Ralph and Elsie Hock, forest landowners in Minden, wee presented the 2001` Future Forest Award by the Louisiana Forestry Association August 29, during the annual meeting of the Association. The award is given annually to a private landowner who does a good job of reforesting forest land.

The award was given for 75 acres of their total 240 acres of forest land in Webster Parish bordering Interstate 20. Hock, a retired chemical and petroleum engineer, gives his wife credit for much of their forestry success.

"Her father, F.O. Krouse, was one of the first in the area to work with the Soil Conservation Service to build terraces to control water runoff," Hock said.

Mrs. Hock also said her father instilled a good stewardship ethic. "If we cut a tree, we had to plant two. You put back more than you took out. That was Daddy's policy," she said.

The Hocks have been converting former pasture land to timber. The tract has been hand-planted and with tractors. He has also had a prescribed burn on the land.

The Hocks were nominated by his forester Mike Merritt, of Minden.