2022 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year
The N.C. Tree Farm Program named Harold and Wand Swaim of Yadkin County the 2022 N.C. Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year at its Annual Meeting on May 14. Even though their 216-acre Tree Farm is named “Lazy S”, there’s nothing lazy about Harold Swaim. At nearly 81 years old, he’s still a hands-on Tree Farmer who does 85 percent of the work himself, including waging war on Tree of Heaven and establishing and maintaining food plots for wildlife. Swaim’s desire to learn and experiment has yielded a diverse Tree Farm with natural hardwood regeneration and managed pine plantations, and an abundance of wildlife including deer, turkey, quail and a variety of songbirds.
Swaim is an avid hunter who devotes a lot of time and resources to wildlife food plots and habitat enhancement. He shares his love for wildlife with his grandchildren who regularly hunt the property. And he hosts hunts for youth and disabled hunters, building stands or blinds appropriate to their needs.