, wildlife management, timber production, and reforestation.
Texas Forestry Association, the voice for forestry for over 100 years, promotes an economic, social and political climate that will advance forestry in Texas through education, political action and public relations, as well as serving the broad needs of the forest resource of landowners, producers and consumers, and to enhance and perpetuate the Texas forest resource.
