3 minute read
Partnerships in Forestry: Tennessee
Tennessee Forestry Association
Candace Dinwiddie Executive Director, Tennessee Forestry Association
In the Volunteer State, the Tennessee Forestry Association (TFA) is so very proud to work closely with our logging professionals.
Our loggers are active in their communities and vital to rural Tennessee's economies. Thanks to our loggers, our wood products industry employs over 85,000 Tennesseans with a combined economic output of $21.7 billion annually to our state's economy.
Tennessee's Governor and Legislature recognize the importance of timber harvesting and our wood products industry. Governor Bill Lee's administration has determined 40% of Tennessee's 200 + sawmills and other wood manufacturing facilities are located in economically distressed and at-risk counties.
Without loggers and forest products industries, there would be very few job opportunities and reasons for young people to live and work in the economically challenged areas of Tennessee. Governor Lee's administration is working hard to ensure the wood products economy stays strong in Tennessee and even recently appointed a Forest Business Consultant to help grow existing logging operations and
wood-related industries and recruit new wood manufacturers to our state. Special emphasis is given to supporting loggers and wood industries in Tennessee's ten economically distressed and thirty-two at-risk counties. Forestry is identified as the primary source of income in many of these counties.
Tennessee's Governor has provided funding for the safe operation of log trucks with overhang flags purchased through a grant provided by the Tennessee Dept. Of Agriculture.
Log A Load overhang flag
Flags are provided at no cost to log truck owners and contractors. Loggers and haulers may make donations for the flags, with all contributions directed to Tennessee's Log-a-Load for Kids campaign. Also, dash cams, PPE, and road hazard signage costshare funding are available through grants from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture in partnership with the Tennessee Forestry Association.
Dale Seals and family 2022 TN Master Logger of the Year
TFA would also like to congratulate Dale Seals, Tennessee Master Logger of the Year. Dale is a client of Forestry Mutual Insurance and is highly respected across the state. Dale will be honored by the Tennessee General Assembly during the 113th General Assembly in early 2023.
The Tennessee Forestry Association and the State of Tennessee appreciate the impact Forestry Mutual Insurance Company has made on the logging profession in our state. Forestry Mutual's influence and priority on safety and communications have raised the visibility of Tennessee's loggers and the recognized economic contribution our logging force makes to Tennessee's economy.
The Tennessee Forestry Association is very thankful to Forestry Mutual Insurance for providing coverage and peace of mind to many logging families in the Volunteer State. From The TFA convention to the Tree Day at the Legislature to providing safety programs for Master Loggers, Forestry Mutual representatives are part of our forestry family in Tennessee.
To learn more about the Tennessee Forestry Association and how to become a member, visit: www.tnforestry.com.
To get a quote and see why we endorse Forestry Mutual Insurance for the wood products industry here in Tennessee visit: www.forestrymutual.com.
