TN celebrates dedication of 16th state forest in Fayette County

FAYETTE COUNTY, Tenn. — There’s a new state forest in West Tennessee, located along the Wolf River in Fayette County.

Wolf River State Forest became the 16th state forest under the Forestry Division of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

The forest encompasses over 5,000 acres of land along the North Fork of the Wolf River. The ceremony was held at Bryan Hall with speakers gathering from across the state.

Governor Lee spoke to a crowd of around 100 people about the need a state forest fills and how protecting it can make Tennessee a better place.

“The older I got and the more I lived life the more I realized that we don’t have that opportunity for everyone in the world and that if we don’t recognize that as an asset and protect it and value it, then it will diminish,” said Governor Lee.

Dr. Keith Carver from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture also spoke, applauding the several people that made the acquisition possible.

“Julia Ames, obviously, when she passed away left this land and this area to the Hobart-Ames Foundation which has really been tied to the University of Tennessee since 1959,” said Dr. Carver.

Wolf River State Forest is one of only two second generation white oak seed orchards in the world. The research taking place in the forest will work toward improving the seedling quality of white oak trees.

The Wolf River is one of the streams that provide the city of Memphis with its drinking water.

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