Hillwood Farm Recognized for Forestry Stewardship, Promotion of Woodland Conservation Management

Aly Delp

Aly Delp

Published April 29, 2018 4:45 am
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CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — Hillwood Farm was recently presented a Woodland Conservation Award at Clarion Conservation District’s annual luncheon banquet.

(Photo left to right: Jane Schmader, George Schmader, and Rep. Donna Oberlander)

George and Jane Schmader, of Woodland Farm near Fryburg, received the Woodland Conservation Award for Forestry Stewardship and Promotion of Woodland Conservation Management.

Rep. Donna Oberlander was also in attendance and presented them with a House Citation in addition to the sign presented by the Conservation District.

The Woodland Farm property was purchased by the Schmaders in 1993, and they moved to the area from their previous residence in Virginia in 1996. When they began managing the property, they enrolled it in tree farm and forest steward programs, had some sustainable harvesting done, put in a pond to help cut down on erosion, and cleaned up a lot of trash.

Though they do lease a few fields for farming, they use most of their property for recreation.

“We have a camp for the grandkids, and a few hunting sites,” George Schmader said.

The Schmaders work in cooperation with the PA Game Commission to have the property available for hunting and are also board members and founding members of the Woodland Owners of Clarion — Allegheny Valley (WOCAV), a local organization focused on promoting forest stewardship.

George Schmader has also begun producing his own homemade maple syrup from the maple trees on the property, though he says it’s just enough for the family, not for sale.

The Schmaders enjoy all the fruits of living and working on a large, wooded property, from hunting and camping to maple syrup and even run-ins with wildlife.

“One of the highlights, back in 2008, in hunting season, my son found a bear in a den. We got to see Game Commission come out and tag it,” Schmader said.

Clarion Conservation District also made two other presentations at the banquet: Farmer of the Year went to Gruber Farms, and Beaver Township was recognized for participating in the Dirt and Gravel Road Program.

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