Letter from President

Welcome to the 2024 Tennessee Forestry Association Annual meeting at Dollywood’s Heartsong Lodge and Resort in Pigeon Forge. We have a great program full of fun, informative and educational opportunities scheduled this year and look forward to seeing everyone.

2024, like every year it seems, has been tough on the forest industry.  With the loss of markets, suppressed log and lumber prices, labor challenges and increasing costs, every day in the wood business is tough.  The TFA annual meeting is a chance to get together as an industry and discuss the issues facing us, both good and bad.  It’s also a chance for TFA to share what we’ve been doing to help create new pathways from our proven legacy to improve your success.

TFA serves as the voice of forestry in Tennessee and Candace and the TFA staff work hard every day searching and developing ways to improve not only Tennessee’s forest industry but the forest resources that support it. While TFA’s mission hasn’t changed over the years, the way it’s accomplished has.  Here are some of the programs and initiatives that TFA has implemented and promoted to help support our forest industry.

Tennessee Forestry Foundation:

The Tennessee Forestry Foundation began in 2023 and continues to grow.  The Foundation’s mission is to promote the three pillars of education, conservation, and workforce development.  It is being funded by grants from various governmental agencies, however, it is the goal of the Foundation to raise money from private donors to create an endowment which will provide the future resources needed to increase the Foundation’s ability to impact the three pillars.  The foundation’s effort is being led by Traci Middleton.  Thanks for your leadership, Traci.

Education Outreach Coordinator:

Caley Peyton leads this effort and is doing an amazing job.  Caley’s role includes working with Project Learning Tree, Conservation Education, supporting Workforce Development events, Forestry Camp, Job Camps with FFA, Teacher Conservation Workshops and several other educational outreach efforts.  Thank you, Caley.

Forestry Works:

Larry Pitts is the leader of our Workforce Development Program, TN Forestry Works. Larry travels statewide, introducing students and adults to career opportunities in the forest industry. Larry is involved with TCAT schools, high school career days, Community Colleges and anywhere else we have room to set up a booth.  Thank you, Larry.

Social Media:

If you’re on social media, I’m sure you’ve noticed TFA’s exposer on several media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. While this content is for all of us, its primary focus is on younger people, especially in distressed and at-risk counties in the state. This campaign supports our Forestry Works program and other educational programs. Annelise Mucci, founder of Content Company, LLC, handles TFA’s content creation and social media management.  Thank you, Annelise.

White Oak/Shortleaf Pine Initiative

Greg and Mary Pate lead this effort on behalf of TFA, ensuring landowners have all the information and materials needed to grow healthy White Oak and Shortleaf Pine forests across the state.  We appreciate their commitment to this project and the effort to restore and manage these species for the next generation.

I would like to thank all our partners for the work they are doing to help promote forestry and how they collaborate with TFA and its members.

Our TFA staff is the key that makes the association so successful.  Candace, Dana, Lisa, Larry, Annelise, Caley and Donnie, thank you for all the hard work each of you do for TFA.

Finally, I would like to thank all the TFA members.  As you know, TFA is a non-profit organization primarily funded through membership dues.  Without those dues, TFA would not exist.  Thank you for your support and commitment to TFA as we strive to represent the forest industry at every level.

Thank you for letting me serve as TFA’s President and I look forward to another successful year.

Sincerely,

Neal Carson

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