Page 30 - Georgia Forestry - Issue 2 - Spring 2021

Steve Martin
It’s not in Steve Martin’s nature to blow his own horn, but there are many Georgia landowners who readily do that for the GFC Region
4 Field Forester. His agency also holds him in very high regard and recently named him 2020 Forester of the Year. The prestigious award is given annually to a GFC Forest Management profes- sional whose outstanding performance advances GFC’s mission to provide leadership, service and education in the protection and conservation of Geor- gia’s forest resources. Martin’s services throughout his management counties of Early, Miller, Seminole and Decatur in the wake of Hurricane Michael were
only part of the many reasons he received the recognition.
“The landowners did the work,” said Martin. “We just provided the opportu- nity for them to do it at minimum cost.”
Martin credits Georgia legislators and the GFC with designing an assistance program in under three weeks that was “well thought out and excellently exe- cuted.” During the entire process, Martin said he was inspired by landowners who “went above and beyond.”
“Most landowners care deeply about their property. They mitigated wildfire and forest health issues and then went further into aesthetics. Forestland means more to them than an investment.”
And clearly Steve Martin means a great deal to each of these landowners. As Martin prepares for retirement this summer, they’re bound to send him off with wishes as warm as the South Georgia sunshine.
STASIA KELLY IS THE MEDIA RELATIONS SPECIALIST WITH THE GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION. STASIA IS FOCUSED ON TELLING THE STORY OF FORESTRY AND THE IMMENSE IMPACT OF THE INDUSTRY ON GEORGIA’S ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMY AND HERITAGE.
Steve Martin and Glenn Earnest
28 | GEORGIA FORESTRY