Richard Gill, an alumnus of Pierce County High School, has been named as the 2025 Georgia Forestry Teacher of the Year.
Gill is a 36-year agriculture education veteran, teaching at Brantley County High School in Nahunta.
The Georgia Forestry Teacher of the Year award is presented by the Georgia Forestry Foundation and is sponsored by Huber Engineered Woods. The award honors a Georgia classroom educator who has demonstrated exceptional dedication in teaching students about the importance of Georgia’s forests to our environment, economy and heritage.
Gill was recognized for his achievement at the annual Georgia Forestry Association (GFA) 2025 Annual Conference and Forestry Expo, which was held recently at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. Attendees, which included over 700 GFA members and stakeholders who work in all parts of the forestry supply chain, celebrated his contributions to forestry education and recognized his role in shaping the future of forestry in Georgia.
“Mr. Gill’s interactive teaching methods provide valuable and engaging opportunities for students to immerse themselves in forestry,” said Matt Hestad, senior vice president of the Georgia Forestry Association and Foundation. “He works hard to connect his students directly to Georgia's forestry industry through partnerships with local landowners and forest- products companies, giving students hands-on skills and exposure to real careers. Many of Richard's graduates go on to pursue forestry degrees and careers - a testament to the influence of great teaching on the future of our industry.”
With Georgia’s 22 million acres of working forests creating $41.3 billion in annual economic impact and more than 143,000 jobs, Georgia is ranked as the number one forestry state in the nation. Georgia leads all other states in commercially available timberland, annual harvest volume, forest product exports and tree planting.
The Georgia Forestry Foundation (GFF), established in 1990, is a 501 (c) (3) organization that acts as the educational arm of the Georgia Forestry Association. Their mission is to sustain Georgia’s forests through funding and support of leadership development, policy studies, and education to enhance the economic, environmental and community value of working forests for Georgia. For more information, visit www.gfagrow.org.
Applications for agriculture teachers open in the spring. More information can be found at https://gffgrow.org/toty.
