High school students from across North Alabama recently took the opportunity to learn about careers in the forest industry.

The Cullman County Forestry Career Day was part of Alabama Woods to Goods Week. This event was made possible by the support of industry partners including: C&L Wood Products, Jasper Lumber Company-Tolko, Morgan County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Mill Creek Lumber Company.

Students visited forest industry companies and various colleges and universities booths to learn more about future career pathways, use a logging simulator, view real logging equipment, watch drone and fire demonstrations and learn about how working forests are important to wildlife from the Auburn University Raptor Center.

Alabama Woods to Goods Week is a weeklong event that celebrates forestry professionals, products and industry. It is a public-private partnership with the Alabama Forestry Association, the Alabama Forestry Commission, the Alabama Forestry Foundation, the Forest Workforce Training Institute, the Alabama Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the Alabama Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils.

Governor Kay Ivey proclaimed the third week in October as Alabama Woods to Goods Week which coincides with National Forest Products Week. The event was celebrated across the state with mill tours, log site visits, forest product donations and many other educational events to highlight the industry’s environmental, community and economic impact. To learn more, visit www.alwoodstogoods.com/.