> April 2025

April 3-24...Online 7 - 8 PM.
Heirs Property Education Series presented via Zoom. The program will be presented four Thursdays of April. April 3: Heirs Property Essentials. April 10: Legal Strategies & Tax Essentials. April 17: Proactive Estate Planning. April 24: Unlocking Agricultural & Forestry Potential. For more information contact Adam Rabinowitz at (334) 844-5620 or adam.rabinowitz@auburn.edu.

April 7 - June 9...Online.
Online Woodland Options for Landowners is a 10-week self-paced online course that teaches the fundamentals of forest management. Topics include setting management goals, forest history, stewardship, marking boundary lines, using maps, using soil surveys, forest ecology, and more. Upon completion of the class, you can have a draft forest management plan. The class wraps up with an optional end-of-the-semester hands-on field trip in a location and date still to-be-determined. Fee: $55/family. For more information contact Jennifer Gagnon at (540) 231-6391 or jgagnon@vt.edu.

AFOA EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM & ANNUAL MEETING April 22-23...Tuscaloosa County. Location: Headquartered at the Hotel Capstone, 320 Paul Bryant Drive, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. Location on Google Maps. Reserve Your Room: Call (205) 752-3200. To access AFOA's block of rooms, mention the Alabama Forest Owners' Association - Group Code 250422ALFO.   You may also book your Hotel Capstone room here: Lodging Overview: Tuesday Tour(s), Tuesday Evening Reception, Tuesday Dinner will be On-Your-Own, Wednesday Main Conference includes Refreshments & Lunch. The Regular Attendee Registration Form (just below) will contain the most up-to-date details. REGISTRATION:      Regular Attendees:  Registration Form  If planning to attend, print and bring with you. We can only accept a limited number of walk-ins.        Exhibitors and/or Sponsors:  Registration Form  Registration Closed

April 23...Online 12 Noon - 1 PM CT.
Managing Degraded Hardwood Stand will be presented via Zoom. Speaker: Brady Self, Mississippi State University. For more information contact Norm Haley at (256) 630-4248 or nvh0001@aces.edu.

April 24...Online 11 AM - 12 Noon CT.
Power, Authority, and Influence: The Hidden Challenges of Succession Planning is presented by The Family Business Consulting Group (FBCG). Succession planning isn’t just about structure—it’s about navigating power dynamics, authority shifts, and communication breakdowns that can stall progress. For more information contact Kristi Daeda at (773) 784-5008 or daeda@thefbcg.com.

April 25...Winston County 9 AM - 3 PM.
Forestry Field Day at a location to be provided upon registration. Topics will include: Pine beetle update, Loblolly replacement options, Clearcut-conversion to wildlife opening, Oak savannah management, and more. Lunch provided. For more information call Zach Brannon at (205) 489-5376.

April 25...Minneola, Florida 9 AM - 2 PM ET.
Landowner Tour at Jolly Palms at Mohawk, 13545 Old Highway 50 West. This will be a walking tour of reasonable length. Topics will include restoration and management of native forest habitats, plant identification, invasive species, beekeeping, citrus history in the area, and history of the Jolly Palms Lodge and Cabins. Wear appropriate clothing for the field and bring a water bottle. Registration required for lunch. For more information contact Chris Demers at (352) 846-2375 or cdemers@ufl.edu.

April 29...Lee County 8 AM - 4:30 PM.
Alabama Invasive Plant Council Annual Conference at the Mary Olive Thomas Demonstration Forest, 3319 Moores Mill Road, Auburn. Fee: $45. CEUs available for additional fee. For more information contact Jacob Hodnett at (334) 850-0745 or hodnettj@dot.state.al.us.

> May 2025

May 1...Jefferson County 10 AM.
Board Meeting of Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust at the Fultondale Event Center, 2980 Hawkins Lane, Fultondale. This meeting will provide an opportunity for any individual who would like to make comments concerning the program. The public is invited to attend this meeting and is urged to submit comments. For more information call (334) 353-7878. Editor's Note: Here are some questions you may consider asking yourself and others. Should the state provide recreational activity property? Is recreation a necessary state government provided service? Does the state need more public land to compete with recreational opportunities (many of which are already) provided by private forestland owners? Does the acquisition of more public land, that does not pay property taxes, put pressure on private landowners to pay more in property tax?

May 2...Lowndes County 9 AM - 12 Noon.
Friends of the Forest at Holy Ground Battlefield Park. Have fun while learning about Native Trees & Animals in our Forests, Careers in Forestry, and Safety on Rivers and Lakes. Space is limited. For 4th or 5th graders. To register your class, teachers should call Tana Shealey at (334) 548-2315.

May 2...DeKalb County 3 PM.
Plant Discovery Walk: Native Plants at the Lodge of DeSoto State Park in Fort Payne. Join DeSoto State Park Staff for a meandering walk in the park, taking in every opportunity to learn more about the natural world. This will be an approximately 1 mile easy terrain walk. Weather dependent. To check on the status of the walk, call the Lodge at (256) 845-5380.

May 2-3...Courtland, Ohio.
International Firewood Expo at 899 Everett Hull Road, Courtland. The Expo will showcase some of the best firewood equipment in the industry. For more information email Joe at joe@ohiowoodburner.com.

May 3...Columbia, Mississippi 8 AM.
Field Day will cover Invasive Species and Forest Herbicides. For more information or to RSVP, call the Marion County Extension office at (601) 736-8251.

May 3...Baldwin County 8 AM - 5 PM.
Traditional Hunter Education Course at the Cooper Building, 1063 Ellison Street, Loxley. No fee. This is a one day class. A one hour lunch break will be given. Bring your own drinks, snacks, and lunch. To register, call Terry Foster at (251) 802-4114. Successfully completing an approved hunter education course is mandatory for all non-supervised Alabama hunting license buyers born on or after August 1, 1977. There are some exceptions. There are other courses being taught at various locations and dates as well as online only courses. If you have additional questions, call the Hunter Education office at 1-800-245-2740.

May 3...Tallapoosa County 5 PM.
Wild Game Cook-Off at Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors, 19 Russell Marine Road, Alexander City. Attend the cook-off and enjoy live music, door prizes, youth activities, and sample wild game recipes. Fee: $50 for up to 2 adults. Youth 15 and under free. Call the Alabama Wildlife Federation at 1-800-822-9453.

May 5...Booneville, Mississippi 6 PM.
Pond Management at the Prentiss County Extension Office, 2301 North Second Street. For more information or to RSVP, call (662) 728-5631.

May 6...Limestone County 5:30 PM.
Wild Game Cook-Off at the Canebrake Club, 23015 Founders Circle, Athens. Attend the cook-off and enjoy live music, door prizes, youth activities, and sample wild game recipes. Fee: $50 for up to 2 adults. Youth 15 and under free. Call the Alabama Wildlife Federation at 1-800-822-9453.

May 6...Bude, Mississippi 6 PM.
Chronic Wasting Disease at the Bude Baptist Church. Speaker: Kamen Campbell. For more information or to RSVP, call (601) 384-2389.

May 7...Online 12 Noon - 1 PM CT.
Alabama Soils and USDA Web Soil Survey will be presented via Zoom. Speaker: Christopher Davis, USDA NRCS Soil Scientist for Alabama. Web soil survey is an amazing tool that is underutilized by private landowners. The diversity of the soils in the state may be discussed as well as how they play an important role in land management and development decisions. For more information contact Norm Haley at (256) 630-4248 or nvh0001@aces.edu.

May 10...Pike County 9 AM.
Alabama Conservation Advisory Board (CAB) Meeting in the Trojan Center Lamar Higgins Ballroom, Troy University, 321 Veterans Memorial Drive, Troy. The decisions of this board impact all hunting activities that take place on your land. The CAB assists in formulating policies for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), examines all rules and regulations, and makes recommendations for their change or amendment. This includes hunting seasons and bag limits. Anyone wishing to speak must register between 8 - 8:30 AM. Attendees wishing to share printed information must bring 16 copies with name and contact info on each copy. For more information, call (334) 242-3486.

May 13...Blount & Cullman Counties.
Special Primary Election for vacant Alabama House of Representatives District 11 seat. The seat became vacant after State Representative Randall Shedd resigned. A runoff, if needed, will be held June 10, and the special general election will be August 26. Not sure what district you live in? Here is the Alabama House of Representatives District 11 map.

May 13...Athens, Georgia 12:30 - 4 PM ET.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Other Advanced Technology in Forestry at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, 1197 South Lumpkin Street. Topics will include: AI/machine learning applications in forestry, Forest modeling with AI, and LiDAR/Drones. For more information call the Georgia Center at (706) 542-7493.

May 13...Online 6:30 - 8:30 PM ET.
Generation NEXT Deep Dive: The Family Factor will feature difficult discussions about what happens to family forestland when mom and dad die. Our experts share tips on how to make these conversations go smoothly. For more information contact Karen Snape at (540) 231-6494 or ksnape@vt.edu.

May 13...Raleigh, Mississippi 6:30 PM.
Herbicides for Pine Management at the Smith County Ag Complex. Speaker: Brady Self. For more information or to RSVP, call (601) 782-4454.

AFOA EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM May 14...Nationwide 10:00 AM to 10:15 AM (Central Time). CAPITAL IDEAS -- LIVE! News Conference for Forest Owners. This 15 minute telephone/Internet conference will feature state & national experts, researchers & authors on breaking issues, current research, can't-miss educational events, books & publications, timber market update and more. To listen live call AFOA to register at (205) 624-2225. Listen on the web or download to listen on your device of choice: May 14, 2025 CI -- Live!  This will be a link once the program is finished and available. Click Here for Index to Past Conferences.

May 15...Sallis, Mississippi 10 AM - 2 PM.
Forestry Field Day will feature the theme of Behind the Pines. Various speakers will lead the field day. For more information or to RSVP, call (662) 289-5431.

AFOA EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM May 15...Shelby County 6 - 8 PM. Dinner and Discussion at The Anvil Pub, 611 Doug Baker Boulevard, Suite 103, Hoover, AL 35242. The Anvil Pub is in the Lee Branch Shopping Center near Tazikis. No-host dinner at 6 PM. Then listen to a 15 minute program, and talk about the issues with other forest landowners. Limited seating. To attend, RSVP AFOA at (205) 624-2225 or rll@afoa.org.

May 15...Brandon, Mississippi 6 PM.
Forestry Services at the Rankin County Extension Office, 601 Marquette Road. Speaker: Robert Boyd. For more information or to RSVP, call (601) 825-1462.

May 17...Henry County 9 AM - 2 PM.
Recreational Fish Pond Workshop at the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center, 167 State Highway 134 E, Headland. Fee: $10. For more information contact James Jones at (334) 585-6416 or jonesja@auburn.edu.

May 21...Online 12 Noon - 1 PM CT.
Portable Sawmill: Economics and Application will be presented via Zoom. Speaker: Adam Maggard, Auburn University. For more information contact Norm Haley at (256) 630-4248 or nvh0001@aces.edu.

May 23...Online 11:15 - 11:30 AM CT.
Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: Slash Piles will join Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program's Neil Clark to learn more about how to create and maintain brush piles for wildlife. This event will be held via Facebook Live and YouTube Premier. For more information contact Neil Clark at (757) 653-2572 or neclark@vt.edu.  View on Youtube.  View on Facebook.

May 28...Jackson County 8 AM - 3 PM.
Boots on the Ground Habitat Management at the Skyline Wildlife Management Area. Exact location given to registered attendees. Topics will include: Early Succession, Mature Hardwoods, Mature Thinned/Burned Pine, Food Plots, Fire Breaks, Pine Screening, Storm Damaged Hardwood, and much more. Dress for the outdoors. Be prepared to walk through forested areas. Lunch provided. For more information contact Kara Stephan at (256) 574-1005x101 or jackson@alconservationdistricts.org.

May 29...Online 11:30 - 3:45 PM CT.
Improving Forestland for Wildlife will be presented via Zoom. Topics will include forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs), food plot implementation and management, and tools for improving forested land that benefits game species populations. Fee: $120. For more information contact James Johnson at (706) 308-6396 or james.johnson26@uga.edu.

> June 2025

June 12-13...Online.
Remote Pilot Certification Test Prep Workshop will be presented via Zoom. This workshop provides extensive preparation for the FAA’s Remote Pilot Certification test (aka Part 107). The workshop provides participants with an overview of federal regulations, best flight operational strategies, and safety. The workshop is an excellent resource for individuals considering using drones to support business applications or for managers who want to make solid decisions regarding their 'drone programs' moving forward. Fee: $250. Web address: https://tinyurl.com/DroneWorkshopSP2025  For more information email John McGee at jmcg@vt.edu.

June 13...Baldwin County 1 PM.
Snake Encounters at Gulf State Park Nature Center, 22120 Campground Road, Gulf Shores. Come visit the Nature Center and dive into the fascinating world of our native snakes. Get an up-close look at some of our local snakes, with a hands-on touch opportunity for those brave enough. Plus, you’ll have the chance to watch a live feeding and see these reptiles in action. For more information contact Hannah Russell at (251) 948-7275x62093 or hannah.russell@dcnr.alabama.gov.

June 14...Barbour County 2 PM.
Tracks & Trails at Lakepoint State Park Nature Center in Eufaula. This program will use practical tracking methods, such as observing footprints, scat, feeding signs, and more, to help participants understand the behavior and ecological roles of various animal species. For more information contact Dominic King at (334) 782-8042 or dominic.king@dcnr.alabama.gov.

June 18-19...Asheville, North Carolina.
Forest Landowners Association (FLA) National Conference will be held at the Grove Park Inn. Fee: $950 non-FLA members; $150 discount for early registration FLA members. Contact Forest Landowners Association at 1-800-325-2954 or info@forestlandowners.com.

June 21...Cleburne County 11 AM.
Ancestral Knowledge: Acorns will meet at the Cheaha State Park Interpretive Center. This program will discuss the pros and cons of acorn consumption, as well as a demonstration on how our ancestors made acorns into an important part of their diet. Fee: $5; park entry. For more information contact Jeromy Harrelson at (256) 488-5111 or jeromy.harrelson@dcnr.alabama.gov.

June 24...Multiple Counties.
Special General Election for vacant Alabama State Senate District 5. The seat became vacant due to State Representative Greg Reed being appointed to Governor Ivey's administration. Not sure what district you live in? Here is the Alabama State Senate District 5 map.

> July 2025

July 5...Shelby County 11 AM.
Lessons on the Longleaf at the Oak Mountain Interpretive Center. Join Park Naturalists and learn all about the Alabama state tree and one of the most important habitats in the south. Fee: $5; adult park entry fee. Seniors receive $3 discount. For more information contact Lauren at (205) 620-2520 or lauren.muncher@dcnr.alabama.gov.

July 13...Marshall County 9 AM.
Tree Talk: All About Oaks at the Ranger Station at Short Creek Boat Launch in Lake Guntersville State Park. Join the Park Naturalist to hike part of the Cutchenmine Trail and learn all about our native oak species. For more information contact Anna Crow at (256) 673-6137 or anna.crow@dcnr.alabama.gov.

July 23-25...Columbia, Missouri.
North American Agroforestry Conference will feature tours and presentation sessions. Fee: $385; $100 discount for early bird registration. For more information contact University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry at (573) 884-2874 or hemmelgarnh@missouri.edu.

> August 2025

AFOA EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM August 13...Nationwide 10:00 AM to 10:15 AM (Central Time). CAPITAL IDEAS -- LIVE! News Conference for Forest Owners. This 15 minute telephone/Internet conference will feature state & national experts, researchers & authors on breaking issues, current research, can't-miss educational events, books & publications, timber market update and more. To listen live call AFOA to register at (205) 624-2225. Listen on the web or download to listen on your device of choice: August 13, 2025 CI -- Live!  This will be a link once the program is finished and available. Click Here for Index to Past Conferences.

AFOA EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM August 14...Jefferson County 6 - 7:50 PM. Dinner and Discussion at the Paw Paw Patch, 410 Green Springs Highway, Homewood. No-host dinner at 6 PM. Then listen to a 15 minute program, and talk about the issues with other forest landowners. Limited seating. To attend, RSVP AFOA at (205) 624-2225 or rll@afoa.org.

> October 2025

October 3-4...Starkville, Mississippi.
Mid-South Forestry Equipment Show is located approximately seven miles south of Starkville. The longest-running, live, in-woods equipment demo in the South. Fee: $40; $10 discount for advance registration. For more information contact John Auel at (662) 617-0216 or jauel@msforestry.net.

End of Current Calendar of Events

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