Hedgesville family wins 15th annual Big Tree Contest with massive Black Walnut

The 2023 Big Tree Contest winner was J. Roland Gonano and his family for finding the largest Black Walnut tree in the Eastern Panhandle area, the species designated for this year’s annual and 15th year of the contest.

The tree had a circumference of 203 inches, a height of 71 feet, and a crown spread of 27 feet for a total that equals 301 points as measured by Forester Herb Peddicord. He has volunteered each…