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[Page S4936]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO PUTNAM ``PUT'' BLODGETT
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, Putnam ``Put'' Blodgett's lifetime of
service to the Vermont forest industry deserves special recognition.
Put personified the essence, values, and traditions of what makes
Vermont special.
Put's family moved to a Bradford, VT, dairy farm during the height of
the Great Depression. He attended Dartmouth College and returned home
in 1953 to work on the family farm, which he eventually took over and
continued to steward with his wife and children. Put left the dairy
business for other endeavors but maintained his connection to the
family land, working tirelessly to restore and manage its 700-acre wood
lot. Always focused on long-term sustainable management, Put placed the
acreage in conservation with the Upper Valley Land Trust, preserving
the forest for all generations. Put's son now manages the forest,
continuing that legacy.
Put and his wife, Marilyn, ran the Challenge Wilderness Camp,
teaching children about nature and guiding them on wilderness pursuits.
Children would travel from cities to live in an Adirondack shelter,
cook over an open fire, learn to canoe, and explore the forest. Put's
goal was to assist young people on their journey to adulthood,
cultivating their connection with the natural world. Watching our own
children and grandchildren play in woods and fields of our farm in
Middlesex, VT, Marcelle and I know how crucial it is for children to
have the experience in nature that Put and Marilyn provided to so many.
A true leader in Vermont's conservation and forestry community, Put
was the longstanding president of Vermont Woodlands Association and
oversaw the Tree Farm Program. He was recognized twice as Vermont's
Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year. Our farm in Middlesex has been
enrolled in the Tree Farm Program for about 30 years, and I am deeply
appreciative of the value the program has brought to my land and to
Vermont.
Forest management discussions can be a tense tug-of-war between
environmentalism and timber management, but Put didn't see it that way.
He understood conservation as a shared priority--a public and private
good alike--and he worked to unite divergent stakeholders around this
common interest. I looked to Put for advice when writing Vermont
wilderness legislation and Put was a founding member of the Vermont
Natural Resources Council's Forest Roundtable, an open forum for
Vermonters to exchange information and recommend conservation policy.
On many occasions, Put helped opposing sides find that elusive common
ground on forest management policy.
Putnam Blodgett, as any true forester, worked with a mission to be
accomplished on a timeframe much longer than his own life span or a
single generation. Put passed away earlier this year, and yet I take
comfort knowing that the Green Mountains of Vermont are better for his
work here. To the great benefit of my grandchildren and many
generations to come, Put's legacy lives in the Northern Forest.
____________________
