The 2010 KWOA annual meeting was held on April 16 – 17 at Barren River State Resort Park. The purpose of the annual meeting is to provide the membership with educational opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills to better manage their woodlands. It also provides a time of fellowship with fellow woodland owners, agency representatives, forestry professionals and industrial representatives. We share a common goal:– to see the Commonwealth of Kentucky maintain healthy and sustainable forests.

During the outdoor/field day portion of the annual meeting, personnel from the Kentucky Division of Forestry were on hand to guide a “walk through the woods.”

Participants were instructed in measuring timber, selecting harvestable trees and timber stand improvement. Local exotic invasive plants were identified and control methods were discussed.

Woodstock Mills of Scottsville, KY provided a variety of logs which Bob Bauer, KFIA Executive Director and KWOA board member, used to demonstrate different grades and values.

Bob Bauer, KY Forest Industry Assoc., explains log grading and timber values

Felix Taylor, KWOA board member and Kentucky 2009 Tree Farmer of the Year, brought his portable Wood Mizer sawmill for an on site demonstration.

Felix Taylor, center, demonstrates Saw Mizer and on farm saw milling

During the evening program James Morris, service forester from the Green River District, was presented the KWOA Service Forester award and Leah MacSwords, director of the Division of Forestry, was our keynote speaker. She presented an update of the Kentucky Forest Assessment project.

James Morris, KY Division of forestry receives the Service Forester award from J. Henry Duncan, Vice President KWOA

Leah MacSwords, KDOF Director, provides update on Kentucky Forest Assessment project.

Doug Mclaren, KWOA Board Member and UK Forestry Extension, ended the banquet with his ever popular “Forestry Bowl” game.

During the break out sessions on Saturday, Pam Snyder from KDOF and the Kentucky Tree Farm Committee presented the latest Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification from the American Forest Foundation. Billy Thomas, UK Department of Forestry, provided information concerning the local forestry organization survey results and Dr. Andrew Stainback, UK Department of Forestry, discussed the Woodlands Tax Project. Dr. John Obrycki, UK Department of Entomology and State Entomologist, provided an update on the status of the emerald ash bore in Kentucky and Jerry Adams, USDA/NRCS, provided information on the USDA Farm Bill programs that are available for forest owners. Bob Bauer and Ken Negray from Kentucky Forest Industries Association provided an update on the 2010 legislative session and forest certification options in Kentucky.

Attendees query panel on woodlands topics

J. Henry Duncan, KWOA Vice-president, organized and conducted another successful and informative annual meeting.

The primary goal of KWOA is to help Kentucky forest landowners attain the best long-range dollar return from their forestry operation, while at the same time maintaining a healthy beautiful forest. These goals are achieved by:

· Promoting economically and environmentally sound forest management

· Advancing the skills of Kentucky woodland owners

· Serving as an advocate for Kentucky woodland owners in legislative activities

· Keeping the public (and lawmakers) informed about the importance of woodland management and the contributions that woodlands make to Kentucky.

Throughout the year, our membership is kept up to date on forestry issues in Kentucky via our newsletter, website (KWOA. Net) and Internet mailings.

We invite everyone with an interest in the woodlands of Kentucky to join us. Together we can make a difference!