2025 Fall Chapter Meeting
🌰
2025 Fall Chapter Meeting 🌰
Please join us for a day full of learning and connection!
When?
Our 2025 fall chapter meeting will be held:
November 8th, 8:30am to 2:30pm.
Where?
The Centennial Barn at Fort Hunter Mansion
5395 N. Front St, Harrisburg PA 17110
Check out this fantastic lineup of speakers!
Rick Hartlieb
A Walkthrough of a Commercial Chestnut Operation in Pennsylvania
Learn about the process a small, first generation farm, started in the production of chestnuts at a commercial scale. Harvesting to processing product has been a journey as the farm has grown from producing 100 pounds to 10,000 pounds.
*Rick and Jen Hartlieb established Castanea Farms in 2017 in Robesonia Berks County. The farm is one of two large commercial chestnut operations in Penssylvania. Rick also serves on the board of the Northern Nut Growers Association, Chestnut Growers of America, and the PA/NJ Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation.
Bruce Levine
Knowing the Enemy - What We Can Learn From Studying the Chestnut Blight Fungus
What is the chestnut blight fungus and how does it cause disease? How studying the fungus can lead us to discover or create mechanisms of resistance in chestnut.
*Bruce Levine is a member and volunteer of TACF (since 1995). Bruce has served several terms on TACF’s Board of Directors, as chair of the Chapters Committee and the Science & Technology Committee. He has served twice as president of the Maryland Chapter. Bruce was a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service from 1990 to 2016. He obtained his Master’s degree in plant science at the University of Maryland in 2019, and has been working on his PhD since then, developing methods for gene editing in the chestnut blight fungus- research that can help us better understand the host-pathogen relationship behind chestnut blight.
We are also looking forward to hearing from our Regional Science Coordinator, Lake Graboski, with our Fall Science Report!
Richard Tegtmeier
Applying Genetic Insights from Apple Disease Resistance Breeding to Chestnut Restoration
The process of disease resistance breeding in apples has many parallels to the restoration of the American chestnut. We will explore how we can apply what was learned in one tree crop to benefit another.
*Dr. Richard (Ricky) Tegtmeier is a recent graduate from the section of Plant Breeding and Genetics at Cornell University. The focus of his research was identifying novel loci throughout the genomes of wild and domesticated apples that were associated with fire blight resistance. Ricky plans to bring his expertise to Rodale in service of building more resilient agroecosystems from the ground up. As the new Orchard Scientist at Rodale Institute, Ricky is leading the perennial research program, applying his expertise to advance the management of temperate fruit and nut systems as well as agroforestry tree crops.
FAQs:
Q: Do I need to be a member to attend?
A: While our chapter meetings are created especially for our members, all are welcome! (And really, no pressure, but we’re betting you’ll want to become a member after you have a chance to get to know us!)
Q: What is the ticket price?
A: $25 per person.
Q: What is included in my ticket price?
A: A LOT. Not only the chance to hear from experts in our industry with time to network and mingle with the best “nuts” around, but also breakfast (muffins, coffee, and juice) AND lunch (sandwiches, sides and beverages)! Seriously, a real deal!
Q: Can I pay at the door?
A: You can! Just be sure to RSVP to Audrey at aso5287@psu.edu or (814)863-7192 by November 5th.
Q: Will there be merch?
A: Yep! We will have an assortment of our new T’s. Always nice to see colors and sizes in person! Plus, no shipping fees!
Have a question not answered here? Just ask! Give us a ring at (814)863-7192, or email Audrey at aso5287@psu.edu.