Awards
Karkhagne Award
The Karkhagne is a mythical beast that was reported to roam the forests of Missouri in the past century. It is covered by fur, feathers, scales and armor plate, has a diet of limestone section corners, and can quickly escape humans or other carnivorous pursuers by completely engulfing itself within the recesses of its own hip pocket. It is the subject of considerable folklore and legends about forestry in Missouri in the early twentieth century. The Karkhagne not only symbolizes the importance of Missouri’s forests to all creatures, it also represents the unique and sometimes harsh nature of forestry at the turn of the last century.
The Missouri Society of American Foresters has selected the name and image of the Karkhagne to represent its highest honor in recognizing a forester for his (her) contribution to forestry in Missouri. The Karkhagne Award is presented to a forester for outstanding achievement in forestry and service to the forestry profession.
Read the following article from the University of Missouri Log in 1964 for more lore. Woods, Ed. 1964. The Karkhagne Missouri Log 17:34-36.
1982 - Richard C. Smith (deceased)
1983 - Lee K. Paulsell (deceased)
1984 - Osal B. Capps (deceased)
1985 - John Wylie (deceased)
1986 - Donald Duncan (deceased)
1987 - None
1988 - John "Jack" Slusher (deceased)
1989 - Ralph Musbach (deceased)
1990 - Bill Kickbush (deceased)
1991 - None
1992 - Shelby Jones
1993 - Jay Law (deceased)
1994 - Tim French
1995 - Fred Bergman (deceased)
1996 - Eugene Brunk
1997 - Gary L. Smith
1998 - None
1999 - Ralph Allison
2000 - Bruce Palmer
2001 - Jerry J. Presley
2002 - Carl D. Settergren
2003 - Donald "Pepper" Martin
2004 - Bob Cunningham
2005 - Carol Trokey
2006 - Fred Crouse
2007 - Greg Hoss
2008 - Doug Young
2009 - None
2010 - Mike Hoffmann
2011 - Lisa Allen
2012 - Tom Draper
2013 - Dan Dey
2014 - Lynn Barnickol
2015 - Steve Shifley
2016 - Frances Main
2017 - Dr. David R. Larsen
2018 - Dr. John Kabrick
2019 - John Tuttle
2020 - Dr. Hank Stelzer
2021 - Justine Gartner
2022 - August ‘Gus’ Raeker
2023 - Carl Hauser
2024 - Jason Jenson
2025 - Brian Schweiss
Karkhagne Award
The Karkhagne is a mythical beast that was reported to roam the forests of Missouri in the past century. It is covered by fur, feathers, scales and armor plate, has a diet of limestone section corners, and can quickly escape humans or other carnivorous pursuers by completely engulfing itself within the recesses of its own hip pocket. It is the subject of considerable folklore and legends about forestry in Missouri in the early twentieth century. The Karkhagne not only symbolizes the importance of Missouri’s forests to all creatures, it also represents the unique and sometimes harsh nature of forestry at the turn of the last century.
The Missouri Society of American Foresters has selected the name and image of the Karkhagne to represent its highest honor in recognizing a forester for his (her) contribution to forestry in Missouri. The Karkhagne Award is presented to a forester for outstanding achievement in forestry and service to the forestry profession.
Read the following article from the University of Missouri Log in 1964 for more lore. Woods, Ed. 1964. The Karkhagne Missouri Log 17:34-36.
1982 - Richard C. Smith (deceased)
1983 - Lee K. Paulsell (deceased)
1984 - Osal B. Capps (deceased)
1985 - John Wylie (deceased)
1986 - Donald Duncan (deceased)
1987 - None
1988 - John "Jack" Slusher (deceased)
1989 - Ralph Musbach (deceased)
1990 - Bill Kickbush (deceased)
1991 - None
1992 - Shelby Jones
1993 - Jay Law (deceased)
1994 - Tim French
1995 - Fred Bergman (deceased)
1996 - Eugene Brunk
1997 - Gary L. Smith
1998 - None
1999 - Ralph Allison
2000 - Bruce Palmer
2001 - Jerry J. Presley
2002 - Carl D. Settergren
2003 - Donald "Pepper" Martin
2004 - Bob Cunningham
2005 - Carol Trokey
2006 - Fred Crouse
2007 - Greg Hoss
2008 - Doug Young
2009 - None
2010 - Mike Hoffmann
2011 - Lisa Allen
2012 - Tom Draper
2013 - Dan Dey
2014 - Lynn Barnickol
2015 - Steve Shifley
2016 - Frances Main
2017 - Dr. David R. Larsen
2018 - Dr. John Kabrick
2019 - John Tuttle
2020 - Dr. Hank Stelzer
2021 - Justine Gartner
2022 - August ‘Gus’ Raeker
2023 - Carl Hauser
2024 - Jason Jenson
2025 - Brian Schweiss
Missouri Society Fellows
Missouri Society of American Foresters members elected by the membership of the Society of American Foresters for outstanding service to the Society of American Foresters.
1977 - Richard C. Smith
1986 - Eugene L. Brunk, Shelby G. Jones, CF
1987 - Leonce A. Cambre III, Carl D. Settergren
1988 - William L. Kickbusch
1989 - Ivan L. Sander
1995 - James P. Roles
1997 - Ralph E. Allison, CF, Robert A. Massengale
2001 - Timothy A. French, CF
2002 - Gregory A. Hoss
2003 - Bruce D. Palmer, CF
2005 - Robert J. Cunningham, Jr., CF
2013 - Michael R. Hoffman, CF, David R. Larsen, Ph.D.
2014 - Lisa G. Allen, CF, Justine T. Gartner, CF
2016 - Frances Main, CF, Hank Stelzer, Ph.D., CF
2017 - Dan Dey
2020 - Shibu Jose
2024 - John Kabrick, Ph.D., CF
Missouri Society of American Foresters members elected by the membership of the Society of American Foresters for outstanding service to the Society of American Foresters.
1977 - Richard C. Smith
1986 - Eugene L. Brunk, Shelby G. Jones, CF
1987 - Leonce A. Cambre III, Carl D. Settergren
1988 - William L. Kickbusch
1989 - Ivan L. Sander
1995 - James P. Roles
1997 - Ralph E. Allison, CF, Robert A. Massengale
2001 - Timothy A. French, CF
2002 - Gregory A. Hoss
2003 - Bruce D. Palmer, CF
2005 - Robert J. Cunningham, Jr., CF
2013 - Michael R. Hoffman, CF, David R. Larsen, Ph.D.
2014 - Lisa G. Allen, CF, Justine T. Gartner, CF
2016 - Frances Main, CF, Hank Stelzer, Ph.D., CF
2017 - Dan Dey
2020 - Shibu Jose
2024 - John Kabrick, Ph.D., CF
Missouri Outstanding Forester Award
The MOSAF Forester of the Year Award is presented annually to recognize significant contributions to advance forestry or forest management in Missouri in a calendar year. Consideration is given to far-reaching impacts or contributions that go above and beyond day to day activities. This award recognizes exemplary on-the ground management efforts, original thinking, innovation, and creativity in solving a problem with forest management implications.
2017 - Paul Johnson
2018 - Chris Lohman
2019 - Kyle Steele
2020 - Jon Skinner
2021 - Michael Goerndt
2022 - Jason Green
2023 - Mike Keeley
2024 - Dr. Hank Stelzer
2025 - Mike Fiaoni
The MOSAF Forester of the Year Award is presented annually to recognize significant contributions to advance forestry or forest management in Missouri in a calendar year. Consideration is given to far-reaching impacts or contributions that go above and beyond day to day activities. This award recognizes exemplary on-the ground management efforts, original thinking, innovation, and creativity in solving a problem with forest management implications.
2017 - Paul Johnson
2018 - Chris Lohman
2019 - Kyle Steele
2020 - Jon Skinner
2021 - Michael Goerndt
2022 - Jason Green
2023 - Mike Keeley
2024 - Dr. Hank Stelzer
2025 - Mike Fiaoni
