Dicken Crane, the well-known farmer,logger & woodland owner from Windsor, was recently recognized by MFA with the John H. Lambert, Jr. Forest Stewardship Award.
Dicken operates Holiday Brook Farm in Dalton, where he raises beef, pork, vegetables, hay, firewood, and maple syrup. He has a long history in forestry as well, including working as a timber harvester and managing the 1,300-acre farm’s sugarbush and forest. Crane serves as the current president of the Massachusetts Forest Alliance and has served on the boards of numerous organizations, including the Berkshire Natural Resources Council and the Massachusetts Environmental Trust.
Dicken has hosted many events for landowners and others on his property, most recently the Bioenergy Day tour in October that viewed the new dry chip fueled wood heating system that heats multiple buildings and greenhouses at the farm.
“Dicken has devoted countless volunteer hours to our organization over the years,” said Charlie Thompson, a board member for the Massachusetts Forest Alliance, who presented the award. “The Lambert Award is our highest honor, and this recognition is long overdue.”
The John H. Lambert, Jr. Forest Stewardship Award was named for the dedicated chief forester in Massachusetts, who received the inaugural award in 1993 from the Massachusetts Forestry Association, one of the predecessor organizations that joined to form the Massachusetts Forest Alliance.
Lambert Award nominees must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Practiced excellent forest management in Massachusetts over an extended period of time.
- Made important contributions to the formulation or implementation of wise forest policy in Massachusetts.
- Performed research or educational work that has led to advances in society’s ability to manage its forest and tree resources
- Has been a steward to tree and forest resources, either urban or rural, in Massachusetts.
- Has developed an innovation significantly helping forest stewardship or conservation in Massachusetts.
Crane was presented the award at the Massachusetts Forest Alliance Annual Meeting in Greenfield on October 26.