(a) The Department of Agriculture may appoint suitable persons to serve under its direction either voluntarily or under compensation as state forest officers. Each officer so appointed shall be issued a certificate of appointment under the hand of the Secretary and shall be issued a badge as an insignia of authority. The appointee shall hold office until the appointee resigns or the appointment is revoked by the Secretary. Upon termination of appointment, service or authority, the appointee shall surrender and deliver to the Department the certificate, badge and other Department property in the appointee's possession.
(b) Before entering upon the duties of the office, each state forest officer shall take and subscribe the oath or affirmation as prescribed by the Constitution of the State for public officers, and the oath, subscribed by the officer, shall be kept in the files of the Department of Agriculture. Each person appointed and sworn as aforesaid shall be officially known as a state forest officer.