FRA 2024 Joint National and Western Region Fall Meeting– Summary of Business

Published

FRA’s Joint National and Western Region Fall Meeting, October 1-3, drew over 150 members and friends from across the country to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, for committee business, educational sessions, and the opportunity to network with peers from all facets of the wood supply chain. For those who attended, we ask you to take a few minutes to complete a short meeting survey – your feedback is important as we plan future FRA events.

Over the course of the meeting, members heard insights from a slate of dynamic speakers:

Please click the titles above to view the presentations we have permission to share on the FRA website. To access them, you must sign in as an FRA member. Please contact FRA’s Communications and Marketing Manager, Vanessa Connelly, at [email protected] if you need assistance.

Keynote Speakers

During the three-day meeting, our keynote speakers presented a wide range of topics relevant to the forest products supply chain.

Stephen Mackie, Executive Vice President of North American Operations at Canfor, delivered the keynote address on the morning of October 2. Mr. Mackie provided a comprehensive overview of Canfor’s operations in North America and Sweden, highlighting that the company operates 32 sawmills, two pulp mills, and 16 residual mills. Mr. Mackie discussed the improving market conditions for lumber and emphasized that mass timber is a significant growth area for sawmills. He talked about the challenges the industry faces, particularly the need for an economically viable timber supply in British Columbia. Mr. Mackie concluded by underscoring the importance of associations like FRA in advocating for the forest industry.

Douglas Reed, President of Green Diamond, shared the history of the sixth-generation family-owned business, noting that in 2015, Green Diamond decided to sell its sawmill business to focus on timberland. Currently, Green Diamond manages forest lands in nine states across the western and southern U.S. As a private land manager, Green Diamond capitalizes on markets that complement their business, including timber, recreation, and carbon markets. Reed also expressed his gratitude to FRA for their excellent advocacy work for the forest industry.

David Bruce provided an overview of Vaagen Brothers, highlighting their investments in log sorting and grading strategies using Finnos/X-ray technology and the retooling of their planer facility to enhance mill efficiencies. He emphasized their reliance on and relationships with public land administrators. Bruce also discussed the unique role Vaagen Brothers Lumber plays in utilizing small-diameter logs, often referred to as “the logs no one wants.” He mentioned the company’s collaboration with the US Forest Service and other entities to develop land management projects aimed at increasing timber management on National Forests. Additionally, David addressed the impact of inflation and production costs on sawmill operations and in-woods activities. He also highlighted Vaagen’s economic contributions to the communities in which they operate and shared forward-looking insights on the lumber markets.

Rob Gordon, Western Caucus Foundation, provided a historical review of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which was passed into law 50 years ago. Over that time, Mr. Gordon questioned the effectiveness of the ESA in protecting species. He argued that the foundational idea behind the ESA—that habitat is disappearing at an alarming rate—has not materialized. Gordon presented data showing that large areas of land are either preserved or in conservation status, making up a significant portion of U.S. land. He also highlighted various species that have seen population increases. Gordon concluded his presentation by stating that the ESA needs to be revisited, as it is not meeting the original intent of the law.

FRA Western Region Meeting

During the October 1 FRA Western Region meeting, attendees heard from speakers presenting issues affecting member companies in the region and across the country.

Angela Cordell, Associate Dean of Shasta College, presented an overview of the work the college has been developing to create the HELO Academy. The HELO Academy is a 16-unit certificate that provides a basic overview of logging and wood products. This unique public/private partnership has successfully awarded 31 certifications, with 80% of those awardees placed in jobs in the industry. 

Kyle Freres of Freres Lumber gave an overview of Freres Lumber and its efforts to innovate in mass timber space. Kyle showcased the technological innovations that have allowed Freres Lumber to develop a Mass Ply panel. During the process, Freres ran into multiple challenges, including timber supply and workforce; however, the use of smaller diameter logs has allowed Freres to compete against concrete and steel in the construction space.

Chris Sutherland and Tyler Snitynsky, The Sutherland Group, showcased their work in developing a partnership with First Nations in Canada. Tyler and Chris discussed their work with the Osoyoos Indian Band on projects in their traditional territory to support economies of interior rural communities as well as foster opportunities for career development within First Nations Communities. This unique partnership showcases the opportunities for the industry to provide solutions for forest management while increasing economic opportunities for Indigenous communities.

Justin Barnes of ResourceWise covered the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the northwest forest markets and how the housing market and high interest rates have affected the economy and the forest products industry. Justin discussed how the Fed’s reduction of rates will likely have an overall beneficial effect on the industry. Justin highlighted the current challenges with industry consolidation and closures that have affected industry capacity in the Pacific Northwest.

Rob Schuetz, President of Industrial Forestry Service Ltd., outlined the many variables that have affected the Canadian forest products industry, including Indigenous reconciliation, wildlife protection, and wildfire. The impacts of these variables have affected the amount of fiber available to the industry, which has had a significant effect on capacity and closures. These challenges are being felt throughout the supply chain in Canada. 

National Public Policy/Advocacy Committee

The FRA Public Policy and Advocacy Committee met on October 1. The session featured presentations from Jim Ellis, Senior Political Analyst for BIPAC, and Dr. Ryer Becker, Research Assistant Professor at the University of Idaho.

Ellis provided an overview of the 2024 elections, outlining potential pathways for Democratic and Republican victories in the presidency, House, and Senate. He highlighted that the presidential race is close and will likely be decided by key states, including North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Nevada. Ellis noted that if Vice President Harris wins North Carolina, she is likely to become the next president. He also mentioned that former President Trump tends to perform several points higher than actual polling numbers suggest.

Ellis predicted that the Senate would likely flip to a Republican majority with a 1-2 seat margin, as Democrats are defending 23 seats compared to the Republicans’ 11. He suggested that Senator Tester from Montana would likely lose, which would secure Republican control of the Senate. Control of the House remains uncertain, with Republicans currently holding a 5-seat majority. Redistricting since the 2022 elections favors Republicans, which may help them retain control.

Dr. Ryer Becker provided an overview of the University of Idaho’s workforce training efforts. He emphasized the importance of pathway training programs for the forest products industry and reaching out to high school students in rural areas to inform them about well-paying jobs in the forest industry. Becker also mentioned that forestry workforce programs across the country are coordinating to improve efficiency. It should be noted that FRA hosted a meeting last October that brought together workforce programs from across the U.S. to review their initiatives, leading to the formation of the workforce coalition mentioned by Professor Becker.

The Policy Committee concluded with a brief business meeting.

National Operations Committee

As part of the National Operations Committee Meeting, Kirk Gulian, Director of EV Mobility with Dobbs Truck Group, presented “Pacific Northwest Trucking Scarcity: Emissions and EV Compliance Landscape in 2025”. Gulian shared a comprehensive and frightening outlook on California Air Resources Board (CARB) emission regulations that will eventually require a transition to EV trucks in the Pacific Northwest. He also emphasized the need to know who’s hauling your product and fully understand their compliance with pending regulations and mandates.

During the business meeting, the committee held a roundtable discussion focusing on the regional challenges, issues, and concerns impacting each FRA region. Topics covered included recent mill closures and production curtailments, soft lumber markets, workforce constraints, escalating costs of doing business for the entire wood supply chain, forest health concerns, logging and trucking capacity, and the port strike impacting the East and Gulf Coasts. A brainstorming session was also held to identify several project ideas for committee involvement in support of FRA’s 2024-2026 Strategic Plan. Several potential ideas under consideration include developing safety SOPs for chippers and grinders, sharing UAV or AI technology ideas among members, and highlighting member success stories on supply chain workforce initiatives. A follow-up meeting will be scheduled soon to select a project and develop action items and a timeline.

National Supplier/Consumer Relations Committee

Marie Price and Tommy Groff with Idaho Forest Group (IFG) presented on their registered apprenticeship program, which they have successfully implemented to identify and grow their workforce. Over the past ten years, IFG has had 230 employees participate in their apprenticeship program, and reports that these employees are more likely to stay with the company and advance as their skills develop. The program coordinator, a mill manager, and an apprentice spoke about their experience and offered valuable insights and guidance on what has worked well for them.

During the business meeting that followed, the committee discussed the presentation and asked Staff Secretary Eric Kingsley to prepare information for members summarizing how a company can start a registered apprenticeship program, what lessons others have learned on what (and what not) to do for a successful program, and how to work with schools and others to identify and recruit good candidates.

National Timber Harvesting and Transportation Safety Foundation

The THATS Foundation last met on September 17 via Zoom and provided a report on this session during the Board of Directors Meeting. During the meeting, they reviewed both the Pennsylvania SFI online logger training project and the grant for Mississippi State University, which will be used to schedule workshops using actual videos from trucks to train drivers and improve safety.

New grant applications were reviewed, including “Oregon State University Virtual Canopy: Immersive Training for Future Forestry Professionals.” This training provides a virtual approach for loggers to promote safety on a logging operation. The group was also updated on the successful rollout of the Six Rules for Logging Safety initiative. Committee members agreed to explore selling items in the safety kits separately. 

FRA Board of Directors Meeting

At the October 3 Board of Directors Meeting, attendees:

  • Reviewed FRA’s financial and operational performance for the fiscal year to date.
  • Approved the FY 23-24 Audit Report.
  • Reviewed reports from FRA’s National Committees and the THATS Foundation.
  • Heard the Meetings Advisory Group report on upcoming meetings: FRA’s 2025 Annual Meeting will be held at The Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa, Miramar Beach, FL, Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa, Point Clear, AL, May 5-7 and the 2025 Fall Meeting will be held in conjunction with a Legislative Fly-In, October 7-9 in Washington, DC. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend.

Continuing Education Credits

The FRA 2024 Joint National and Western Region Fall Meeting was approved for 10 Category 1 SAF CFE credits. Please reach out if you have questions regarding credit for your meeting attendance.

Meeting Sponsors

Thank you to the FRA 2024 Joint National and Western Region Fall Meeting sponsors. This meeting would not have been possible without your generous support!