Three Callaway County brothers honored for forestry management

Carey Riley (center), a Callaway County forest owner, accepts a forestry management award from Rick Meritt (left), president of the Missouri Tree Farm Program, and Brian Schweiss, a Missouri Department of Conservation advisor to the program.
Carey Riley (center), a Callaway County forest owner, accepts a forestry management award from Rick Meritt (left), president of the Missouri Tree Farm Program, and Brian Schweiss, a Missouri Department of Conservation advisor to the program.

Three brothers who own and manage a tree farm in Callaway County have been honored by the Missouri Tree Farm Committee for 25 years of exemplary forest management.

The award was presented to Carey, Mike and Kevin Riley. They also own the General Motors auto and truck dealership in Jefferson City - Riley Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac - that serves much of Central Missouri.

"There are 650 tree farmers in Missouri, and this year the Missouri Department of Conservation recognized 29 family forest owners who have been participating in the Tree Farm program for more than 25 years," said Brian Schweiss, forestry field program supervisor for the state conservation agency.

Schweiss noted that it can take about 100 years to grow quality trees. "It is a tremendous asset to have landowners like the Riley brothers who are committed to managing their forest," Schweiss said. Their Callaway County tree farm is located between Dixie and New Bloomfield.

The Riley brothers, he said, have demonstrated commitment to the four cornerstones of wood, water, wildlife and recreation that make up the American Tree Farm System.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.