AFA NEWSROOM V13 NO. 8, April 15, 2018

you don't want to miss the next RR at selwood farms

You folks up  in the Childersburg area need to get ready for a great event at the AFA Childersburg Area Regional reception at beautiful Selwood Farms on April 26, 2018. 

Dell Hill and his lovely wife Carolyn always help us put on a great event at their fantastic facility!  So make plans to attend the Childersburg area RR on April 26, 2018 at 6 p.m. and also the Piedmont District meeting just before at 5 p.m. Read more...

participant in Forestry Worker program finalist for teacher of the year. 

Ashley Holmes who teaches at Falkville High School in Morgan County and is a very active participant in the AFA's Forestry Worker program, has been selected as one of 16 nominees for Alabama Teacher of the Year. Congratulations to Ashley and "thank you" for participating in our Forestry Worker program. Read story about the nominees...

Hospitals receive Log a load funds raised in 2017 

After a meeting of the Alabama Log a Load for Kids Foundation in Montgomery recently, Children's Hospital was presented with a  $152,524.74 check for its share of the of the $184,846 that was raised by Log a Load in 2017. Also set to receive funds from the program are Mobile Children's and Women's Hospital, $21,560.99 and Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, $10,760.99. PHOTO: Pictured above, left to right, are Cayleigh Cummings, Mandy Cain, Emily Hornak, Carmen Maddox, Mark Byal, Deb Schneider, Sam Duvall and Alice Blake.   

young forestry leaders storm montgomery

Developing leadership qualities, increasing communication skills, networking – these are all reasons why the Alabama Forestry Association Board of Directors strongly support the Alabama Forestry Young Leaders Program.  With the future of Alabama forestry in mind, the Board agreed that a young professionals program was key.

PHOTO: Young Forestry Leader Jesse Hunter stands with Governor Kay Ivey, who addressed the leaders class at the AFA offices in Montgomery recently. Read more..

Driver appreciation day a big hit at WestRock

The Alabama Loggers Council held a Driver Appreciation Day at WestRock in Stevenson, Ala., Friday April 6th.

AFA staffers Bill Harris, Brad Nail and Ray Clifton assisted Loggers Council Executive Director Joel Moon with the event. Among other things AFA staffers grilled 200 delicious burgers which went into sack lunches that were given to drivers. PHOTO: ALC Director Joel Moon (right) stands with WestRock's Regional Fiber Supply Manager Harry Bledsoe (left) and Captain Jessie Peoples who runs the Alabama Motor Carrier Safety Unit for the State Troopers.  Read more...

the future of forestry is looking up

The North American Forest Partnership has produced an outstanding video which demonstrates the almost limitless potential of wood for making things that improve and enhance people's lives. The video interviews six pioneers of the forest community for a conversation about the future of wood. View video...

don't forget the big tree farm events this month and next

You are invited to join the Alabama Tree Farm program as it presents two upcoming field tours. On Tuesday, April 17th, 2018, the tour will be on the beautiful Riverwood Tree Farm in Cullman County and on Thursday, May 10, 2018 we will be visiting the Mooney Tree Farm in Coosa County.  The tours are free, but space is limited. For more information or to register online visit: www.alaforestry.org. Lunch will be provided. CFE & PLM credits available.

first 2018 tcw workshop set for july 9-12 in auburn

Time to start thinking about the Teacher's Conservation Workshop for July 9-12, 2018 at Auburn, Alabama. For more information contact tcw@alaforestry.org.

Read more...

afa's continuing ed program is bringing new classes online

The Alabama Forestry Association’s online continuing education program is offering new classes in an updated format.  With a conservative start, look for the existing library of classes to grow over the coming months.

Online continuing education provides an excellent way to maximize learning while minimizing time away from work. Earned credits currently include CFEs (continuing forestry education) and PLM (Alabama Professional Logging Manager) hours.  Credits for Society of American Foresters (SAF) continuing education are being requested/in process.  Check out the course offerings here. 

NOTE: Alabama Forestry Association and Alabama Loggers Council members receive a $10 discount for each class purchased.

afc firefighters return from oklahoma 

After battling wildfires in Oklahoma for 14 days, four Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) wildland firefighters returned to Alabama on Friday, March 30. The AFC is a member of the ‘Southeastern
Fire Compact’ with the forestry agencies of 12 other southern states, an agreement which provides
mutual aid in fighting forest fires.

When any of those states has wildfires that exceed their capacity, they can call for assistance by activating the compact. This agreement authorizes the AFC to send crews out of state for help with wildfire suppression, and it would also enable the Commission to call for support from sister states if Alabama faced such a wildfire emergency.  Read more...

Enjoy turkey season, but watch out for the ticks

If you hunt turkeys, the threat posed by sneaking through the Alabama woods involves more than just watching out for snakes.

There is also something much, much smaller but possibly just as harmful.

It’s the family of ticks that turkey hunters dread each spring, and the prevalence of disease-carrying ticks is becoming more evident each year. PHOTO: Lone Star ticks in small, medium and large sizes. Read more...

fra farm bill update

Recently, the House Agriculture Committee released its long-awaited Farm Bill draft titled the
Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018.

The bill is 641 pages and we continue to review its many titles and provisions, but wanted to flag a few areas the FRA has worked on and will continue to support.  Read more... 

the piedmont district's April 28 Log a Load event includes a great auction 

The Piedmont District's annual sporting clay shooting event at the Oaks on April 28, 2018 will also hold a dynamite live auction.

Event Chair Mandy Cain says the auction will include a zero turn lawn mower and three different size green egg grills. Read more...

browning citori up for grabs at piedmont log a load event

For you guys who like to shoot skeet and sporting clays, the first Log a Load event of 2018 will include the opportunity to win a Browning Citori CX shotgun with 32-inch barrels and all the trimmings!

This is a really fine shotgun that will last whomever wins it at the Piedmont District Log a Load event on April 28th a lifetime of shooting pleasure. Of course, you can also hunt with the gun which is just as good for field shooting as for the range. View event flyer...

keep your forests Forever Tag if you have it. if you don't have it please buy it! 

The Forests Forever tag which funds many of our outstanding programs is a fairly low cost and easy way for you to support the programs we rely on to educate the public about forestry in Alabama.
   
The tag shows our love for the great outdoors and features the Bald Eagle, our national bird. If you don't already have it, please request this tag through your local probate office for only $50 and you can have it personalized for FREE. It already costs $50 to personalize a regular Alabama car tag, so why not select our Forests Forever tag and help raise money to support forestry education efforts throughout the state? Again, if you don't now have our tag, please ask for the Forests Forever tag when you renew your car and truck tags this year. Please support this program and help us maintain our forests forever!

PLM Opportunities in Alabama

Now is a GREAT time to earn PLM continuing education hours. Forestry field days and indoor course opportunities are listed on the AFA Calendar.
Get more info at: http://www.alaforestry.org/events/event_list.asp. New opportunities are constantly being added so check back often.

Four log a Load events set for early 2018

The first four Log a Load fundraising events have been set with the first event being the Longleaf District golf tournament on April 26, followed by the Piedmont District's annual sporting clay's shootout April 28th and the annual Wiregrass District Trail Ride in Abbeville set for May 5th. The fourth event will be the Delta District golf event on May 17 in Chatom. 

If you are a Log a Load area coordinator please send your event plans for 2018 to sduvall@alaforestry.org as soon as possible for inclusion in Newsroom. 

Announced events for 2018:

 > Longleaf District. The annual Longleaf District golf event sponsored by T.R. Miller in Brewton has set the date of April 26, 2018 for their event. Click here for registration document.

> Piedmont District. District Log a Load Director Mandy Cain has set April 28th, 2018 as the day she plans to hold her annual Log a Load sporting clay event which also features a turkey shoot and auction. Click here for flyer on Mandy's event. Contact Mandy at woodchoptimber@gmail.com.

> Wiregrass District. The annual Wiregrass Trail Ride has been set for May 5th in Abbeville. Details to follow.

> Delta District. The annual Delta District golf tourney will be held on May 17, 2018 at the Pines of Chatom Golf Club. Click here for brochure. To register for the event, click here. Contacts: Tricia at Timber6387@gmail.com, or Carolyn Reynolds at Carolynreynolds65@icloud.com.

> Capital District. The Capital District will hold its annual golf event on May 22, 2018 at Lagoon Park. Click here for event flyer. Contact: Terry Bussey at 334-575-1733 or at terry.bussey@westrock.com. 

everything you ever wanted to know ABOUT FORESTRY 

We now have two books that you can use to learn more about forestland management and the history of the forest products industry in Alabama. These books make outstanding gifts for birthdays, Christmas and any other gift-giving purpose. The book on the left, Green Gold: Alabama's Forests and Forest Industries, provides the first comprehensive history of forestry in Alabama, from when the Indians cleared forests for agriculture to the modern era.

The book on the right, Managing Forests on Private Lands in Alabama and the Southeast, is probably the best book every produced on managing forests for timber production and for preserving water and wildlife resources.      

If you are interested in owning either or both of these books, contact Liz Chambers at (334) 481-2135 or lchambers@alaforestry.org.