Presented by the
National Woodland Owners Association
and the
National Association of University Forest Resources Programs
The National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA) in cooperation with the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs (NAUFRP) will present the annual FAMILY FORESTS EDUCATION AWARDS at the 2026 NAUFRP Annual Meeting associated with the 2026 Society of American Foresters (SAF) National Convention in Tacoma, WA, October 6-9, 2026. Deadline for submission of awards, including all supplemental documentation is June 15th, 2026.
2025 Winners –
The University of Minnesota Extension Forestry Program was recognized for its innovative, science-based leadership in climate adaptation through its comprehensive Climate-Ready Woodlands (CRW) initiative. The program translates complex climate modeling into practical, region-specific guidance for landowners, including more than 30 native plant and tree lists tailored to 11 ecological regions to support forest resilience over the next 50–100 years. With a documented 95% adoption rate of recommendations among participants and measurable policy impact, including influence on state invasive species statute, the program demonstrates exceptional engagement, applied research integration, and lasting impact through its hybrid Woodland Steward training model.
Purdue University’s FNR Extension Family Forest Education Program was honored for its expansive reach, deep integration of long-term research, and commitment to workforce development. The Program incorporates findings from the 100-year Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE) into accessible educational programming, delivering unbiased, real-time data to landowners on key management issues such as oak and hickory regeneration and wildlife response to timber harvest. Impacting more than 57,000 acres and engaging tens of thousands of landowners, Purdue’s program also stands out for formally embedding Extension training into undergraduate and graduate curricula, strengthening both the hardwood industry and the next generation of forestry professionals.
AWARD DESCRIPTIONS
The Comprehensive Program and Individual Project awards are awarded to educational institutions deemed to have delivered programming most benefiting family forest owners over the last five years. Any educational institution is eligible. Awards will be presented to the administrative unit originating and hosting the programming. A family forest educational comprehensive program or individual project is a combination of educational materials, media, courses, workshops, events and/or electronic media including applied research that supports those efforts, for the benefit of family forest owners. The awards recognize effective programming addressing any or all aspects of forest resources management including forest management, silviculture, forest health, harvesting, forest and estate planning, business management and marketing.
CATEGORIES and SCORING
Nominations will be accepted for two categories:
- Individual Project that addresses a specific family forest issue or problem and can include specialized courses, workshops, webpages and resources, materials, etc.
- Comprehensive Program includes a broad educational effort to address a diverse array of family forest issues and program using a wide range of educational approaches and programs.
Nominations will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- Faculty and staff involved (including number and multi-disciplinary involvement)
- Educational needs assessment (including involvement of clients)
- Educational materials, events, and other resources used
- Applied research incorporated
- Collaborations among disciplines, agencies, and organizations
- Results, impacts, or outcomes
- Evidence of program quality
- Degree of innovation
- Emulation of the program by others
APPLICATIONS _______________________________________________________
Applications must:
- include a cover letter describing how the applicant has addressed each of the scoring criteria
- at the beginning of the cover letter designate whether the nomination is for the Comprehensive Program or Individual Project
- provide supporting documentation and materials.
A committee composed of NAUFRP Extension professionals will select the winner based on an evaluation of how each of the 9 criteria above has been met.
The deadline for receiving all materials is June 15, 2026.
Submissions can be electronic or hardcopy materials. If providing only hardcopy materials, please provide at least five sets.
SUBMISSIONS _______________________________________________________
All nominations should be submitted via email to: naufrp@verizon.net . Attach materials to the email or provide arrangement for document sharing. If document sharing is required, the applicant must arrange a document sharing platform that can be accessed by NAUFRP staff and those appointed to score applications.
If submissions cannot be provided electronically provide five hardcopies, postmarked by the deadline to:
NAUFRP-NWOA 2022 Family Forest Education Award
c/o Terri Bates, NAUFRP Executive Liaison
P.O. Box 2004
Falls Church, VA 22042
For further information contact Terri Bates, (703) 538-1134
