The 13th Annual Forest Utilization Conference and Equipment Exposition is scheduled for April 30 through May 2, 2008. Forestry on the Grow – Exploring Opportunities & New Technologies for Natural Resources Management & the Wood Products Industry – will be held at Western Hills Guest Ranch in Sequoyah Resort Park near Wagoner, Oklahoma.

Ouachita Mountains RC&D (Resource Conservation and Development), Inc. and a group of specialists in forestry and economics organize and plan the three-day event to help improve the general level of economic activity, while enhancing the environment and standard of living in Oklahoma.

The conference will feature presenters, experts in their respective fields, who will discuss the latest technologies in all phases of the forest industry. These professionals will also be available for one-on-one consultations at no additional cost to attendees. The conference is designed with two concurring sessions for you to choose from that focus on the interests of forest landowners, primary forest product processors, or secondary wood manufacturers. The conference agenda includes:

Forest Landowner Assistance presented by Kurt Atkinson, Oklahoma Forestry Services

Carbon Credits presented by Dr. Craig McKinley, Oklahoma State University

Starting Your Own Business – Martin Roberts, Oklahoma Department of Commerce

Forest Taxes presented by Dr. Deborah Gaddis, Mississippi State University

Forest Production Marketing– Rand Wergin, Oklahoma State University

"Walk in the Woods" Tour – Craig McKinley, Eddie Woods, & Debbie Gaddis

Wood Waste and Ethanol: Production on a Small Scale – TBD

Developing Business Plans presented by Chuck Willoughby, Oklahoma State University

Estate Planning – Dr. Robert Tufts, Auburn University

Hardwood Log Grading and Cutting for Grade – Dr. Brian Bond, Virginia Tech

Niche Marketing Strategies for Products from Small-Diameter Timber presented by A. L. "Tom" Hammett, Virginia Tech

Harvesting & Selling Timber – Roger Griffin, Weyerhaeuser

GPS (Global Positioning System) Field Trip – Bob Heinemann, OSU Forest Resource Center

Forest Landowner Rights – Anita Poole, Vice President & Legal Counsel, Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Landowner Timber Production – James Carper, Weyerhaeuser

Small Log Utilization – Drs. Mark Gibson & George Grozdits, Louisiana Tech University

Basics of Lumber Drying and Insect Control & Kiln Schedules – Dr. Fred Lamb, Wood Technologist, retired from Department of Wood Science and Forest Products, Virginia Tech

Marketing Wood Products on the Internet – Teddy Reynolds, Reynolds Forestry (view his website at www.reynoldsforestry.com)

An Exhibit Fair is scheduled for Thursday afternoon and will include equipment demonstrations. Some of the Exhibitors you’ll see this year are:

Aromatic Cedar Association – Oklahoma

Bronco Pallet Systems, Inc. – Lowes, Kentucky

Construction Safety Products, Inc. – Shreveport, Louisiana

Diamond Saw Works, Inc. – Chaffee, New York

E Z Boardwalk – Einden, Missouri

Log-Master Portable Sawmill Manufacturing, Inc. – Nacogdoches, Texas

NW Arkansas Wood Pellet Stoves & Cookers – Harrison, Arkansas

Nyle Dry Kiln Systems – Bangor, Maine

The Oklahoma Alliance for Manufacturing Excellence

OSU Cooperative Extension Service

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, & Forestry – Forestry Services Division

Oklahoma Forestry Association

Oklahoma Woodland Owners Association

P & K Equipment, Inc. – Norman, Oklahoma

Rotochopper, Inc. – Saint Martin, Minnesota

The Society of American Foresters – Oklahoma Chapter

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Wood-Mizer Products, Inc. – Indianapolis, Indiana

Group meetings of the Aromatic Cedar Association, Oklahoma Woodland Owners Association, and the Oklahoma Chapter of the Society of American Foresters will also be held at this event. There will be drawings for door prizes which include cash and a chainsaw. Society of American Foresters members who attend the conference will qualify to apply for CFE contact hours in category 1 toward a Society of American Foresters Continuing Education Certificate.

This Conference is the biggest of its kind in this region. Sponsors include: Huber Engineered Wood, LLC; Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service – Forestry; Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry – Forestry Services Division; Oklahoma Department of Commerce; Oklahoma Forestry Association; Oklahoma Woodland Owners Association; Ouachita Mountains RC&D, Inc., McAlester; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; and the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation.

Pre-registration cost for the conference and expo is $100.00 per person before April 18 . The registration fee includes admittance to conference sessions and the exhibit fair, 4 meals, and hospitality. A limited amount of financial support is available to help with registration and lodging costs. For information about the conference go to www.forestryonthegrow.com or call Ouachita Mountains RC&D at 918.423.2479. Organizers state that "you won’t want to miss this unique opportunity to take advantage of a wealth of knowledge, network with the speakers and presenters, exchange information with others in your profession, and make valuable contacts for potential resources."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individuals income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDAs TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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