April 2017
AEDC takes interest in timber industry AFA
The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) is taking a closer look at different industries within the state, one of those being the timber industry. Arkansas is the second leading lumber producer in the US South and fourth in the nation. Arkansas’ forests are valued at $12.6 billion in standing timber and provides jobs for more than 28,000 employees directly and nearly 70,000 employees indirectly within the state. The average compensation of a timber industry employee is $51,939 annually. The AEDC has identified the timber industry as having potential for immediate growth in the state, therefore spurring the AEDC Marketing and Communications team to create a strategic marketing plan to target influencers and decision makers in the timber industry. These initiatives include the following: print and digital advertising, both domestic and abroad, a downloadable industry report, digital content, including a landing page on the AEDC website, featured blog post related to the timber industry on the AEDC blog, a podcast featuring Max Braswell, AFA Executive Vice President and two videos focusing on the industry, one video being promotional and
Max Braswell, EVP of AFA, sits down with Mike Preston, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, for a podcast interview concerning the importance of the forestry industry here in Arkansas. The complete interview will be available online soon! the other will be from a more journalistic approach. These videos will take part on active timber sites in Arkansas. Arkansas has seen an increase in timber investments in the last few years including the Highland Pellets mill in Pine Bluff, Caddo River Forest Products sawmill in Glenwood, the Conifex sawmill in El Dorado and Sun Paper paper mill in Arkadelphia. AFA is supportive of the AEDC’s initiative that will benefit our industry and the people in it. For more information go to http://info.arkansasedc.com/timber-productsindustry.
How can your grocery shopping benefit the AFA Education Foundation? AFAEF The Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation has recently partnered with Kroger’s Community Rewards program to raise funds for its programs including Project Learning Tree, Forestry Field Days, landowner education programs and the Log A Load for Kids program.
Kroger gives away more than $1.5 million to non-profits each year. Registering your Kroger card with the Community Rewards program will not affect your Kroger Fuel Rewards. Step 1: Go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com Step 2: Sign in or create a Kroger online account.
Step 3: Under Account Settings, update your Community Rewards non-profit to benefit the AFA Education Foundation, NPO # 63528. If problems occur, register your Kroger card by phone at 1-866-221-4141.
Just a little bit more information about the... Tree Farmer Conference Woodland owners from around the state are invited to attend the 3rd annual Arkansas Tree Farmer Conference on June 2 at the Conway County Multi-Purpose Building in Morrilton. The conference is part of the Arkansas Tree Farm Program, which provides help to landowners on woodland management for wildlife and timber production. The conference also helps connect participating landowners to others with similar interests. This year’s conference will offer a diverse set of topics and will give attendees an open forum to discuss issues related to the benefits and challenges of Tree Farming. For more information and to sign up go to www.arkforests.org/ event/2017tfconference. Contact: Jennifer Johnson, jjohnson@arkforests.org
Teacher Conservation Series The Teacher Conservation Tour, sponsored by the Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation (AFAEF), will offer a three-part workshop series focusing on the environmental, ecological, and economic benefits of Arkansas’s forestlands and timber industries. Each session qualifies for 12 hours of professional development. For more information about each session or to apply, teachers should go to http://www.arkforests.org/?page=TCT. Contact: Rob Beadel, rbeadel@arkforests.org
Log A Load for Kids On Thursday, April 6, Log A Load for Kids chapter volunteers met in Little Rock at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital’s new Mission Center to discuss fundraising ideas and our new endowment chair commitment. Our 2017-2018 commitment will fund the $1.5 million endowment chair for the Cardio Thoracic Surgery unit. We hope you will be able to attend one of the Log A Load for Kids events this year! Our first event is the Central Arkansas Log A Load for Kids Golf Tournament on May 8 in Pine Bluff. You can sign up to play at https://goo.gl/forms/ND3skjM89JvFANTw1. Contact: Rebecca Neely, rneely@arkforests.org
AFA Night with the Travs Come enjoy a night with the Travs with your AFA family and friends on Friday, August 4 for the low price of $20 per person. Three years old and under get in free! Your ticket provides access to UNLIMITED food and drink and admission to see the Arkansas Travelers take on the Tulsa Drillers. Game starts at 7:10. Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be served at the Tracks Inn Pavillon starting at 6:45 p.m. and end at 8:45 p.m. On the menu: burgers, home-style chicken breasts, hot dogs, bratwurst, sausages and BBQ sandwiches with BBQ Sauce and cole slaw! Stick around for the free fireworks after the game! Buy your tickets at http://www.arkforests.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=939322. Tickets must be purchased by July 17. Contact: Jennifer Johnson, jjohnson@arkforests.org
AFA Calendar of Events May 4-5 Spring Board Meeting Red Apple Inn | Heber Springs
May 26 Program Committee AFA Office | 10 a.m.
June 12 Tree Farm Inspector and Database Training Arkansas 4-H Center | Ferndale
May 8 Log A Load for Kids Central AR Golf Tournament | Pine Bluff
June 2 3rd Annual Tree Farm Conference Morrilton
June 20 Emerging Leaders Program Highland Pellets | Pine Bluff
May 10 Tree Farm Committee AFA Office | 10 a.m.
June 8 Log A Load for Kids South Central Golf Tournament | Glenwood
June 22-23 Teacher Conservation Tour | Session 2 Springdale
May 11 Emerging Leaders Program Green Bay Packaging | Morrilton May 24 Forest Practices Committee AFA Office | 9:30 a.m.
June 8-9 Teacher Conservation Tour | Session 1 Texarkana June 10 Log A Load For Kids South Central Dinner and Auction | Arkadelphia
July 6 Executive Committee AFA Office | 10 a.m. August 3 Emerging Leaders Program UAM School of Forestry and Natural Resources | Monticello
Which apps are best for the forestry industry? AFA
In today’s world, technology is changing the way we do everything, from ordering food to getting real-time traffic alerts to changing the way we sleep. Technology has a large impact on our lives. How has technology made an impact in the forestry world? Below are just a few apps that some AFA members find useful. If you have a favorite forestry related app not mentioned below, let Rebecca Neely know at rneely@arkforests.org. Tree Book
Features: Provides user with search features, images of tree, synonyms for trees, layman and scientific terms of trees
Avenza Maps
Features: Import maps, browse professionally created maps (i.e. topo) and download, offline accessibility, plot placemarks, and measure distance and area
Hunt App by: Onx Maps
Features: View private and public land ownership, topo maps, aerial imagery, view section lines and numbers, offline accessibility
4Loads Trimble Forestry
Features: View when, where and what timber was delivered, logging contractors can monitor weights of loads, access load tickets, improves reconciliation of delivered mill receipts
Google Earth
Features: Explore cities and counties in 3-D with the street view feature, send your location to coworkers
Cost: free
Cost: free, professional subscription available for $129.99 a year. Available for Android and iOS.
Cost: free, added features available for a yearly subscription cost of $14.99 - $34.99. Available for Android and iOS.
Cost: contact forestrysales@trimble.com
Cost: free
Arkansas Gives campaign raises more than $1,000 for AFAEF AFA
On April 6, the Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation partnered with the Arkansas Community Foundation for the Arkansas Gives campaign. This campaign allows non-profits in Arkansas to earn bonus dollars from the Community Foundation for any donations given online on the Arkansas Gives Day. With your help, the AFAEF raised $1,152.65! Thank you to all who gave to the state’s only forestry-related education non-profit. Your donations help fund Project Learning Tree, Forestry Field Days, landowner education and Log A Load for Kids. If you were not able to give on April 6, but would still like to give, please call the AFA office at 501-374-2441.