C.A. (Buck) Vandersteen, executive director of the Louisiana Forestry Association, has been named a Fellow of the National Society of American Foresters. Vandersteen is the only recipient of the SAF honor from Louisiana this year.

"This is an exceptional recognition bestowed upon you by your peers for outstanding service to the Society and to the profession," wrote John Beuter, president of SAF. "It is an honor that few receive and one that you richly deserve."

Vandersteen has been executive director of LFA since 1982. He has a BS degree in forest management from University of Massachusetts, and an MBA from Louisiana Tech University. He also completed the Association Institute for Organizational Management in 1999 and the Ag Leadership Development Program at LSU in 1992.

He is a former procurement forester in Louisiana and Virginia. He also served with the Peace Corps in Liberia from 1972-74. Currently he is president of the Southern Forest Heritage Museum and national chairman of the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching.

He serves on the Governor's Task Force on Groundwater and the LSU Agricultural Development Council.

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