Events like the Pine Tree Festival & Southeast Timber Expo don’t just happen. They take dedication, commitment, and a great eye for detail. This year’s festival was an unqualified success evidenced by early numbers that indicate over 10,000 folks attended this year’s events. This was a dramatic increase over last year. Early numbers also indicate the festival was a huge economic boost for our city and county with filled hotel rooms, restaurants, and increased expenditures by visitors. 

While it is dangerous to start naming names, credit needs to go to several key groups.

First and foremost, credit needs to go to this year’s PTF/STE Foundation Committee members. This group’s planning activities began immediately following last year’s festival. As the year progressed, more and more meetings were held, usually one a week. This group gave of their time voluntarily and deserves accolades of the highest order. Their vision was to enhance this year’s festival and improve it over last year. Success was achieved by events ranging from the BMX Bicycle Stunt Show to the first-ever logger’s rodeo. Events were chosen and planned for every age group which ultimately led to the success of the festival. In efforts to keep the celebration of the pine tree industry at the forefront, the group offered the first certified classes for area foresters and landowners. Over 200 folks attended this year’s Georgia Forestry Association dinner held on Thursday night. In other firsts, the Foundation awarded over $3,000 to state FFA Forestry Field Day winners and in scholarships given to Swainsboro Technical College’s Forestry Program.

This year’s committee members are Athen Walden, Russ Yeomans, George Elder, John Allen Bailey, Jack Bareford, John Black, Larry Calhoun, James Canady, Doug Chassereau, Jill Collins, Heather Cook, Mark Crosby, Bobbie Daughtry, Frank Denmark, Anthony Farris, Butch Frye, Tim Goodman, Mack Griffin, Darren Griner, Milton Gray, Rodney Kellum, Al Lawson, Jolly Martin, Johnny Payne, Daisy Reeves, Charles Schwabe, Mary Smith, Richard Thornton, Ken Warnock and Ronnie Womack.

While the planning was most important, monies for such an endeavor can never be overlooked. Special recognition needs to go to this year’s corporate sponsors. Some sixty-eight businesses, industries, and individuals stepped forward to assure the success of the festival. Without them, an event of this magnitude does not happen.

Special recognition of the City of Swainsboro, Emanuel County Commissioners, OMI, and Swainsboro/Emanuel County Parks & Recreation must also be made. Mayor Charles Schwabe, City Administrator Al Lawson, County Commissioners, County Administrator Ezra Price, Randy Scarboro, Ronnie Womack and the Parks & Recreation crew were tremendous in their assistance.

On the state level, we would be amiss if we didn’t pay tribute to the help received from the Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Forestry Association, and the Warnell School of Forestry at the University of Georgia.

Finally, we need to thank our vendors, local exhibitors, and the many people who attended this year’s festival. Your interest in seeing this festival grow is most important to our efforts.

 The pine tree is a valuable resource with unlimited potential for our state and nation. We are fortunate to sit at the heart of the “wood-basket” of the Southeastern United States. We look forward to the 2010 Pine Tree Festival & Southeast Timber Expo as we recognize this valuable commodity.

Bill Rogers, Jr.
President
Swainsboro/Emanuel County
Chamber of Commerce