News
Friend of the Forest - Patterson Awarded For Service
For 34 years, Gary Patterson has been one of Lincoln Parish’s leading authorities on the timber industry.
Patterson’s decades of hard work paid off recently, as he was presented with the Distinguished Service to North Louisiana Agriculture Award during the North Louisiana Agri-Business Council’s Annual Awards and Legislative Appreciation Luncheon at the West Monroe Convention Center.
Patterson, who runs Patterson Forestry Consultants, LCC, manages more than 100,000 acres of timberland owned by more than 650 landowners.
Paul Spillers, who nominated Patterson for the award, said because of his diligent guidance and counsel, Patterson’s clients have received timber sale proceeds in excess of $100 million over his 34 years of operation. Those clients have reinvested more than $3 million in reforestations, planting trees in more than 17,000 acres (over 10 million individual trees) for future timber use.
“His reforestation efforts will contribute greatly to north Louisiana’s ability to provide the lumber and wood fiber needed by our forest products industry into the next generation, and in addition, provide significant environmental and recreational benefits for area residents,” Spillers said.
Spillers said Patterson is “ever vigilant” on the industry’s impact on the environment.
“Care is given to protect sensitive streamside zones,” Spillers said. “These sensitive areas must be protected for the benefit of flora and fauna critical to a healthy environment for future generations.”
Patterson started his forestry career at Steven’s Forestry Service in El Dorado, Ark., from 1971-75 before working briefly for Junction City Wood Company in Junction City, Ark.
In 1976 Patterson opened his own independent consulting business, running the operation out of his home and pickup truck.
Today Patterson Forestry occupies a 5,000 square foot office on Leachman Road. The company employs two full-time foresters — Patterson’s son Jarod and nephew Lance.
Spillers said that to promote the company, Patterson for the past 20 years has published a popular annual newsletter containing interesting technical information and articles of interest to landowners.
The operation includes consultation and advice on the application of selective herbicides to control competitive vegetation, timber cruises, appraisals, timber sales and supervisions of harvesting, boundary-line maintenance, reforestation, prescribed burning and GPS mapping. The company’s services also include wildlife management and concerns such as mast availability, preservation of streamside management zones and other wildlife habitat management practices. The company also provides counsel and advice regarding land sales and land acquisition.
Patterson was born and raised near Downsville, graduating from Downsville High School in 1967 and Louisiana Tech University in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in forestry. He also played baseball at Tech.
Spillers said Patterson was the perfect person to honor with the award.
“Gary Patterson subscribes to the highest ethical standards set forth by the Association of Consulting Foresters of America and has meticulously avoided any conflict of interest associated with owning an interest in wood-buying entities.
“His service to north Louisiana agriculture, and forestry in particular, has been distinguished. The value of his service can be readily appreciated today, but the greater value will be to future generations who won’t only harvest trees planted by Gary, but will also enjoy a cleaner, safer environment.”
story by Ruston Daily Leader
