Wisconsin Workforce Training Opportunities: Preparing the Next Generation
This week’s Woods to Mill spotlights workforce training opportunities in the forest products industry. As rural communities face the challenge of a shrinking skilled labor pool, FRA is at the forefront of advocating for job creation and workforce development. FRA supports initiatives like the Jobs in the Woods Act (H.R.5344/S.3063), which aims to establish regional training opportunities that provide accessible, community-based education tailored to local industry needs. By reducing barriers to entry and fostering ties with local employers, these programs are designed to keep talent within rural economies, creating pathways to well-paying careers in the forest industry. In this edition, we’ll share two innovative training programs in Wisconsin that are preparing the next generation for these essential roles.
Wisconsin Forestry Careers Coalition: Forest Operations Immersion Training Program
Oct. 13-Nov. 22, 2024
If you’re looking to start a career in forestry operations, the Forest Operations Immersion Training Program offers a unique, hands-on opportunity. This six-week, 240-hour intensive program is designed to immerse participants in the real-world practices of forestry, from operating heavy machinery used in tree felling and forest road construction to mastering equipment maintenance. As part of the experience, participants earn five college credits from UW-Stevens Point, which can be applied toward a future forestry degree.
Based at the scenic Treehaven field station near Tomahawk, Wisconsin, this program isn’t just about gaining skills—it’s about building a foundation for a long-term career in the forest products industry. The Wisconsin Forestry Center is now accepting applications for the first session, running from October 13 to November 22, 2024. With only ten spots available, early application is encouraged, especially for Wisconsin residents who will receive priority consideration. The deadline to apply is September 1, but applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Thanks to a Workforce Innovation Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, in-state tuition, fees, lodging, and meals are fully covered. Participants are responsible only for personal expenses, such as travel to the program, appropriate clothing and shoes, and supplies. If you can’t make it this fall, another session is planned for March-May 2025. Apply online today to secure your spot and take the first step toward a rewarding career in forestry.
Northcentral Technical College Saw Filing Training Program
Fall Session: September 16 – October 11, 2024
In 2019, the advisory board of the Northcentral Technical College (NTC) Wood Science Program came together with a message that we can’t produce lumber without sharp saws. The hole left behind by retiring saw filers, and the need to pass along viable information to keep the trade of saw filing and lumber industry healthy was the call to action that the NTC and Industry partners needed to begin fundraising for the required equipment. Creating a program where students could learn about filing and repairing saws as well as maintaining and aligning mill equipment was the ultimate vision.
In the fall of 2022, NTC hosted the first Band Saw Filing Certificate program, and they have hosted one certificate program each semester since. Students have attended the program not only from the Lake States region but also from California, Oregon, Maine, and Louisiana. Most of the students have been sent by the mill they work for, with the exception being a few students working for a saw shop or starting their own filing business. Students who have partaken in the program range from mill owners/managers and maintenance supervisors to entry-level saw filers to people who have never worked in the filing room before. Upon completing the four-week program, all the students have a solid foundation in all the basics of band saw filing.
New for the upcoming fall certificate program (9/16-10/11) is a US Forest Service grant to help offset some of the costs to companies that send employees. Companies from certain states, see diagram below, are eligible to receive $3,000 upon the completion of the program by their employees.
Companies from the states eligible are highlighted in blue below:
If you have questions about the program, please reach out to Sharon Ruff at [email protected] or 715-803-1965. To learn more, click HERE.
As the forest industry faces the ongoing challenge of building and retaining a skilled workforce, programs like the Forest Operations Immersion Training Program and the NTC Saw Filing Training Program offer important opportunities to develop the next generation of forestry professionals. These initiatives and others like them provide hands-on, practical experience and help ensure that rural communities continue to thrive by retaining and cultivating local talent. By supporting legislation and workforce development efforts, FRA is committed to supporting pathways for careers that sustain both the industry and the economies that depend on it.
If you know of a workforce training opportunity and would like us to share, please contact your FRA region manager.
