FORESTRY 411
STATE LEGISLATIVE REPORT
This year's annual Forestry Day at the Capitol featured an all-star lineup of legislative presenters: Senator Ben Albritton, Representatives Loranne Ausley, Bobby Payne and Jason Shoaf, IFAS's Director of Governmental Affairs Mary Ann Hooks, and lobbyist Jim Spratt shared the latest inside information on bills and budget issues important to the forestry community.


AG COMMISSIONER NIKKI FRIED APPOINTS NEW STATE LEADERSHIP FOR FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE
Today, Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried announced two new leadership appointments for the Florida Forest Service. The selections come after a national search and interviews with multiple candidates.
Erin Albury  has been appointed State Forester and Director of the Florida Forest Service. Albury succeeds James “Jim” Karels, who has led the agency the past 12 years and served the Florida Forest Service since 1985. Karels’ impending retirement is an extraordinary milestone in an esteemed forestry career that spans nearly four decades..
Johnny Sabo  has been appointed Assistant Director of the Florida Forest Service. Sabo currently serves as the Field Operations Bureau Chief and will succeed Albury following Karels’ retirement.

Please RSVP to Krista Harvard --
850.222.5646 or Krista@ForestFla.org.
FLORIDA FORESTRY TEACHERS’ TOUR: SPONSORS NEEDED 
The Florida Forestry Teachers’ Tour is an annual event that gives the Florida Forest Service and the forest industry the opportunity to share forestry’s story with educators from around the state. Teachers take back the information and insights they learn in this four-day hands-on experience and incorporate them into their curriculum during the school year. This year’s tour will be held June 18-21, based in Fernandina Beach, FL. 

Sponsors are vital to the success of this program! Each $500 sponsorship allows one teacher to participate at no cost to him/herself beyond travel to and from Fernandina Beach. To become a sponsor, contact Krista Harvard ( Krista@ForestFla.org   or 850.222.5646) or simply send your check, payable to the  Florida Forestry Foundation, to P.O. Box 1696, Tallahassee, FL 32302. 
TICKETS ON SALE FOR FLORIDA AG HALL OF FAME
Tickets are now on sale for the 41st annual Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame banquet on Feb. 11, which will honor three inductees who have made invaluable contributions to Florida agriculture: Fred Dietrich, John Jackson and Robbie Roberson.

The banquet is held in the Special Events Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. Tickets are $75 per person, and tables of eight are available. Tickets are available online at  http://floridaaghalloffame2020.eventbrite.com  or by calling 813.230.1918.
SESAF ANNUAL MEETING
February 23-25, 2020
Panama City Beach, FL
Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort

"Recovering From The Storm"
Where We Have Been and Where We Are Going

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
February 22, 2020
8 AM-12 PM
Master Logger CLE Workshop
Branford, FL

March 4, 2020
11:30 AM
Membership Meeting
Hal Y. Maines Community Center
Lake Butler, FL

March 18, 2020
11:30 AM
Membership Meeting
Coastal Plywood Company's Magnolia Lodge
Quincy, FL

April 28, 2020
10 AM
Executive Committee Meeting
Lake Butler, FL

June 3-4, 2020
Master Logger 2-Day Training
Gateway College
Lake City, FL


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