VA Woodland Management Workshops

[Phorester]

We started a local 4-night woodland management course last night.  Each night is 3 hours long. The original idea for these courses came from our Extension Forester at VA Tech about 10 years ago, our landgrant university.  They sponsor the courses along with us and several other agencies and forest industries, collect fees, get the location, etc. We do the teaching and promotion.  There are 4 courses in the series.  They are; Woodland Mgmt., Timber harvesting, Costshare Programs, Conservation Easements. 

The Woodland Mgmt. course is a basic course for forest landowners or anyone who wants to learn more about forestry and wildlife.  Some of the topics taught are  property line management,  soils, maps, deeds, assessing your resources, setting management objectives, pine and hardwood forest ecology & management, timber sales, taught by consultant foresters, conservation easements, one night devoted to wildlife management which is taught by wildlife biologists.

Most of these courses in the State draw 25 - 35 participants.  When we had the first course in 1997 our area, we  drew the largest number in the State with 61 participants.  In this course we have 90.  Totally blew us away to get this many taking the course.

[lumberjack24]

I wonder if they have anything like this in NC.  I would love to take a course like that.

[Don P]

Do you have a schedule of future courses?

[Phorester]

Other classes will be taught soon in other parts of the State.  If you are in Virginia, contact your county Extension Agent to see if one is going to be in your area.

As far as future courses in my area, they haven't been set yet.

[Don P]

Thanks Phorester, I'll check into it. That is quite an interest level for one area  8)

[Phorester]

I handle the media promotion for these courses myself because I'm not shy about contacting the 4 newspapers in this area and asking for an article and letting them interview me for it.  I don't think this is done in other areas.  We get a lot of participants from those.

The Extension Forester also mailed 2,600 pamphlets directly to forest landowners in the area. 

So we promote the heck out of these courses in my area. 

[submarinesailor]

Phorester,

Does Madison County fall into your area?

Bruce

[Phorester]

Nope, I'm on the best side of the mountain.   ;D  West of you in Winchester.  I'm pretty sure these courses have been offered somewhere near you in the last few years though.

But of course anybody can attend any of these classes anywhere if they're willing to travel.
 
There will also be an online course offered in VA from VA Tech in the next month or two.  They are good too, I'm a mentor for it, but personally I think the face-to-face courses are the best for interaction with professionals and getting good discussions going. Instant feedback from the "teacher" and that instantly generates moe questions from the crowd. Probably my age showing now.  I just think a classroom setting with a teacher in the room is better than a course where the students sit in front of an impersonal computer and have to wait a few days for feedback.

[Skip]

They had a course similar to that a couple of years ago in Madison  behind the high school it was woodlot mngmnt and small sawmill mngmt, It was a 2 day deal and the best time and money I ever spent (40$) I drove down from Northern WV and stayed in Culpepper. They had 2 Prof. from VA Tech and county agent . thats who sponsored it. On top of it all we got a clipboard and cruising stick AND they fed us lunch. Had 2 sawmills an dtrl with grapple. Very informative .

[submarinesailor]

Skip,

I was there.  Too bad we didn't connect.

Bruce

[Skip]

WE probably talked Bruce, I had just got my LM 2000 and was only guy there from the Hillbilly.

[Phorester]

They keep coming.  Thursday night 2 more signed up for a total of 93 taking this course.  Unbelievable.  We won't take anymore though.  The course is too far along to start in it now.

[Ron Scott]

Great turnout!. Glad to see such interest.

[Phorester]

We finished this course Thursday night.  I think most of the participants enjoyed it.  Lots of questions each night, and we ran it right up to 9:30 PM each night with nobody leaving early.  Still amazed at the turnout.

SUBMARINESAILOR, they are teaching a 3 night course in Charlottesville starting February 20 titled Preparing For The Next Owner.  They'll be talking about conservation easements, gifting from one generation to the next, creating certain legal entities like Trusts, etc., inter-generational transfer, other topics on passing on your land to family members.  This is a new course they added in this series of forest management courses

If you're interested Call your Extension Agent for more info, or contact Jennifer Gagnon at VA Tech at jgagnon@vt.edu

[Don P]

I hope they don't mind a copy here  ;

Preparing for the Next Owner
A live distance delivery (internet & satellite) short course being offered throughout the Southern United States, including 13 locations in Virginia.
Agenda topics include:
- Understanding heir property and having a clear title

- Basics on how real estate passes

- Basic estate planning with a focus on forestland options

- Intergenerational transfer strategies

- Conservation easements

- Charitable giving

- Generation skipping options

- Shared ownerships and family limited partnerships and property transfer issues

Registration deadline is (extended) February 20th. 

Visit www.cnr.vt.edu/forestupdate for a printable registration form and driving directions to host locations.  More details will be on the course Website at http://mastertreefarmer.org/mtf2007.html



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Web-Based Woodland Options for Landowners
First offered in January 2002, this web-based course is designed for landowners who are either unable to attend a classroom-based courses, or who prefer to take a course from their own home.  Course content and activities will enable landowners to make wise decisions regarding the use and sustainability of their forest resources.  Over a nine-week period, landowners will complete several online and field assignments to develop their understanding of forest management concepts, practices, and options for their woodland.  Landowners will also be assigned a mentor team consisting of a resource professional (e.g., state agency forester and/or extension forester) and a knowledgeable forest landowner.  Via email and threaded discussion, the mentor team will provide valuable feedback to landowners as they work through course activities and assignments.  After completing the course, students will meet face-to-face with their mentor team to discuss questions and ideas on forest management concepts and practices.   This course will be offered Spring, 2007.

Course Registration Page
Course Syllabus





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Respectfully,

Adam K. Downing, Extension Agent
Forestry & Natural Resources - Northern District*
Virginia Cooperative Extension, Madison County
War Memorial Building, 2nd floor, Main St.
P.O. Box 10; Madison, VA  22727
Phone: 540.948.6881  Fax: 540.948.6883
<http://offices.ext.vt.edu/madison>
Serving the following areas of Virginia: Albemarle, Alexandria, Arlington, Caroline, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Greene, King George, Loudoun, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, & Stafford 

[Wudman]

I've had the opportunity to serve as an instructor at two of these Virginia landowner short courses.  I've also attended one as a participant.  I'd encourage everyone to attend if you get the chance.  They can be quite rewarding.

Wudman