At this year’s Annual Conference & Forestry Expo, the Georgia Forestry Association proudly honored three exceptional individuals as 2026 Champions of Forestry for their outstanding leadership and service to Georgia’s forestry community.
The Champion of Forestry Award recognizes individuals who have gone above and beyond in supporting GFA’s mission through their time, influence, and unwavering commitment to the industry. This year’s honorees are:
- Jim Stokes – President, Sustainable Solutions Georgia, LLC
- Lynda Beam – Owner, TooHolly Tree Farm
- Frank Peeples– Owner, Peeples Industries, Inc
Jim Stokes has served on both the GFA Executive Committee and the Georgia Forestry Foundation Board of trustees. He is committed to bridge conservation and commerce through forest policy. As the Future of Forestry Join Legislative Study Committee’s only environmental member, he laid groundwork for the Georgia Forest Land Protection Act of 2008.
His work as a Foundation Trustee has helped to grow the Forest Champions annual giving campaign from $30,000 of pledged annual support in 2021 to more than $160,000 for 2026.
In addition to this award, Jim and his wife, Esther, have also been selected for the Greater Atlanta Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ 2026 Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year Award. They have given extraordinary time, resources, and forged great relationship for forestry, conservation, and communities across Georgia.
Lynda Beam is a longtime spokesperson and advocate for responsible land stewardship and working forestry. She broke ground as the first woman to serve on the GFA board of directors. Beam has been incredibly helpful to GFA for several years. Whether we need her to host an event, speak with a reporter, welcome someone to her farm or help build an important relationship, she is always willing to step forward.
She is always willing to give her personal time and advice to new landowners, forestry professionals, and industry leaders, sharing her knowledge, experience, and encouragement. Beam also helped being forestry to the public eye by sharing her story with national media outlets.
Lynda’s lifetime of service reflects the very best of Georgia forestry: stewardship, generosity, leadership and a commitment to leaving both the land and the forestry community stronger for the next generation.
Frank Peeples goes above and beyond in using his private business to impact the overall greater good. He is well-known in the forestry community for his tireless commitment to export issues. His most recent venture has been IMAC, an organization focused on growing market access for wood chips and other U.S. exports around the world.
Peeples also was a part of the Savannah committee formed by speaker Jon Burns to address market disruption due to mills closing earlier this year. He always answers the call to be a part in Congressional Staffer’s Tour without hesitation. Peeples is a selfless leader and continues to grow the forestry industry every day with his dedicated work.
You can view last year’s champions here.