The forestry community came together Tuesday night to commemorate the accomplishments of 2014 and look toward the new year.

The group recognized the Logger of the Year, the Tree Farmer of the Year, Friends of Forestry and the Lincoln County Forestry Association’s scholarship recipient.

Jason Smith received Logger of the Year from the LCFA as well as from the Mississippi Forestry Association. Smith also was runner-up as regional forester of the year.

Jeff Rogers, who presented the award, explained they chose to honor Smith because of his hard work ethic, his quality work and his love for his career.

“He gets to do what he wants to do,” Rogers said.

Smith, a third-generation logger, has been full-time in forestry since 1998 and has owned Jason Smith Logging, Inc. since 2011. In his time as a forester, Smith has worked to ensure both the land and his employees are well cared for. Since Jason Smith Logging began in 2011, his employees have lost no time due to work-related accidents.

Smith explained that sometimes people think of loggers as destroying the land, but in reality he does the same as your average farmer. The difference is that loggers are on a 30-year rotation compared to a farmer’s one-year rotation.

“I thank God for the beautiful resources that we can maintain for generations to come,” Smith said.

Howard Stogner presented the Tree Farmer of the Year Award to Homer Richardson. Richardson also received the Southwest Mississippi Tree Farmer of the Year Award.

Stogner said Richardson was a landowner who was always willing to help out. Richardson said when he first moved to Brookhaven, the LCFA was the first organization he joined.

“I didn’t know what I was getting myself into,” he said. “There’s a lot of trees I won’t get to sit under, but I keep planting.”

Richardson also joked that he was grateful for the all the Smiths in his neighborhood letting a Richardson move in.

David Livingston presented the LCFA scholarship recipient. He said every year they don’t seem to receive many applications, but they receive good ones.

“The quality is above and beyond what you see anywhere else,” Livingston said.

He said the scholarship has come full-circle as some of the recipients have left for school and come back to area.

This year’s recipient is Brady Wilson from the West Lincoln area. Wilson currently attends Southwest Community College on a baseball scholarship. He plans to further his education at Mississippi State University.

“He’s caring and has a desire to be outdoors,” Livingston said.

Wilson is the son of Jason and Anita Wilson.

“Thank you for the opportunity, and thanks for the support,” Wilson said.

Ellis Moak, 2014 LCFA president, presented awards to this year’s Friends of Forestry for their help behind the scenes. He recognized Percy and Sarah Rutledge, Debbie Corley and David Smith.

Glenn Miller, 2015 LCFA president, concluded the banquet by recognizing outgoing president Moak for all his hard work. He also recognized the officers for 2015. Officers include Vice-President Danny Knight, Treasurer Percy Rutledge, Secretary David Smith, Membership Sarah Rutledge and Liasion MFA Howard Stogner.