FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 18, 2025
“Baptized by fire” has special meaning for Kevin Lee of Mitchell, GA. After Lee received his Forestry degree from the University of Georgia, he eagerly began a new job with the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC)’s Waycross District Office. In a matter of weeks, he witnessed the GFC’s importance to the community, as the West Mims fire consumed 145,000 acres near the Florida-Georgia line.
During the following eight years through a great deal of training, experience, and hard work, Lee earned a variety of accolades and honors. The most recent was being named GFC’s 2024 “Forester of the Year.” The award is given to an agency employee who consistently goes above and beyond to serve customers and demonstrate leadership.
“Kevin is someone we can always count on to get the job done and to set a great example in the process,” said Georgia Forestry Commission Director Johnny Sabo. “He has shared his forest management knowledge with hundreds of landowners, impacting thousands of acres. He’s especially deserving of this honor.”
Lee said he was “really surprised,” when he was notified about the GFC award. He said all his work experiences have helped him build character, trust, and integrity with the landowners he serves throughout the state.
Lee’s 2024 achievements include completing 252 individual forest management cases, covering more than 39,000 acres. He led a number of community outreach events, including a large Washington County Landowner Field Day which brought landowners and foresters together to discuss timely issues on a local tree farm. He assisted landowners with stewardship plans covering more than 4,000 acres and is credited with increasing prescribed burn acreage in Georgia by performing 24 prescribed burns on 2,800 acres, while also helping local GFC firefighters with numerous wildfires. He enjoys outreach events and volunteering with Future Farmers of America forestry competitions.
In 2024, Lee received the Hugh Hammond Bennet Regional Planner Award. It recognizes individuals for extraordinary achievements – in and contributions to – soil and water conservation efforts in the US.
“Kevin is a great asset to the GFC and someone who will be a leader and mentor within the forestry profession throughout his career,” said Georgia Forestry Commission Forest Management Chief, Troy Clymer. “Everywhere he’s gone within the GFC, Kevin has grown and made a positive impact with those around him, from co-workers to landowners. His influence will be seen in Georgia’s forest for many years to come.”
Lee is a registered forester who enjoys hunting and fishing. He and his wife, Hannah, live in Mitchell and have a nine-month-old son named Walter.
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