For Immediate Release:

Contact: Sara Connor
Cell 406-249-7781
Forest History Association of Wisconsin

Kirsten Held – WDNR: Receives FHAW Annual Award For Outstanding Contribution to an Organization

At the 33rd Annual Conference of the Forest History Association of Wisconsin at the Telemark Resort in Cable, Wisconsin, Kirsten Held, Forestry Outreach Specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – Division of Forestry, was awarded the Fixmer Award for outstanding contributions to an organization.

The Fixmer Award is given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to an organization, agency, or corporation, within the Forest Products and Resources Community.

Sara Connor, President of the Forest History Association of Wisconsin, presented Kirsten with a plaque that read: “Given for incredible dedication, selflessness, and sacrifice working for the Wisconsin - Department of Natural Resources, especially the Celebrating 100 Years of Forestry in Wisconsin project. As an educator and writer, Kirsten has made an outstanding contribution to the education of Wisconsin students and citizens regarding Wisconsin's forest history and multiple-use sustained yield forestry.”

In 2004, Kirsten served as project manager for the “Year of Wisconsin Forestry,” celebrating landmark anniversaries for a number of Wisconsin forestry-related organizations – including the centennial of the State of Wisconsin’s forestry program (marked by the hiring of the first state forester in 1904).  In addition to numerous events and activities during the “Year of Wisconsin Forestry,” three books were produced for this year-long celebration of Wisconsin’s forest history: a picture book for early readers titled, “In Grandpa’s Woods”; a book of historical fiction stories for Wisconsin 4th grade classrooms titled, “Wisconsin Forest Tales”; and a coffee table book called “One Hundred Years of Wisconsin Forestry.”

Other forest history related projects Kirsten has organized include a video production called, “Forest Story: Restoring Wisconsin’s Treasure,” for which she interviewed many early forestry leaders throughout the state (including Frank Fixmer, for whom this award is named); Smokey Bear’s 50th anniversary celebration in 1994 and the Wisconsin Society of American Foresters centennial celebration. 

Kirsten has a passion for sharing the story of sustainable forestry in Wisconsin and continues to work on projects to reconnect Wisconsin’s citizens with our rich forest resource and help them understand the many ways they depend on Wisconsin forests in their daily lives.

Kirsten Held (left) receiving the 2008 Fixmer Award and Sara Connor (right) President of the Forest History Association of Wisconsin