08/06/2026
Here is our agenda for Saturday’s meeting at Roaring River State Park.
2026 OZARK CHINQUAPIN PUBLIC MEETING
Roaring River State Park Missouri
Saturday, August 8, 2026
9:00am - 4:45pm
Meeting Agenda
9:00 am-WELCOME! - Steve Bost, President/Founder of Ozark Chinquapin Foundation and Mike Busekrus, Superintendent of Roaring River State Park Missouri. Why we are here and the Modern-Day Conservation Success taking place today!
9:10- 9:25am- Remembering When – Pard Lowe, 89 years old Missouri Outdoorsman and Conservationist has spent his life in Ozarks Mountains shares in his own words growing up when the Ozark chinquapin trees were abundant and widespread and the significant difference the trees made in the lives of people and wildlife.
9:25-10:00am-History of the Ozark Chinquapin Tree and its Return -Steve Bost-President/Founder of the Ozark Chinquapin Foundation, shares the tree’s historic importance for people and wildlife, what caused its loss from our forest, and the tree’s remarkable comeback! Witness the dedicated behind the scenes laboratory and selective breeding field work of pure genetics accomplished by a dedicated Team of OCF Members, Volunteers, and Restoration Partners that have made blight resistant trees a Modern-Day Conservation Reality! NEW Discoveries made about the tree’s significant impact on wildlife populations, its true native range, and impact on forest ecosystems today!
10:00am Break Silent Auction Setup by Tim Smith
10:10- 10:35 - “What’s the Buzz? Ozark Chinquapin (Castanea ozarkensis) flowers have similar insect richness but different composition during the day and night.” Olivia Burdine, BS, Mississippi State University, PhD Entomology Candidate at University of Arkansas - shares her dedicated work in the Department of Entomology at the University of Arkansas, studying the flower-visitor system of Castanea ozarkensis. She is investigating community composition, diurnal vs. nocturnal abundance and diversity, and how these insects utilize the resources this tree offers. These studies continue to fill in the knowledge gaps about the relationships between the Ozark Chinquapin and its supporting insects. The overall goal of her research is to inform managers, stakeholders, and conservationists on how to promote the visitation of the most prolific flower visitors to the Ozark chinquapin, which will result in higher seed yields.
10:40-11:15 am – Updates on the Ozark Chinquapin Projects with the Foothills Chapter of the Arkansas Master Naturalists- Robert Fuhler, Chapter Coordinator for Bluffton Preserve (TNC) and Fred Hendricks, Chapter Coordinator for Bell Slough WMA (AGFC)- A quick introduction to the Arkansas Master Naturalists with Ozark Chinquapin project statuses for Bluffton Preserve, Bell Slough WMA, Woolly Hollow SP, and upcoming projects at Sugar Loaf Mountain Nature Trail and Smith Creek Preserve., TNC. They share how collaborative action is what truly saves a species from extinction. Join them for a behind-the-scenes look at the multi-front volunteer campaign to rescue the endangered Ozark Chinquapin tree. This session highlights how “Tree Roots Efforts” drive ecosystem recovery, from coordinating hands-on "Seed Mailing Parties" for OCF Members and establishing critical restoration plots on Nature Conservancy, State Parks, and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission lands. The presenters will also share how they enhance these habitats by restoring native wildflowers and amplifying their impact on Facebook and by producing creative outdoor information panels to educational and inspire the public. Learn how rare seeds, collective volunteer hours, and powerful information are rewriting the future of Ozark ecology.
11:15 -11:45 am - Bringing Back the Ozark Chinquapin: Success, Soil, and Secrets with Forester Chris Wyatt- Chris Wyatt, County Forester with Arkansas Forestry- as a leader in forest conservation, land management, and stewardship, the Arkansas Forestry Division actively works to restore and protect the state's vital natural resources. Highlighting these efforts, OCF Board Member Chris shares critical breakthroughs from the First Restoration Planting, offering key insights into field research, tree growth expectations, and strategic planting locations. His comprehensive guidance addresses practical cultivation challenges, including identifying the best soil types, deterring wildlife predation, and successfully growing resilient trees with little to no water. Through dedicated outreach, Chris and his Forestry Team partner with hundreds of private landowners across the region. They wear many hats of responsibility at the Arkansas Forestry Office fighting wildfires, doing search and rescue, prescribed burns, saving lives in medical emergencies, help landowners be successful stewards of their land as well as finding rare chinquapin trees and helping landowners become part of the Restoration!
11:45 AWARDS- People Making a Difference-
11:50- Group Photo – Terra Fondriest
12:00- 12:45-LUNCH
12:45 pm-- Musical Break- Live music from Donna & Kelly Mulhollan from “Still on the Hill” and Why they are singing for the Trees!
1:00-2:00 pm- The Chinquapin Playbook: Fix Growing Pains & Boost Your Harvest- Are you ready to take your Chinquapin trees to the next level? As our trees mature and finally start producing those highly anticipated nuts, a whole new world of growth and troubleshooting opens up. Five expert presenters are teaming up for a high-energy, "show and tell" style session packed with practical pointers to fix your toughest growing issues on the spot. We are unlocking brand-new, top-secret cultivation strategies for long-term success, and the best part is that YOU run the show. Bring your wildest questions, share your own feedback, and get the exact answers you need to watch your trees thrive for generations to come!
2:10-3:00pm – Magnificent Trees of Virginia and Castanea Research- Byron Carmean- His passion for finding and documenting big trees truly stands out. Byron leveraged his academic background from Virginia Tech one of the nation's most legendary big tree hunters. After earning his degree, he spent over two decades teaching horticulture and forestry in Chesapeake, transforming his baseline expertise into a lifelong passion for conservation. Over a 40-year quest, Carmean has crisscrossed Virginia’s forests, swamps, and historic sites to document massive flora for the Virginia Big Tree Program. His unrivaled ability to spot giant specimens has helped him discover nearly 50 state and national champion trees, earning him more official tree-hunting records than anyone else in the United States. Among his rare finds are Chinquapin trees that are not even listed for Virginia!
3:10-3:40pm- What If…?? Trees Could Talk – The True Historic Range of the Chinquapin Tree, Steve Bost, President/Founder of OCF and A.J. Hendershott, OCF Vice- President – unveil groundbreaking new research and DNA studies that rewrite the history of America's lost forests. While long believed functionally extinct with a historically limited range, "Boots on the Ground" field validation, molecular science, and forgotten historical records prove the Ozark Chinquapin tree once thrived across a massive expanse stretching from Texas and Oklahoma all the way to the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Discover how these rare, resilient remnant populations managed to survive the devastating impact of the chestnut blight and explore the fascinating written documentation from vintage tree books to historic newspaper articles that finally reveals the true, surprising native footprint of this legendary American tree.
3:40pm-4:00pm Silent Auction – Will be set up and start at the first morning break and run until the conclusion of the last afternoon break. Silent Auction Ends-Tim Smith
4:00-4:30pm- Barks, Bows, and Wilderness Brews: The Wild, Lost Uses of the Ozark Chinquapin - A.J. Hendershott, Regional Supervisor, Missouri Department of Conservation- Step back in time from 4:00 to 4:30 PM for an action-packed journey into the secret, forgotten world of the Ozark Chinquapin! A.J. is stepping off the internet and onto the stage to share mind-blowing research you won't find on Google. Armed with 25+ years of experience crafting traditional wooden longbows, A.J. will reveal how this Legendary Tree did it all,….from musical instrument wood to using sharp burs and rugged bark to tan animal hides to brewing life-saving leaf remedies for whooping cough. Discover how early Americans spun the tree into barrels, baskets, natural dyes, and clothing, and find out why its super-nutritious nuts crush foreign chestnuts in flavor, protein, and brain-boosting magnesium! It is an inspiring, high-energy look at nature's ultimate survival tree that you absolutely cannot miss…..and don't forget to follow A.J.'s popular OCF Facebook updates for even more Wilderness Wisdom!
4:30 pm Open for Questions and Feedback.
Thank You All for Joining Us!
5:30pm- DINNER
6:30pm- Informal casual social getting to know each other in the Fireplace /Lobby area of the Lodge and exchange ideas.
Sunday August 9, 2026
11:00am – Optional Field Trip with David Crowly, Park Interpreter to see Ozark Chinquapin trees in the wild. Meet at Front Desk Area in the Lodge.
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