FRA’S 2026 SOUTHCENTRAL REGION TECHNICAL WRITING AWARD
ERIC MCCONNELL, PH.D. RECEIVES FRA’S 2026 SOUTHCENTRAL REGION TECHNICAL WRITING AWARD
Auburn, AL, March 11, 2026 – The Forest Resources Association (FRA) recognized Eric McConnell, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Forestry at Mississippi State University, as the 2026 Southcentral Region Technical Writing Award recipient for his FRA Technical Release, A Snapshot of Foreign Ownership of Forestland in the U.S. South. The honor was presented during FRA’s Southwide Region Spring Meeting held at the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center in Auburn, Alabama.
FRA’s Technical Releases are quarterly publications that highlight technical advancements, research, and innovative programs across the forest products industry. Many of these releases are authored by FRA members, and the best in each region are selected annually by the region’s Steering Committee for recognition.
Unfortunately, Dr. McConnell could not attend the Awards Lunch this year due to a prior commitment. FRA Southwide Region Manager Clay Altizer accepted the award on behalf of Dr. McConnell and thanked the members in the audience for supporting his most recent technical writing submission.
“Dr. McConnell’s outstanding article focuses on an important issue that has been a hot topic in the Southern US over the past several years. Foreign ownership of forestland and other significant land acquisitions have been flagged for further evaluation and debate by many state legislatures in the South. We appreciate Dr. McConnell’s latest effort to share timely and relevant information with FRA’s membership and congratulate him on winning the Southcentral Region’s 2026 Technical Writing Award.” – FRA Southwide Region Manager Clay Altizer
About Forest Resources Association (FRA)
FRA is an association representing the interests of more than 300 organizations and businesses in the forest products industry, including forest landowners, suppliers, consuming mills, associated businesses, and state forestry associations. Members all share a common interest – they rely on FRA to promote the public policy interests of the forest products industry’s supply chain on Capitol Hill and our work to advance safety, operational and technical efficiencies, and supply chain relations. FRA has member representation in 49 states and 384 Congressional Districts.
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