Dr. Howard Snider of DeQuincy is the 2009 Louisiana Outstanding Tree Farmer for his forestland located in four parishes. The award was made during the annual convention of the Louisiana Forestry Association (LFA) Aug. 26 in Baton Rouge, La.

Dr. Snider and his wife, Ruby, have more than a thousand acres in Vernon, Beauregard, Allen and Calcasieu parishes.

"He loves the land and he likes growing trees," said Tim Cooper, his consulting forester from Rosepine who nominated him for the award. "His hobby is planting trees."

Snider is a familiar face in the DeQuincy area, where he practiced dentistry for more than 30 years. Snider said his other hobbies of hunting and fishing now take a back seat to his work in the woods.

"I've planted 750-800 trees in a day sometimes, working six, eight or 10 hours," said Snider. He's also busy filling potholes, maintaining food plots for wildlife or working on erosion control projects for the land. One recent project filled in a washed-out area between Anacoco Creek and one of the lakes on his property.

Dr. Snider's love of the land and his trees is born from his general attitude of wanting to improve his environment -- to leave a place better than when he arrived.

An important component of his diverse forestland is the wildlife population. Deer and wild turkey roam these woods encouraged by the food plots, feeders and natural browse that he maintains. On a tract in Vernon Parish where he has two lakes, there are also young mallard ducks being raised as pets

The Snider's children, grandchildren, friends and even youth and church groups frequently enjoy the larger lake's sandy beaches and camping grounds.

"Forestry is a $3.3 billion industry in Louisiana," said C.A. "Buck" Vandersteen, LFA executive director. "Family forests are the lifeblood of our state where 81 percent of the forestland is owned by private non-industrial landowners like the Sniders."

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