The Eli Hochstetler family of Mount Hope has been named 2006 Ohio Tree Farmer of the Year. The Eli Hochstetler family had a background in the woodworking industry – owning and operating a chair-making business in Holmes County – before purchasing land in 1995 near Tiverton Center. They were intrigued with the idea of woodworking from “seed to rocking chair” and made the decision as a family to buy land and plant trees to provide wood for their chair-making business. They currently own a total of 527 acres called the Tiverton Timber Tree Farm. Some parts for their chairs are harvested and “machined” at the Tiverton location, and then shipped to the company’s assembly and shipping warehouse in Mount Hope.

The Eli Hochstetler family will host a public farm tour. The tour will take place at their Tiverton Timber Tree Farm north of Tiverton Center on September 30th, from 8:30a.m. to 4:30p.m. Refreshments and registration will begin at 8:30am and seminars will begin at 9am.

The tour event is co-sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry, the Coshocton County Soil & Water Conservation District, the Ohio Tree Farm Committee, the Ohio Forestry Association, Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, American Electric Power, and Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District.

The public tour is designed to showcase forest management practices while offering learning opportunities through a variety of seminars and programs provided throughout the day. ODNR service foresters, private industry foresters, wildlife and oil/gas specialists, and educators will be on hand to present a wide variety of seminars and programs including: Selecting Trees for Harvest; Tree Planting Procedures; Crop Tree Release Thinning; Dealing with High Graded Stands; Best Management Practices for Logging; Felling Techniques and Safety; deer herd management, herbicide use, and invasive species control; horse logging; lumber grading; small sawmill operation; proposed CAUV/OFTL tax law merger; chainsaw maintenance; and Emerald Ash Borer. For the kids there will be a fossil dig and a “forestry for beginners” program.

The Tiverton Timber Tree Farm is located in northwestern Coshocton County. The tree farm is located off of State Route 206 and Township Road 352. For a map, please call the ODNR Division of Forestry at 877-247-8733.