August is here—which means it’s back-to-school season, and for us at FRA, it’s also when we gear up for fall meetings, including FRA’s upcoming Legislative Fly-In this October 7-9. Our fly-in brings us face-to-face with policymakers—and the stronger our digital presence is leading into it, the better.

So today, I’m not asking you to buy a new backpack —I’m asking you to do something just as important:

➡️ Follow us on social media and help tell our industry’s story.

Social Media as a Window into Our Industry

Forestry isn’t just about trees—it’s about people and communities-rural communities. It’s about one of America’s most sustainable industries and the good, hardworking individuals who keep it moving every day: foresters, loggers, truck drivers, mill workers, machine operators, engineers, and more.

Much of our work goes unseen, yet it’s essential to the strength and recognition of the forest industry that sustains both forests and families. People can’t value what they don’t know or see. Social media gives us a way to change that—sharing the facts, the faces, and the everyday moments that make this industry strong.

The numbers help us highlight that too—the U.S. forest products industry supports more than 925,000 jobs and produces over $435 billion in goods each year, ranking among the top 10 manufacturing employers in 44 states (AF&PA). And behind every number are real people doing the work that keeps this industry strong.

Here is the great news: You don’t have to be an influencer—just showing up and engaging helps spread the word.

Why It Matters
Social media helps us reach more people—quickly. It’s one of the easiest ways to share what’s happening in our industry, highlight the issues that matter, and showcase the incredible work being done on behalf of members and the wood supply chain.  When our posts are seen and shared, we’re not just raising awareness—we’re building an understanding of the forest sector. Each engagement helps industry leaders, policymakers, and the public understand the role and value of forest management in sustaining economies, wildlife, water quality, and forest health. Social media isn’t just outreach—it’s influence.

Why It Matters to the Fly-In
With the Fly-In approaching, visibility is important. When we post about legislation, policy developments, or industry priorities, we’re doing more than sharing news. These messages help our audience stay informed and show our commitment to the issues that impact businesses and communities.

FRA’s Social Media: Here’s Where We Are

We’re not trying to be everywhere — we focus on three key channels where our message has the greatest reach. If you’re not already on one of these platforms but would like to be, click here for simple instructions to get started.

1. LinkedIn

Great for: policymakers, forest industry professionals, industry leaders, and anyone looking to stay current on forestry news, policy updates, and supply chain insights.

While we share much of our content across all our channels, LinkedIn is where we see the strongest engagement and the most meaningful conversations. It’s our primary platform for connecting directly with peers, decision-makers, and advocates—sharing everything from legislative updates to workforce initiatives.

How to follow:

1. Go to https://www.linkedin.com/company/forest-resources-association  
2. Click “Follow”
3. Like or comment on a post—we’ll show up in more feeds and you’ll start seeing more of our posts!

2. Facebook

Great for: workers, families, and our community members
How to follow:

1. Visit https://www.facebook.com/ForestResourcesAssociation
2. Click “Like” and “Follow”
3. Comment on a post or tag a friend!

3. X (formerly Twitter)

Great for: lawmakers, journalists, policy watchers
How to follow:

1. Go to https://x.com/ForestResources
2. Hit “Follow”
3. Retweet something that speaks to you

Understanding “The Feed”: Why Engagement Is Powerful

Social media platforms use algorithms to decide what people see. When you like, share, or comment, you’re telling the platform:

“Hey, this is good content. More people should see it—and I want to see more like this.”

That means:

• You’ll see more of our posts in your own feed.
• Your friends and followers are more likely to see them, too.
• New audiences who’ve never heard of us may get introduced to our work.

Yes—your single “Like” really does matter.

How to Join the Conversation

Following is step one. Step two?

Get involved:

• Like, share, or comment on posts that resonate with you.
• Send us photos, ideas, or moments from your workday that show the real faces of forestry—we may feature them.
• Tag us when you see something worth celebrating in our industry.
  To tag us, just type @Forest-Resources-Association (or @forestresources on X) in your post or comment—it should give you a pop-up with our profile, click it, and you’re set!

Let’s Do This

As of today, our follower stats look like this:

• LinkedIn: 4,663
• Facebook: 2,159
• X/Twitter: 1,535

Let’s see what happens when we put this message into action. In 7 days, I’ll report back—did we grow? Will I see your name in the comments or likes?

Every post you share is part of building our story. Our work matters. Let’s share it.