Forest Society Honored by Governor and Executive Council
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- The Rocks
From left to right: Russell Prescott and Andru Volinsky, Executive Council; Shawn Jasper, Commissioner of Agriculture. Forest Society staff Nate Maser and Nigel Manley, Jack Savage, Forest Society President; Governor Christopher Sununu; Amanda St. Jean, Forest Society. Executive Councilors Michael Cryans, Debra Pignatelli and Ted Gatsas. Photo Gail McWilliam Jellie.
His Excellency, NH Governor Christopher T. Sununu and Honorable Members of the NH Executive Council gathered in Council chambers to accept with gratitude a donation of two official state holiday trees to grace the offices of the NH Statehouse. The trees were raised and cared for at the Forest Society's 1,400 acre Rocks Christmas Tree Farm in Bethlehem.
The cermony included a Commendation citing several factors in selection of The Rocks for the honor:
1. The Forest Society's stewardship of the gifted property and fulfillment of the stipulation that a crop always be maintained in the scenic, open fields. For more than 30 years that crop has been Christmas trees.
2. The Forest Society Rocks Christmas Tree Farm is a member of the NH/VT Christmas Tree Association, a sponsor of the Trees for Troops program and home to the NH Maple Experience Museum
3. The Rocks currently has over 40,000 trees that have grown on the farm as part of the Forest Society's commitement to conservation, preserving wildlife habitats and providing educational outdoor experiences for local residents and guests visiting from other regions and states.
The Governor and five members of the Executive Council Commendation commended The Society for the Protection of NH Forests for continued dedication to the community and conservation with sincere appreciation for the generous donation of The Rocks trees to serve as official state holiday trees at the Council Chambers of the NH Statehouse.
Forest Society The Rocks Christmas Tree Farm staff present included Amanda St. Jean, Nigel Manley, Nate Maser and Forest Society President, Jack Savage. NH Commissioner of Agriculture, Sean Jasper along with Gail McWilliam Jellie were on hand to offer their congratulations.
The Rocks farm manager Nigel Manley added that the Forest Society staff and volunteers "have worked really hard this year to gear-up for the busy Christmas season at The Rocks despite challenges of having lost two historic buildings essential to Christmas programs and sales operations in the devastating fire last February 13th." Manley also cited particularly challenging early-snow, continued cold and wet weather conditions during the late autumn harvesting and weekend sales windows. "The staff at The Rocks are honored to have these trees from The Rocks Christmas Tree Farm chosen as official state holiday trees for display at the NH Statehouse.”
To learn more about Holiday Season activities at The Rocks Christmas Tree Farm:
https://forestsociety.org/press-release/rocks-brings-holidays-alive-tre…
Regarding the operations this December in the wake of the February 13, 2019 fire, visit:
https://forestsociety.org/news-article/rocks-estate-ready-greet-visitor…