| Agenda
Wednesday, January 27 8:00AM - 12:00 PM - APSAF Board of Directors Meeting 11:30 AM - until - Pre-Conference Tours & Spouses Tours - Click here for Spouses Tour information (2 options)
Virginia Department of Forestry: Seedling Legacy and Tree Improvement Program Wednesday, January 27, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. In its storied history, the Virginia Department of Forestry has been producing tree seedlings for over 100 years. From early days growing pine, spruce, catalpa, arborvitae, Austrian pine, ash, white oak, slash pine, redwood, red pine, bald cypress, and longleaf pine on the University of Virginia campus where the current football stadium now sits (some might say the nursery was a better use of the space 😂), to the opening of the New Kent nursery in 1952. Up from 1 million trees in 1939 at previous nurseries progressing to 1958 the New Kent nursery sent out a whopping 42 million seedlings to supply the pine plantation fervor. The New Kent nursery ceased operations in 2004, 20 years after production had shifted to the Sussex nursery. By 2017 Virginia nurseries had produced 2 billion seedlings. What a renewable heritage! Work is never done however as research continues at this site as genetic improvements are still ongoing utilizing controlled pollination and longleaf pine improvement from the limited Virginia remnant longleaf seed source. Attendees of this tour will examine in more detail the eras and evolution of science and tree improvement over the last century and into the future. Registration: $50
Newport News Waterworks Reservoir Forestry Tour Wednesday, January 27, 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Newport News Waterworks is a regional water provider, owned and operated by the City of Newport News, that serves over 400,000 people in Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and portions of York County and James City County. The Waterworks owns and operates five reservoirs and more than 12,000 acres of watershed property. Since 1947, a forest management program has existed to help promote the health of the forests within the watershed. Participants will have the opportunity to visit the water supply system, explore ongoing forest management projects, and learn first-hand how forestry fits into the city's water quality program. Waterworks forester (and long-time SAF champion) Eddie Harrah, CF will lead the 3-hour tour. Registration: $50 The Port of Virginia: Virginia International Gateway Wednesday, January 27, 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. The Port of Virginia consists of a system of terminals (deep-water container and breakbulk, inland barge, inland rail). Recently the channel has been dredged to a 55 feet depth allowing 16,000 container ultra-large vessels to pass without needing to adjust tidal timing. In 2025, the Port handled 3.2 million TEUs (1.6 import, 1.6 export) from 2,445 vessels. Attendees (used to fussing about unloading delay) will be able to observe the mind-blowing precision and synchronicity of movement of 100s of containers simultaneously in motion via multiple cranes, trucks, rail, etc In addition to containers you may also see some other unusual items being shipped and play an interesting game of eye-spy or where’s Waldo. Participants will also hear about economic impacts of imports and exports of different commodities and trade partners as well as learning of infrastructure investments which expand market reach by truck and by rail. Registration: $50
Thursday, January 28th 7:00 - 8:00 A.M. – Breakfast & Registration 8:00 – 8:15 A.M. - Welcome & Opening Remarks - Terry Lasher 8:15 – 9:00 A.M. – Keynote Address: “Managing Forests in Response to Changing Markets”
- Dr. Tom Fox, Vice President, Society of American Foresters
9:05 – 9:50 A.M. – Presentation: “History of Forestry in Virginia”
- Dean Cumbia, Forest Management Branch Director, VA Dept of Forestry
9:50 – 10:15 A.M. - BREAK 10:15 - 11:00 A.M. – Presentation: “Hardwoods and Fire”
- Dr. Adam Coates, Professor, Virginia Tech
11:05 - 11:50 A.M. – Presentation: “Tick Talk (Tik Tok)”
- Dr. Mandy Nolan, Professor, University of South Carolina
11:50 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. – Break 12:30 – 1:30 P.M. – APSAF Awards Luncheon 1:45 – 2:30 P.M. – Student Presentations 2:30 - 3:15 P.M. - APSAF Business Meeting 3:15 - 3:30 P.M. – Break before Division Meetings 3:30 – 4:30 P.M. – State Division Meetings - North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia 4:30 - 5:00 P.M. – BREAK 5:00 – 6:00 P.M. – Alumni Socials 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. – APSAF Reception and Social
Friday, January 29th 7:00 - 8:00 A.M - Breakfast 7:00 - 8:00 A.M - Christian Foresters’ Fellowship Gathering 8:00 – 8:15 A.M. – Announcements 8:15 – 9:00 A.M. – Presentation: “VDOT Veg Management”
9:05 – 9:50 A.M. – Presentation: Diminished Tree Species Panel
- Bobby Clontz
- Mia Murray and T’ai Roulston, Graduate Student and Professor, Environmental Science Department at the University of Virginia
- Cassie Stark, Director of Science Implementation, The American Chestnut Foundation
9:50 – 10:15 A.M. – BREAK 10:15 – 11:00 A.M. – Presentation: “Forestry and AI Application”
- Donn Downey, Forest Metrix
11:00 – 11:30 A.M. – Outgoing Chair Remarks
- Neil Clark, 2026 APSAF Chair (Virginia)
11:30 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. – Incoming Chair Remarks
- Janet Steele, 2027 APSAF Chair (South Carolina)
12:00 P.M. – Adjourn |
