A Maryland Department of Natural Resources forester has earned the country’s highest honor for tree farm inspection work. Melissa Nash received the Outstanding Tree Farm Inspector of the Year award for 2026 from the American Tree Farm System during their leadership conference in Colorado this past March.
“Melissa has a heart for helping landowners, practicing good forestry, and building partnerships,” said Maryland State Forester Anne Hairston-Strang. “We are very proud that she has received this recognition; she is a real credit to DNR and public service in Maryland.”
Since joining the Maryland Forest Service in 2011, Nash has managed relationships with over 350 private forest property owners covering roughly 20,000 acres through the Maryland Forest Stewardship Program.
“I want to recognize my fellow inspectors, foresters, and program partners who give their time and expertise to make Tree Farm successful nationwide,” Nash stated. “The consistency, professionalism, and passion I see across this network is remarkable.”
Nash’s responsibilities encompass assisting property owners with tree planting initiatives, providing guidance for both commercial and non-commercial timber harvesting, offering advice on controlling invasive species, supervising controlled burns and wildfire response efforts, and leading educational outreach activities.
“I really enjoy hearing how landowners came to own their property and their personal connection to it,” she explained. “Some own land that has been in their family for close to 100 years, while others are first generation landowners. They all have different goals in mind from managing timber production to wildlife to simply enjoying vibrant fall colors. I’ve been able to build great relationships with them over the last 11 years, and it’s really rewarding to see all of the combined management efforts pay off.”
In her role as Tree Farm Inspector, Nash brings landowners into the certified Tree Farm program, evaluates their properties for compliance standards, and counsels them on maintaining their certification status. The American Forest Foundation oversees the national framework for this sustainability designation. During the previous year, she completed inspections covering 4,400 acres of Tree Farms.
“Of the 69 Tree Farms under her responsibility, all have been inspected within the last five years, and half within the last two years—an impressive feat among Maryland inspectors,” stated Rob Feldt, administrator of the Maryland Tree Farm committee, in Nash’s nomination materials. “Melissa has provided clear, no-nonsense guidance to her landowners over the years and is the go-to person for forestry advice.”
Feldt noted that Nash frequently exceeds expectations in her assistance efforts, including helping two property owners earn Maryland Tree Farmers of the Year recognition.
“[Nash] epitomizes the philosophy of ‘we’re all in this together,’ and continually demonstrates this in her willingness to assist internal and external partners and staff with project implementation and success,” commented George Eberling, Western Regional Forester. “She is a credit to the Maryland Forest Service, and I am proud to have her serving the citizens and natural resources of Maryland.”
Nash first started with the Maryland Forest Service as a seasonal worker at Green Ridge State Forest while attending college in 2006. She transitioned to full-time employment as a watershed forester in 2011, then advanced to her current role in 2015.
Her educational background includes an Associate of Applied Sciences in Forest Technology from Allegany College of Maryland in 2008 and a Bachelor’s of Science in Forest Resource Management from West Virginia University in 2010.
This latest recognition adds to Nash’s growing list of professional achievements, including the Maryland Forest Service Forester of the Year award in 2020, the Regional Cooperative Forest Management Forester of the Year in 2021, the National Field Forester Award from the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters in 2024, and the Northeast Region Outstanding Tree Farm Inspector of the Year for 2025.
“I am grateful to the mentors and colleagues who helped shape my path in forestry,” Nash reflected. “Going forward, I want to continue building on established relationships…and to help landowners feel confident and supported in their stewardship journey.”
