February 2017
Calhoun County hosts largest Forestry Field Day AFA The largest forestry contest in Arkansas, held in Calhoun County, took place on February 9. The “Hogskin Forestry Contest” had a record turnout with 157 participants from 24 different schools. Contest participants competed in the following categories: Equipment Identification, Tree Identification, Compass and Pacing, Timber Cruising, Volume Estimation and Map Reading. “I truly enjoy seeing the kids learn about different aspects of forestry and being able to apply it to their everyday lives,” Jaret Rushing, Cooperative Extension County Agent said. Jesse Thompkins of Taylor High School took first place with a score of 483 out of 500. Two brothers from Hermitage, Cade and Connor Wilkerson, walked away claiming second and third place respectively, with scores of 482 and 469. Teams from the 24 schools were ranked by the scores of the best three on their team. Hermitage High School led the contest with a score of 1403. Taylor High School followed
Students from 24 different schools participated in various forestry events including timber cruising and volume estimation, equipment identification, tree identification, compass and pacing and map reading. in second place with a score of 1346 and Hampton High School came in third at 1161. The Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation partnered with the Calhoun County Farm Bureau, Farm Credit Services of Western Arkansas, Calhoun County Cattlemen’s, DM Apparel, Calhoun County EHC, Hampton FFA Program, Calhoun County employees, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension and the Beene family to make the 2017 Hogskin Forestry Contest a success. The Hogskin Forestry Contest is one of numerous practice contests before these participants go onto State FFA and State 4-H contests that will be held this April.
A look at this year’s regular legislative session Written by: Max Braswell, Executive VP The 91st Arkansas General Assembly convened on Monday, January 9, with the expectation of a longer than normal session due in part to the massive amount of new bills and amendments needed to craft the state’s Medical Marijuana laws. However, with the session more than half complete, lawmakers have made better than expected progress on this complicated issue, passed major
components of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s tax reform package, and are now headed toward the homestretch with an earlyApril adjournment possible. Before that happens, however, we can expect to see plenty of bills filed as lawmakers turn their attention to their individual issues of interest. In addition, legislators must approve a budget for the state before they adjourn and they will determine which, if any, of a large list of proposed Constitutional Amendments they will refer to the 2018 General Election Ballot. While “big-picture” items usually dominate
the early portion of the session, there have been several issues of interest to the timber and forest products community on the agenda, with several more to come. In addition, Forestry Day at the Capitol on January 24 provided an excellent opportunity for a variety of AFA members and partners to showcase the economic and environmental impact forestry makes on the state. The day included exhibits from 10 organizations and a seedling give-away inside the Capitol, a luncheon for members of the General Assembly and staff members that drew almost 200 attendees and special Cont’d on page 3
AFA CALENDAR March 3 Ag Hall of Fame Honoring AFA Member Allen Bedell March 8 Tree Farm Committee 10 a.m. | AFA Office March 9 Business Workshop for Landowners Winthrop Rockefeller Institute 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Morrilton March 14 PLT Steering Committee 10 a.m. | AFA Office March 30 Emerging Leaders Program Kick-Off 10:30 a.m. | AFA Office April 5 Executive Committee 10 a.m. | AFA Office April 6 Log A Load for Kids Kickoff 10:30 a.m. | Arkansas Children’s Hospital April 6 Arkansas Gives Campaign Benefits AFAEF May 4-5 Spring Board Meeting Red Apple Inn | Heber Springs May 8 Log A Load for Kids Central AR Golf Tournament | Pine Bluff June 2 3rd Annual Tree Farm Conference Morrilton June 8 Log A Load for Kids South Central Golf Tournament | Glenwood June 8-9 Teacher Conservation Tour | Session 1 Texarkana June 10 Log A Load For Kids South Central Dinner and Auction Arkadelphia June 22-23 Teacher Conservation Tour | Session 2 Springdale August 4 AFA Night with the Travs | 7:10 p.m. October 3-5 AFA Annual Meeting | Little Rock
A little bit more information... This one-day workshop focuses on how to make your land work for you. Get in-the-field habitat-management training. The morning field session will provide an opportunity for hands-on-training about wildlife habitat management as experts provide tips and show you examples. You will have the opportunity to ask questions throughout the tour. Learn how to earn supplemental income from your land. We provide invaluable information about generating supplemental income from your property. Whether you have considered an outdoor business or already have a business that you wish to expand, the information at this workshop will help you. Talk directly to experts. Dynamic presentations will allow you to ask questions and talk to legal experts, wildlife habitat specialists and more. Learn about different outdoor businesses. Not sure what business might be right for you? We’ll talk about the various types of outdoor businesses, including the pros and cons and income potential of each. Examples include outdoor recreation businesses such as hunting leases and agritourism. To register, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/business-workshop-forlandowners-tickets-28384860883 AFAEF has partnered with Arkansas Gives for a ONE DAY ONLY giving event! Our Education Foundation is the ONLY forestry-related charity that is registered for this event! Partnering with Arkansas Gives allows the Foundation to receive bonus dollars, making your money to the Foundation go further. Help us reach our goal of $2,500 on this ONE DAY GIVING EVENT! On April 6, just go to https://www.arkansasgives.org/organizations/arkansasforestry-association-education-foundation The AFA Spring Board meeting will be held May 4 - 5, 2017 in Heber Springs at the Red Apple Inn! The Board of Directors meeting will start at 8: 30 a.m. on Friday, May 5 and will adjourn by noon. On Thursday, May 4, starting at 6 p.m., we will have a reception and dinner. Our special guest and dinner speaker is Rodney Paul of Raptor Rehab of Central Arkansas (RRCA). Golf, tours of the Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery and Panache, the Aromatique Gift Shop are on the agenda as well!
Emerging Leaders Program participants named
AFA
The Emerging Leaders Program Committee has selected the following to participate in the Arkansas Forestry Association Emerging Leaders Program:
Byron Bradley Jared Breedlove Jeremy Creel Jon Duncan Trey Franks Tristan Frealy Benton Gann Seth Glaze Jonathan Hartley Tabitha Holloway
Emerging Leaders Program, Class of 2017 Kingwood Forestry Services Clearwater Paper Evergreen Packaging The Molpus Woodlands Group, LLC. Arkansas Forestry Commission Green Bay Packaging, Inc. Southern Forestry and Wildlife, LLC Resource Management Service Arkansas Forestry Commission Arkansas Forestry Commission
Raven Lawson Christian Olson Thaddeus Porter Harrison Rae Matthew Reynders Kyle Reynolds Daniel Seifert Regine Skelton Dalton Smith Phil Wright
Central Arkansas Water Arkansas Agriculture Deparment Green Bay Packaging Green Bay Packaging Green Bay Packaging International Paper Green Bay Packaging Arkansas Forestry Commission Thomas Timber Kingwood Forestry Services
The group of young professionals consists of foresters, timber buyers, marketing specialists and various other professions that range across the timber industry. The Arkansas Forestry Association looks forward to a year of networking with these highly recommended individuals and is excited to get them more involved within the Association. Plans for 2017 include tours of member facilities to learn more about different facets of Arkansas’ role in the forest products industry and meetings with forest industry experts to gain a better understanding of the impact forestry has on our economy and the future of the forestry industry. Thanks to the following for their commitment to serve on the Emerging Leaders Program committeeAddison Anthony, Anthony Hardwood Composites, Wilson Anthony, Anthony Timberlands, Tom Crowder, U.S. Trust Timberland Services, Louisa Daniels, Green Bay Packaging, Mark Lambert, Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation, Christopher McQueen, Anthony Oak Flooring, Daniel Neeley, Neeley Forestry Service and Harrell Wilson, Tri-W Logging Company.
Legislative session continued recognition on the floor of the House or Representatives in the form of House Resolution 1009 by Rep. Ken Bragg, R -Sheridan.
The bill cleared the Joint Committee on Public Retirement and Social Security Programs Committee and both the House and Senate without opposition.
AFA’s primary task during the first half of the session was to support the Arkansas Forestry Commission and the passage of HB 1187, by Rep. Bragg, and Sen. Trent Garner, R – El Dorado. That effort was a success as the bill is now Act 245. Act 245 creates an exception for essential seasonal AFC personal, as well as those within the State Plant Board and Livestock and Poultry Commission, who have retired and were participants in the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System. Under previous law, those employees could not be called back to work. Under the new law, employees who have specialized knowledge or skill can be rehired on a part-time basis during times of emergency, disaster clean-up, extreme weather, or other circumstances deemed pressing by the agencies. These employees can also be utilized as an instructor to train other staff to respond to these extreme circumstances.
Moving forward, AFA will continue to work to ensure that forest landowners enjoy added protections from criminal trespassing on their property, while at the same time protecting foresters and loggers that work on the land. The association will continue to work with Rep. Trevor Drown, R – Dover, the sponsor of HB 1554, and a large coalition of the bill’s supporters, which include Farm Bureau, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, Arkansas Forestry Commission, Arkansas Sheriff’s Association, and more. A state government efficiency bill is also expected very soon that will make changes to the Arkansas Agriculture Department. State government efficiency is another of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s legislative priorities for the session. The Arkansas Forestry Commission is already under the umbrella of the Agriculture Department. It is expected that the Arkansas Board of Registration for Foresters will be transferred
into the department along with several other boards. All boards and commissions of the transferred agencies are expected to be retained and will continue to exercise their statutory authority, powers, duties and functions. Other issues AFA will be following include any bills related to private property rights, economic development, business and manufacturing, environmental regulation and any other topic of interest to the timber and forest products industry. If at any time you have a question or need additional information on an issue during the session, please don’t hesitate to contact me at the AFA office at 501-374-2441 or by e-mail at mbraswell@arkforests.org. For a complete list of members of the 91 General Assembly you can visit the General Assembly website at www.arkleg.state.ar.us. To see a list of legislative committees, committee chairs and members, click on “Committees”.
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