Bucher Memorial Tree Farm is the oldest continuing tree farm in the state of Missouri. The tree farm illustrates our continuing commitment to God's land and its resources.

The American Tree Farm System Committee compares tree farms each year and rewards one of them for their stewardship and upkeep of the forest. Shannondale was chosen as the 2003 Missouri State Tree Farm of the Year.

Oaks, hickories, and tall pines are what you see when you walk the hills of Shannondale.

Let me share a little history about your tree farm. (I say yours because it belongs to the Missouri Mid-South Conference UCC.)

Back in the early 1800’s Missouri's pine forests were heavily cut, leaving the hardwoods space to grow. Today this comprises most of Missouri’s forests. During the early 1900’s westward expansion and demand for hardwood depleted the forests of Missouri. The Shannondale area was not exempt from this deforestation.

When the church at Shannondale was established in 1929, the first Pastor was Vincent Bucher who had a love for this forest. Rev. Bucher saw that the only kind of crop that could grow in this part of Missouri was the hardwood forest. Through his foresight, good stewardship and educating the local inhabitants, the hardwoods have flourished.