Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
The Florida Tree Farm Program has recently announced that Boyles Tree Farm has been recognized as the 2025 Jon Gould Florida Outstanding Tree Farm of the Year. Boyles Tree Farm was established in 1942 by Eugene Boyles, when he purchased 365 acres in Suwannee County, Fla. For the next 50 years he was the head of the tree farm, expanding to 1,145 acres. Following the death of Eugene Boyles, in 1991, the management of the tree farm passed along to his two sons, Joe and Fred. Joe is a retired Air Force veteran and a Priest at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Madison. He has also helped serve for the past year as a temporary Priest at Christ Episcopal Church in Monticello. Joe’s brother, Fred, has a career in Historical Preservation.
Boyles Tree Farm has been a certified participant in the American Tree Farm System (AFTS) for over 50 years. “Our relationship with ATFS has been very beneficial for information,” said Joe Boyles. “My late father who began this enterprise as a young man in 1942 [and] enrolled his forestry business (then 700 acres) in 1972 with AFTS. Today, we are three times that size. Through the years, we have continued to expand our operation and broaden our business plan. We have learned new techniques and kept abreast of changes in the industry through our industry partners like AFTS.”
Boyles Tree Farm is divided into 10 tracts, ranging in size from 100 acres to just over 500 acres, across Suwannee, Hamilton and Madison Counties. The trees consist of longleaf, slash and/or loblolly pines and range in age from one year to 18 years. Boyles Tree Farm markets timber products, offers hunting leases and pine straw.
Like many agricultural businesses in the region, the three hurricanes to hit North Central Florida in the last two years had a significant impact on Boyles Tree Farm. However, due to careful management, they have recovered and have continued with management as usual.
Boyles Tree Farm operates with a keen eye on the future, with sustainability serving as a major goal. “We believe in the long-term benefits of forestry, both economical and environmental,” added Joe. “We are dedicated to the land and real property and the concept of stewardship. Our challenge is to make the real estate generate good economic return while at the same time benefiting water, soil, air and wildlife. We must be profitable in order to stay in business.”
The Jon Gould Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Award honors the memory of Jon Gould, a Florida tree farmer and advocate for forestry for over 30 years. Gould passed away in 2019, but his legacy serves as the “ultimate model of the Tree Farm."