2018 Inaugural Lowcountry Landowner Association Meeting

Program from Inaugural Meeting

Colleton County provided the setting for the inaugural meeting of a new landowner association with membership from four South Lowcountry counties. Hampton County, Jasper County, Beaufort Count and Colleton County are underserved politically speaking when it comes to forestry without any representation from a landowner association. The inaugural meeting on October 18 at Big Survey Plantation featured leadership from the South Carolina Forestry Association, educating tree growers how to forge cooperatives regarding forestry practices and county government.

Hosts Tania McCleery, Mimi Howe, Wendy McNeil
and Peter Lawson-Johnston with speaker Cam Crawford

The family-owned Big Survey plantation had several representatives at the meeting, and Wendy McNeil delivered a warm welcome and meeting overview. “Our great grandfather put several smaller tracts of land together to form this property in the 1930’s,” said McNeil. “Today our woods serve as a source of income but they are also a refuge for our outdoor heritage such as hunting and horse riding. The Lowcountry Landowner Association will be important moving forward to represent private landowners in our respective counties.”

Outdoor Fellowship at the Landowner Meeting

‘”We are a trade organization but we have a conservation agenda too,” said Crawford. SCFA represents the Tree Farm system in S.C. and readers of the Colletonian recall my article from the Tree FarmLobby Day in February of 2016. “This year is a good tome to join us since we are celebrating our 50th Anniversary beginning November 30,” said Crawford. “Our annual meeting is coming up in the South Lowcountry, in Hilton Head, on November 7 – 9. Being a member means that we can automatically advocate for you if any issues arise in your area. When it comes to politics there is strength in numbers and we welcome you to join.” Anyone wanting more information on joining the South Carolina Forestry Association or the Lowcountry Landowner Association can call Janet Steele at 803-798-2340.

To view the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.  

To view past blog entries about S.C. tree farm click on 2016 Tree Farm Awards - 2014 Tree Farm Changes - 2012 District 12 Winner - 2010 Volunteer of the Year 

Dinner tent set up on the lawn under the grand live oak

To view past blog entries on landowner meetings click 2016 Kershaw County Landowners - 2011 Tri-County Forestry Association - ACE Basin - S.C. Prescribed Fire Council - Savannah River Preserve - Herbicide - Mayfield Garden Club

To view past blog entries involving trees click on Laurel Oaks - Dendrochronology - Pine Straw Baling