July 2016
71st annual meeting coming together
The AFA Program Committee and staff have put together an outstanding agenda for the 71st Annual Meeting, scheduled for October 4-6, 2016, at the Chancellor Hotel, Fayetteville. Every aspect of this conference is designed to support AFA’s vision to be the respected leader and credible information source for all issues related to forestry. More than 250 attendees are expected for the 71st Annual Meeting. Thanks to the following sponsors and exhibitors for their contributions in making the Annual Meeting a success. It’s not too late to add your company to the list. Contact Jennifer Johnson at jjohnson@ arkforests.org for more information.
Premier Sponsor
Diamond Sponsor
AFAEF Raffle Sponsor Assoc. of Consulting Foresters - AR Chapter
Platinum Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor Don’s Hydraulic & Equipment Forestry Associates Forest Investment Associates Hampel Oil International Forest Company Molpus Woodlands Group, LLC Neeley Forestry Service Red River Specialties Shelby Taylor Trucking Southwestern Energy Stevens Forestry Service
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor BTG Pactual Domtar Farm Bureau Farm Credit Services Gene Brazeale Lumber Company Hancock Forest Management Larson & McGowin, Inc. LD Long, Inc. Ray White Lumber Company Resource Management Service, LLC TImber Mart-South
Exhibitors Acorn Forestry ArborGen AR Board of Registration for Foresters Arkansas Forestry Commission Construction Safety Products DataScout, LLC Hampel Oil International Forest Company Landmark Spatial Solutions Red River Specialties Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Family Services Weyerhaeuser Premium Seedlings
USDA to provide millions to Arkansas Flooding is a major problem for the farming-heavy Delta. The United States Department of Agriculture realized this was a major issue and will give Arkansas $14.7 million to fund a reforestation effort near the Lower Cache River watershed. Arkansas is one of only 10 projects the USDA funded in the 2016 Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership Project. The goal of this Project is to protect, restore or enhance 15,000 acres of wetlands in critical watersheds. “The funds will be used to reforest parts of the Delta that were once forest land with bottomland hardwood trees,” Director of The Arkansas Nature Conservancy, Scott Simon said.
“Planting trees will help hold floodwaters, prevent sediment from reaching existing bodies of water and create wildlife habitat,” Simon said. Another priority of this project includes restoring the natural hydrology, so that the forest land will get the amount of water they need.
eligible for funding.
Several private and state partners joined forces to fund this project by an additional $1 million. Partners include the Walton Family Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Arkansas Forestry Commission.
Landowners can apply for funding from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The federal government will purchase the land as an easement, allowing the USDA and partners to complete the reforestation projects. Arkansas landowners will have three years to take advantage of these funds.
Over 485,000 acres in Monroe, Prairie and Woodruff counties near the Cache River are
Check out http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ for further information.
Board ballot open to all members
AFA’s annual board of directors’ election is now open to select the leadership of the forestry industry’s oldest and largest state trade association! As a member of AFA, we hope that you will take some time to consider the great candidates vying for a seat on the board and cast a vote between now and August 10, when the online election closes. In order to cast a vote, you will need to complete the ballot online. You can find it on the AFA website here. http://www.arkforests.org/ surveys/?id=2017_Board_Ballot Please submit ONE ballot per member. If you have questions about the process, contact Jennifer Johnson at jjohnson@arkforests.org.
AFA Calendar August 6 Drew County Log-A-Load UAM - Gibson Center August 10 Tree Farm Committee Meeting AFA Office - Little Rock 10 a.m. August 31 Executive Committee Meeting AFA Office - Little Rock 10 a.m. September 1 Tree Farm Inspector Training Arkansas 4-H Center - Little Rock September 14 Program Committee Meeting AFA Office - Little Rock 10 a.m. September 24 River Valley Log-A-Load Auction Boys and Girls Club - Russellville September 24 Bradley County Log-A-Load Auction Immanuel Baptist Church - Warren October 3-7 Prescribed Fire School October 4-6 AFA Annual Conference Fayetteville, AR
AFA members in the spotlight Allen Morgan, Managing Partner of Hunter Wasson Timber Services and past AFA President, was recently elected District Governor of Rotary International’s District 6170.
Rotary International has 1.2 million members worldwide and is truly an international service organization. Allen was inducted as District Governor in June, 2016 and will represent 36 Rotary clubs (from Clarksville to Crossett) in southern and west central Arkansas. Learn more at www.rotary6170.org.
J.D. Neeley, Neeley Forestry Service, was recently elected by the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation Board of Directors to join the Game and Fish Foundation Board of Directors. “We are honored to have J.D. on the Foundation’s Board. He brings a lot to the table and will be a great asset in the projects and programs the Foundation has for Arkansas’ youth,” Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation President, Chuck Dicus said.
Vera Lloyd provides avenues to leave legacy
The Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, formed in 1982, is a non-profit organization composed of men and women who are passionate about promoting hunting, fishing and conservation education among the youth of Arkansas. Learn more at www. agff.org.
Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Family Services, AFA member since 2014, began in 1910 as a day nursery for children in Monticello and opened as a children’s home in 1923. The children’s home was made possible by a gift of 1,000 acres of timber by Annie B. Wells in Drew County, financial support provided by Vera Lloyd and childcare provided by LuLu Williamson. These ladies were from south Arkansas and saw the need for childcare in their communities.
Vera Lloyd relies on the generosity of people to provide care for children who live at the agency’s children’s home in Monticello. Gifts are invested in caring for youth, employing direct care staff and maintaining facilities.
Arkansas Forestry Association members have the opportunity to leave a legacy and make a difference in the lives of children. Vera Lloyd began its timber initiative in 2014 to encourage forest landowners to consider a gift of timberland to Vera Lloyd as way of forever helping the children’s home. Vera Lloyd now owns has more than 1,100 acres of timber in Drew, Ouachita, Grant and Jefferson counties. Davis Dubose Knight Forestry and Real Estate manages all of the timberland. “Gifts from our supporters and revenue from timber cutting makes it possible to change the lives of thousands of children,” Donna Mahurin, CEO, Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Family Services, said. Vera Lloyd recently invested in a new computer system for the campus and is looking to make improvements on campus roads. A sizable investment to install access gates to improve the security of the campus was recently made by the Agency.
“We understand that some landowners may already have plans for their property and may not wish to gift it. We encourage interested landowners to also consider a cash gift which can then be used by Vera Lloyd to purchase timberland,” board member and chair of Vera Lloyd Foundation, Larry Stanley said. “Every gift impacts a child and I truly believe the timber initiative will do great things for Vera Lloyd” Around 200 children walk through the doors of Vera Lloyd every year. These children come from all walks of life, including abuse, neglect or abandonment and are cared for by loving house parents. Vera Lloyd offers an emergency shelter for up to 45 days for children, residential care for long term stays, therapeutic group homes for up to nine months and respite care for up to 10 days for youth in foster care. Gifts of timberland are permanent and can be named in honor of the donor. For information on timber initiative, contact Melissa Hendricks, Director of Development at melissahendricks@veralloyd.org. Learn more online at www.veralloyd.org.
Wood you believe this lineup? AFA 71st Annual Meeting | Fayetteville Tuesday, October 4
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Recreational Activities (golf, skeet and trap) Noon - 6 p.m. Registration Noon - 6 p.m. Exhibitor Set-up 1 - 4 p.m. Forest Management Workshop Arkansas’ Timber Trespass Law Ricky Roper - Haley, Claycomb, Roper & Anderson, PLLC Forestry Ethics Caroll Guffey, AR Forest Resources Center Apps, Maps & Drones: Technology for Forest Landowners & Managers Johnny Thompson - Landmark Spatial Solutions, LLC 5 p.m. AFA Board Meeting 6 p.m. Opening Reception 7:30 p.m. Dinner on Your Own
Noon Luncheon 1 p.m. Panel Discussion - Why Arkansas? Fred Stimpson - President, Canfor Todd Mullis - VP of US South Operations, Interfor Chuck Watkins - VP of U.S. Lumber Manufacturing, West Fraser 2:30 p.m. Break 3 p.m. Panel Discussion - Biomass Donna Harman - CEO, American Forest & Paper Association Dr. Matt Pelkki - UAM School of Forestry & Natural Resources Dave Tenney - CEO, National Alliance of Forest Owners 6 p.m. Fish Fry at Fayetteville Town Center Musical Guest: Ward Davis
Thursday, October 6 8 a.m. 11 a.m.
Awards Breakfast Door Prizes, Silent Auction Results, Adjourn
Wednesday, October 5 7 a.m. Exhibitor Set-up 7 a.m. UAM Alumni Breakfast 7:30 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast 8:30 a.m. Keynote Address Tom Martin, American Forest Foundation 9:15 a.m. Arkansas Forests & Drinking Water Panel Dr. Bob Morgan - Beaver Water District Joe Fox - Arkansas State Forester Catherine Weisman - U.S. Endowment for Forests and Communities 10:45 a.m. Break 11:15 a.m. Impact of the 2016 Election & 2017 Legislative Session on Forestry Roby Brock - Talk Business & Politics
Register online at www.arkforests.org/ event/71stannualmeeting Early Bird Registration | Sept. 4 Registration Deadline | Sept. 19
Buyer’s Guide offers members advertising opportunity AFA has again partnered with Overland Park, Kansas based, Strategic Value Media — a leading nationwide provider of print and digital media solutions for national, state and local trade and membership associations — to produce the 2016 edition of AFA buyers’ guide (the “Guide”), the premier resource of relevant products and services for forestry professionals. This will be the second year that the Guide will be produced. “We were thrilled with the 2015 Guide and are looking forward to the 2016 Guide. This comprehensive Guide offers access to a vast network of industry suppliers,” said Rebecca Neely, Communications Director of AFA. “We’re pleased to offer such a needed resource, which will greatly assist industry professionals in making educated purchasing decisions throughout the year.” Like the 2015 version, the 2016 edition of the Guide will feature updated and expanded company and product listings,
The Chancellor Hotel 70 N. East Avenue Fayetteville, AR 72701 Rate: $119 - single/double Group: AFA Annual Meeting Deadline: Sept. 4 Phone: 1-479-442-5555
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in addition to other valuable information relating to the forestry industry. The Guide provides users with an efficient way to browse for goods and services and offers forestry suppliers and companies exceptional visibility by showcasing their products and services to a targeted, industry-specific buyer group. The 2016 Guide will be accessible through the AFA website at www.arkforests.org this coming Fall, and you can currently view the 2015 Guide there. We encourage you to take advantage of this exceptional opportunity to highlight your products and services in the Guide. To learn more about advertising your products or services in the Guide, please email afa-advertise@svmmedia.com.
Tree Farm Inspector Training|Sept. 1 Register Online http://www.arkforests.org/ event/inspectortraining