Summary of Business: FRA’s 2026 Southwide Region Spring Meeting

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Over 70 FRA members and guests convened in Auburn, AL, at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center on March 10 -12, 2026, for FRA’s 2026 Southwide Region Spring Meeting.  The event began on Tuesday evening (March 10th) with a Welcome Reception and Dinner.  FRA was graciously invited by the Alabama Forestry Association (AFA) and the Forestry Workforce Training Institute to join them at their Auburn Area AFA Regional Reception at Auburn Oaks Farm in Notasulga.  A great time was had by all who attended. FRA would like to thank AFA President Chris Isaacson and Senior Director of Administration Liz Chambers for an outstanding evening of networking and fellowship. The Spring Meeting officially began on Wednesday morning (March 11th) with the Southern Region Council on Forest Engineering (SRCOFE) group’s biennial meeting.  SRCOFE routinely joins forces with one of FRA’s southern regions for a Spring Meeting during even- numbered years.  An outstanding Keynote Presentation was delivered by Justin McDermott, Forestry Division Sales Manager for North America – John Deere.  Justin provided a snapshot of in-woods equipment innovation and how John Deere is well-positioned to remain on the cutting edge of technological advancements in forest operations. 

Keynote Speaker Justin McDermott
Forestry Division Sales Manager for North America – John Deere

Following the keynote address, meeting attendees were treated to numerous student and faculty presentations from attendees from Auburn University, the University of Georgia, and the University of Arkansas-Monticello:

Click here to view the presentations, available exclusively to FRA members (login required).

  • Evaluating the Quality of First Thinning Harvests in Planted Southern Pine – Josh Mullins, University of Georgia
  • How are Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) Revolutionizing Forest Operations? A Systematic Review of Current Applications and Future Opportunities – Prakash Ojha, Auburn University
  • Identifying Optimal Locations for Primary Wood Processing Mills in Arkansas – Bandana Subedi, University of Georgia
  • Work Force Development in Arkansas – Dr. Kevin Boston, Arkansas Center for Forest Business (University of Arkansas – Monticello)
  • Development and Validation of GATES, a Tool to Estimate Log Truck Costs in the US South – Jack Derochers, University of Georgia
  • Using Interstate Highways for Log Truck Transportation in Alabama – Puspa Joshi, Auburn University
  • Balancing the Load: Operational Impacts of Truck Weight Limits on the Alabama Logging Industry – Mandira Pokharel, Auburn University
  • Examining the Barriers to Entry for Third-Party Logging Truck Drivers in the Southern United States – Vida Owusu, Auburn University
  • The Assessment of Timber Transportation Industry in Idaho Compared to Georgia – Jessie McCullough, University of Georgia
  • Real-time Estimates of Logging Equipment Carbon Emissions in the Southeastern United States – Abubakar Tahiru, Auburn University
  • Operational Efficiency and Ecological Effects of Forestry Mulching in Alabama – Hannah Mayo, Auburn University
  • Assessing Impacts of Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Standards Changes to the Forest Industries of Alabama – Manisha Subedi, Auburn University
  • Evaluating Georgia’s Forestry Stream Crossing BMPs for Future Conditions – Emma Merritt, University of Georgia

Thanks to Drs. Joe Conrad (University of Georgia) and Jo Daniel (Auburn University) for coordinating the SRCOFE portion of the meeting.

The Spring Meeting then transitioned to the 2026 Southwide Region Awards Lunch to recognize this year’s Technical Writing Award winners and Outstanding Logger Award winners for both the Southcentral and Southeastern Regions.

2026 Technical Writing Awards

Southcentral Region (SCR): 
Dr. Eric McConnell, Associate Professor – Mississippi State University
A Snapshot of Foreign Ownership of Forestland in the US South
(25-TR-17)

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Southeastern Region (SER):
Nathan Gatlin, Area Specialized Agent for Forestry (WNC) – NC State Cooperative Extension Service
Hurricane Helene Serves as a Catalyst for Landowner Chainsaw Training
(25-TR-05)

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2026 Outstanding Logger Awards

Southcentral Region (SCR):

Ricky Summerford
Summerford Enterprises Inc.
Fulton, MS
Nominated by: Mississippi Forestry Association

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Southeastern Region (SER):

Tobey McDowell
C. McDowell Logging
Jackson, GA
Nominated by: Georgia Forestry Association and Southeastern Wood Producers Association

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Special thank you to John Deere for sponsoring FRA’s Outstanding Logger Award!

The meeting continued with an excellent lineup of afternoon speakers:

Click here to view the presentations, available exclusively to FRA members (login required).

  • Wood Innovations Grant Projects Update – Marcus Taylor, US Forest Service
  • Financial Impacts of Brown Spot Needle Blight in Loblolly Pine – Dr. Curtis VanderSchaaf, Mississippi State University
  • Forest Industry Update and Market Overview – Dr. Shawn Baker, Forisk
  • ForestryWorks™ Update – Stephanie Fuller Johnson and Emily Vanderford, ForestryWorks

Following the afternoon session, Wednesday’s events concluded with a reception and group dinner at the Dixon Conference Center.  Thursday morning’s schedule included a Southwide Region Steering Committee Business Meeting, which was open to all meeting attendees.  Robby Toombs (Southcentral Region Steering Committee Chair) and Michael Walker (Southeastern Region Steering Committee Chair) led a productive roundtable session to discuss regulations, legislation, and actions impacting the wood supply value chain in both regions.  FRA Southwide Region Manager, Clay Altizer, provided a general FRA update, which included grant-funded projects, upcoming meeting locations, and committee leadership succession planning.  FRA would like to thank Robby Toombs, outgoing SCR Steering Committee Chair, for his dedicated service to the region over the past four years.  The SCR Steering Committee welcomed Clint Rounsaville as incoming Chair for 2026-2028. 

Robby Toombs, outgoing SCR Steering Committee Chair, and Clint Rounsaville, incoming Chair for 2026–2028.

The Southwide Region Spring Meeting was approved for 6.0 Category 1 CFEs by the Society of American Foresters (3.0 for SRCOFE Meeting and 3.0 for FRA Afternoon Session).  The Southeastern Region’s next meeting will be in Athens, GA, on October 27-29 (joint meeting with FRA’s Forest Products Security Group).  More details regarding the Southcentral Region’s 2026 Fall Meeting will be available soon.

FRA would like to thank all 2026 Southwide Region Spring Meeting sponsors for their support!