Williamson County Chamber: Brentwood Tree Board Announces Contest Winners

Press release from Williamson County Chamber:

2021-10-06

Brentwood Tree Board Announces Contest Winners

Brentwood, Tenn –   The City of Brentwood and the Brentwood Tree Board announce the winners of its Brentwood’s Best Ash Contest that kicked off earlier this year.  The photo and mapping contest was designed to help educate the community about the invasion of the Emerald Ash Borer and its attack on Ash Trees.  In total, there were more than 270 contest entries and dozens of Ash Trees identified on private and public land in Brentwood.

City Commissioner and Tree Board Member Ken Travis said, “this contest and the data collected is important to the City of Brentwood.  We will now use this information to add to the city’s tree canopy catalog.  This will help us determine, if we begin to lose trees, the locations of other ash trees in the community.”  Travis added, “this was ultimately an awareness campaign to help educate Brentwood about this invasive insect that will kill trees over time if left untreated.”

VIDEO: A Homeowner’s Story about Emerald Ash Borer and Trees

Entries were judged in two different categories by various Brentwood Tree Board Members.  In category one, images were judged on artistic expression, originality, creativity and demonstration of the theme, Brentwood’s Best Ash.   For the second category, winners were determined by the total number of unique locations submitted per entrant.  For both categories, the tree must have been an ash species tree and located within the Brentwood city limits.  Judges worked with the City’s Geographic Information System, or GIS, department to verify the locations.

Carolyn Follis and her photo of an ash tree looking up into the sky is the winner of the grand prize.

She is awarded the top prize of $1,000 for her submission.   Tree Board Chairperson Lynn Tucker said during the judging, “this is how we see ash trees, looking up at the tree and beautiful leaves with the blue sky peeping through.  She captured the elegance of this basic tree in a beautiful, yet simple way.”  Another member and judge, Patty Schultz said, “this entry just popped out!”   When notified of her winning, Follis said, “as a newcomer to this area, I was looking for ways to become involved in this wonderful community.  This contest was a fun way to immerse myself into the beauty in our area. My affinity for trees is one reason I relocated to Tennessee and the trees on our property drew us to make this our home.”  She also added a little personal motivation by saying, “ash trees are good reminders, when needing a lift, look up.”   Follis also thanked the board for their efforts in putting this together.

Mary Rice submitted two entries of a popular ash tree located in Smith Park beside Ravenswood Mansion. The photo was submitted in black and white and color and received several comments of praise by the judges.  Contest coordinator and Tree Board Member Brian Evans said, “judges loved both editions of this photo.   This one in black and white surely says Brentwood.”  Rice also thanked the board for raising awareness of the Emerald Ash Borer through the contest.

Third place winner, Rose Pierce, submitted a unique entry which showcased one ash tree, with two tree trunks.  Pierce also wins first place in the most entries submitted category for a grand total prize winnings of $750.   She submitted 65 location entries of ash trees all over Brentwood.  Pierce said she entered the contest because she loves being in nature and am frequently on all the trails and greenways in Brentwood. “It was great to broaden my knowledge about tree identification and how to protect those trees at risk. I had fun exploring all the nooks and crannies in Brentwood and getting to know my hometown even better,” said Pierce.

James Owen submitted the second most entry locations at 48 and Steve Johnson submitted 27 location entries.

All winners are invited to attend the October 11 regular Brentwood City Commission meeting where prize checks will be presented shortly after the meeting begins at 7pm.  The meeting will also be live streamed and available for viewing on our website here.   The city also thanks the generous community sponsors who made this contest possible.  State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company, SVMIC, donated the prize money and the Williamson Homepage helped advertise the contest.

This press release was produced by Williamson County Chamber. The views expressed here are the author’s own.