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Events Calendar

2026

July

Forestry Basics

Join fellow forest landowners and the Small Farm Outreach Program for a workshop designed to help you manage your timber in a biologically and economically sound manner. We’ll look at current trends and issues that impact your forest ownership interests such as markets, timber sales, harvesting dynamics, and unique opportunities.

Contact Neil Clark, neclark@vt.edu, for more information.

Generation NEXT Legacy Planning Workshop

This 1+ day Legacy Planning program is for farm and forest owners and includes traditional estate planning as well as family dynamics and goal setting.  Learn how you can keep your land INtact, IN forest/farm, IN family ownership by learning from legal and financial professionals, conservation specialists and fellow landowners.

Contact Karen Snape, ksnape@vt.edu, 540-231-6494 for details. 

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: What are we Doing with all that Yellow-Poplar? 

Bill Worrell visits the Columbia Forest Products plywood mill in Old Fort NC to learn about the products being made from yellow-poplar. 

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August

Beyond the Basics Woodland Owner Retreat: Managing Your Forest for Timber Income 

This day and a half retreat will cover the people and process involved in a timber sale. A combination of classroom, field trip, and hands-on sessions will be used to teach the concepts of sustainable timber harvesting. The program will conclude with a virtual timber sale activity. 

Topics include:

  • People involved in a timber sale
  • Overview of the forest industry
  • Factors that affect price
  • Is your timber ready to sell?
  • Field trip with active timber harvests
  • Virtual timber sale experience

On site lodging is available for individuals and couples. Couples lodging is limited to 5 couples and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. To maximize your experience, we strongly encourage participants to stay on site. 

Registration fees include 3 meals on Friday and 2 meals on Saturday, plus refreshments, field trip transportation, and materials. 

Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391, for more information. 

Pest Management in the Home/Yard/Landscape

Sooner or later we are going to have problems with pests around our homes and yards. Moles & voles, fire ants, bees, termites, bed bugs, spotted lantern flies, grubs, and the list goes on. This session will briefly review some of the top problematic pests in southeast Virginia and provide some recommendations on how to deal with them.

Contact Neil Clark, neclark@vt.edu, 757-653-2572, for details

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September

Five Minutes in the Forest: Clues to Land Use History

Join Virginia Tech's Jennifer Gagnon as she scouts her property for clues to its past. 

Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391 for more information. 

Forest Stand Improvement

Discover how to turn the forest you got into the forest you want. This is the basis of forest management. Some people are happy with "anything green" on their property and others want perfect rows of uniform pine trees. And there are all sorts of things in between based on your objectives, along with some lessons of DOs and DON'Ts. This session will explain the biology related to improving forest stands to meet varied objectives be it health, wildlife, aesthetics, or economics.  

Contact Neil Clark, neclark@vt.edu, 757-653-2572, for details.

Five Minutes in the Forest: Grade this Log!

Join Virginia Cooperative Extension's Adam Downing for a quick primer on log grading. 

Contact Adam Downing, adowning@vt.edu, 540-948-6881 for more information. 

Southeast Virginia Beginning Woodland Owner Retreat

  • September 11-12
  • New Kent Conference Center, Providence Forge
  • No Lodging
    • Individual $65
    • Couple $130
  • Lodging Thurs. & Fri.
    • Individual $130
    • Couple $195

This day and a half retreat will cover the basics of learning about your woods and the wildlife that live in them. Meet natural resource professionals who can provide you with educational, financial, and technical assistance. 

Topics include:

  • Setting your goals and objectives
  • Working with a forester
  • Managing for wildlife
  • Selling your timber
  • Hardwood and pine management 
  • Tree identification
  • Forest measurements 

On site lodging is available for individuals and couples. Lodging is limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. To maximize your experience, we strongly encourage participants to stay on site. Registration fees include 3 meals on Friday and breakfast on Saturday, plus refreshments, field trip transportation, and materials. 

  • Agenda 
  • Register by mail
  • Register online 
  • Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391, for more information. 

Do It Yourself Small Acreage Woodlots

The vast majority of Virginia landowners own small parcels of land, often containing some wooded area. It can be challenging to find or pay contractors to do management tasks. So many landowners want to grab some tools and invest some sweat-equity and do some tasks as a form of recreation and enjoyment. But what to do? What things are compatible and what snags might we want to be careful to avoid. This session will provide a short overview of things you can do on your small woodlot with your own two hands.

Contact Neil Clark, neclark@vt.edu, 757-653-2572, for details.

Five Minutes in the Virtual Forest

Join Virginia Cooperative Extension's Neil Clark for a virtual tour of a virtual forest. The 4-H Virtual Forest is a tool for science teachers. 

Contact Neil Clark, neclark@vt.edu, 757-653-2572 for more information. 

Small Scale Forestry Expo

This forestry trade show is for family woodland owners who want to manage their land without huge equipment. Exhibitors will include manufacturers and dealers who represent/carrying mini excavators (up to 8-ton capacity), skid steers, tracked steer loaders, small- to mid-size agricultural tractors, brush and wood handling attachments, outdoor wood furnaces, side-by-sides and UTVs, chainsaws, and safety equipment. Makers of firewood processing equipment, portable sawmills, trailers, and storage buildings will also be represented. 

Service providers in attendance will include insurance companies, finance companies, woodlot consultants, timber buyers, educators, and more.

Learn more on the Small Scale Forestry Expo website.

Generation NEXT Workshop

  • September 19
  • South Boston

This 1-day Legacy Planning program is for farm and forest owners and includes traditional estate planning as well as family dynamics and goal setting.  Learn how you can keep your land INtact, IN forest/farm, IN family ownership by learning from legal and financial professionals, conservation specialists and fellow landowners.

  • Agenda coming soon
  • Registration coming soon

Contact Karen Snape, ksnape@vt.edu, 540-231-6494 for details. 

Five Minutes in the Forest: Hunting Safety

Join Virginia Cooperative Extension's Jason Fisher for safety tips for a safe hunting experience. 

Contact Jason Fisher, kefishe@vt.edu, 434-476-2147 for more information. 

Timber Cruising for Woodland Owners 

  • September 25
  • 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Matthews State Forest, Galax
  • $50 - includes lunch, Biltmore stick, and angle gauge

Having an idea of the volume and value of your timber is useful, and sometimes essential, for various management decisions such as: selling timber, enrolling in carbon markets, valuing an estate, and establishing a tax basis.

This hands-on class will uncover the “mystery” behind timber cruising and give you an appreciation for how a professional forester uses this information to guide decision making.

Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391, for more information.

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October

Five Minutes in the Forest: Deer-resistant Trees and Shrubs

Join Virginia Tech's Karen Snape for ideas on deer-proofing your landscape. 

Contact Karen Snape, ksnape@vt.edu, 540-231-6494 for more information. 

Five Minutes in the Forest: Tulip-Poplar Milling

Join Virginia Cooperative Extension's Bill Worrell for a quick tour of a tulip-poplar sawmill.

Contact Bill Worrell, bworrell@vt.edu, 276-889-8056 for more information. 

50th Anniversary Fall Forestry & Wildlife Field Tours: Montgomery County

  • October 20
  • 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Meet at Meadowbrook Commmunity Center, Shawsville 
  • $45/person; $80/couple (includes breakfast, lunch, and transportation)

Home to Virginia Tech, the third largest University in Virginia, Montgomery County is still a predominantly rural area. In fact, almost 90% of the county is either forest ( 68 %) or farm (21%) land. On this tour we’ll see where trees are grown, how they are made into useful products, and what goes into developing and testing wood products. 

Stop 1: Turman Lumber Company. This family-owned sawmill has been operating for almost 50 years. The family also owns and manages 400,000 acres of local forests.  We’ll watch as trees are sawn into lumber. 

Stop 2: Virginia Tech’s Brooks Forest Products Center. Here we’ll learn about state of the art technology being used to test packaging systems and materials. From improving the durability of pallets, enhancing the sustainability of cold chain packaging systems, to developing new building materials, the Brooks Center is conducting world-class applied research on wood products. 

Lunch: Meadowbrook Community Center. Catered pasta bar from Pumpernickle Pickle. 

Stop 3: Sowder Tree Farm. On this 57-acre Tree Farm we’ll learn about managing for Appalachian hardwoods, Eastern white pine, and all the wildlife that live there. We’ll also learn about research and outreach  projects with Virginia Tech. 

Lodging is available for an additional $40/night (for single and couples sharing a room). This fee includes dinner on the night of your stay. 

For more information contact: Bill Worrell, 276-889-8056, bworrell@vt.edu. 

50th Anniversary Fall Forestry & Wildlife Field Tours Franklin County

Known as the moonshine capital of the world for its historic liquor production during prohibition, Franklin County was also the filming location for the 1991 movie What About Bob. Close to 58% of the county is in forestland, and 26% in farmland. 

Stop 1: Tree Planting Harmony. What does it takes to turn an open field into a pine plantation?  The discussion will cover soil preparation, tree planting, and releasing seedlings from competing vegetation. We’ll see hardwoods and shortleaf pine planted  along a waterway where, once established, they will help protect water quality.  Finally, we’ll learn about the cost share programs used to help pay to establish these plantings. 

Stop 2: Intentional Hardwood Management. Virginia’s Hardwood Initiative has money to help you manage your hardwood forests. At this stop we’ll explore three of the management practices that are eligible for cost share. 

Lunch: Catered by the W.E. Skelton 4-H  Educational Conference Center

Stop 3: Montmorenci Property. This privately-owned 600+ acre woodland has been in the Newbill Family since the 1970’s. It is now being actively managed by the second generation. We’ll learn about managing both loblolly pine and hardwoods at this stop. 

Lodging is available for an additional $40/night (for single and couples sharing a room). This fee includes dinner on the night of your stay. 

For more information contact: Jason Fisher, 434-276-2147,  jasonf@vt.edu. 

50th Anniversary Fall Forestry & Wildlife Field Tours!

  • October 22 - Orange County
  • Meet at James Madison's Montpelier, Montpelier Station
  • 9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
  • $45/person; $80/couple (includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, transportation, and mansion tour)

Orange County is bathed in its own name, russet browns, reds and yellows in autumn. Our time at James Madison’s Montpelier is sure to please the eye and the mind while exploring the intersection of society & forests.  

Stop 1: Working Woods Walk. A  trail walk in the Demonstration Forest will pass though part of the remarkable Landmark Forest before showcasing various active forest management practices.

Lunch: Catered by Grelen Casual Cafe

Stop 2: Grelen Nursery Tour. Established in 1990, the nursery grows and sells large plant material and operates a full landscaping division.

Stop 3:  Majestic Trees of Montpelier. We will return to Montpelier and get off the beaten path to be up-close and personal with Montpelier’s Majestic Trees and have time to explore exhibits and the formal gardens.  

Dinner: Catered by BBQ Exchange

Stop 4: Mansion Tour. This private tour of James Madison’s home will be led by Montpelier staff. 

Lodging is available for an additional $40/night (for single and couples sharing a room). This fee includes dinner on the night of your stay. 

  • Wednesday October 21 and Thursday October 22: Lodge-style accommodations available at Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania. Private rooms have 2 beds; each lodge has a shared kitchen space and 3 shared bathrooms.  
  • Please contact Jennifer Gagnon to arrange lodging no later than Friday October 2,  jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391. 

For more information contact: Adam Downing, 540-889-8056, adowning@vt.edu.

50th Anniversary Fall Forestry & Wildlife Field Tours Hanover County

  •  October 23 - Hanover County 
  • Meet at Flippo Lumber Corporation, Doswell
  • 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • $45/person; $80/couple (includes breakfast, lunch, and transportation)

Right off of I-95 and home of King’s Dominion, Hanover County is still a predominantly rural land use county, with 64% of the area in forest and 13% in farm. On this tour we’ll visit a local sawmill business and their actively managed forest. 

Stop 1:  Flippo Lumber Corporation. This family-owned sawmill has been operating for approximately 93 years. Flippo Lumber is estimated to generate $4.5 million in annual revenues, and employs approximately 53 people at this location. On this mill tour, we’ll learn how the trees you grow are processed into long-lasting, carbon-storing wood products. 

Lunch: Catered by....

Stop 2: Bullfield Woodlands. There is a lot of active forest management occurring on this family-owned property. Professional foresters will discuss how to create a new, young forest, and the benefits they provide for wildlife. Then we’ll learn what management activities are used in 15 and 29 year old pine plantations. The last stop will be at a hardwood forest along the river.   We’ll learn about the ways that forests protect water quality, support wildlife, and provide recreational opportunities. 

Lodging is available for an additional $40/night (for single and couples sharing a room). This fee includes dinner on the night of your stay. 

  • Thursday October 22: Lodge-style accommodations available at Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania. Private rooms have 2 beds; each lodge has a shared kitchen space and 3 shared bathrooms.  
  • Please contact Jennifer Gagnon to arrange lodging no later than Friday October 2,  jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391. 

For more information contact: Neil Clark, 757-653-2572, neclark@vt.edu.

16th Biennial Longleaf Conference

The Biennial Longleaf Conference, sponsored by The Longleaf Alliance, is a regional conference that is focused on the restoration and conservation of the longleaf ecosystem that once dominated the landscape within the southeastern United States. The conference provides the opportunity for people from all over the southeast to get together, share, learn, and celebrate longleaf. It also serves as a rallying spot for several other organizations and government agencies seeking to stage additional events in order to better collaborate on the conference topics.

This conference is open to individuals, private landowners, land managers, wildlife biologists, conservation groups, consultants, university researchers, forestry professionals, agency and outreach personnel who share an interest in restoration of the longleaf pine ecosystem. On average, attendance ranges from 250-400 depending on conference location. The conference also draws from 25-35 exhibitors and vendors.

For more information, contact Sarah Crate, sarah@longleafalliance.org.

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November

Online Woodland Options for Landowners Field Trip 

  • November 5
  • 9:30 - 3:30
  • James Madison's Montpelier, Montpelier Station
  • Free for current Online Woodland Options students
  • $25/person for all others (includes lunch)

This field trip will showcase active forest management practices, give you skills to identify common Virginia trees, and show you how to measure and value individual trees using an array of forestry equipment. 

You do not need to be a current Online Woodland Options student to participate. Due to the hands-on nature of this program registration is limited to 30. 

Current students e-mail jgagnon@vt.edu to register. For all others, online registration opens in August.

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December

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2026 Programs