Talking Ties

The Power of Presence

By NATHAN “NATE” E. IRBY, PH.D., Executive Director of the Railway Tie Association

Iappreciate the opportunity to contribute to Hardwood Matters moving forward. Our new and continued collaboration with NHLA, HMR, AHMI, Forestry Associations, and many others across the hardwood landscape is a treasure for me. I come from hardwood sawmilling roots, own timberland, and am the third generation in the forest products business. Many blessings have been bestowed upon me, and I continue the good fight for our collective cause (continued relevance) because I genuinely believe in it.

Fragmentation is a complicated nuance, and with many other likedescriptors commonly thrown around within our hardwood “wheelhouse,” the time for collaboration through community safe harbor is at a pinnacle. Ties are a significant hardwood commodity, relatively steady in demand year over year, and an essential part of our country’s infrastructure. I previously worked for Union Pacific, and the company’s mission, in part, was to “Build America.” That is REAL, and hardwood crossties are still the predominant backbone of railroad track systems in North America – you/we should be proud of that. All other facets of our hardwood industry can tout similar, from flooring to pallets to board road and more. But even though, independently, we craft a great story about how wood is natural and renewable and encapsulates a low embodied energy to produce, i.e., woods to goods, I question: are we telling that story in the most meaningful and impactful way? Furthermore, if we cannot work more closely together within our own industry, how can we expect to prosper as a whole well into the future?

During my procurement days, I visited a lot of sawmills to understand the markets better because not just strong demand for ties influences sawmill operations – a stark imbalance between ties and lumber, for instance, is not healthy, for either, for long. While visiting with mills, I always tried to listen more than I talked (emphasis on “tried”), and even if there was hostility or discontent initially, I attempted to leave with both sides possessing an understanding of the conflicting viewpoints and (hopefully) mutual respect established. I garnered a couple of sayings throughout my time on the railroad, having survived those more heated visits, the first being, “the human condition will prevail,” and another, “wood IS renewable, so ARE relationships.” So, even though two sides might conflict initially, through mutual understanding and respect, both can walk away with a greater appreciation of each viewpoint, establish a connection for dual benefit (albeit it may only be a small sliver), and realize the greater good is attainable with some capacity of working together, right?

I challenge us all to help convey our collective message with a newly enhanced sense of community to attain the aforementioned – continued relevance through the power of presence.

Nathan “Nate” E. Irby, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Railway Tie Association

A.W. Stiles Contractors: Family Owned and Operated Since 1976.

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