Extension – The National Association of University Forest Resources Programs

University of Minnesota and Purdue University Co-Winners of Nation’s Top Family Forest Education Award

James Richardson — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 22:41:00 +0000

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – October 22 – The University of Minnesota Extension Forestry Program and Purdue University’s FNR Extension Family Forest Education Program have been named co-winners of the prestigious NAUFRP-NWOA Family Forests Comprehensive Education Program Award, the nation’s top honor for forestry Extension programming.

The award, co-sponsored by the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs (NAUFRP) and the National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA) for over 25 years, recognizes superior performance across nine rigorous criteria, celebrating the historic co-win as a dual standard of excellence for the profession.

Faculty 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

Extension Chair Bill Hubbard, who oversaw the competition which included three additional nationally respected judges provided comment: “After a thorough review by our three judges and myself, the Committee determined that both the University of Minnesota and Purdue University programs demonstrated such profound and differentiated excellence across the nine core criteria that it was decided to recognize them both.”

The Winning Nominations: Innovation and Impact

The two co-winners were recognized for their uniquely powerful models of engagement, grounded in cutting-edge research:

University of Minnesota Extension Forestry Program: Climate Adaptation Leader – Eli Sagor, Anna Stockstad and Lane Moser.

The Minnesota program was lauded for its forward-thinking, science-based approach to long-term forest health, specifically through its comprehensive educational initiatives:

Climate-Ready Woodlands (CRW) Initiative: This flagship component translates complex climate modeling into practical advice, providing over 30 region-specific native plant and tree lists for 11 distinct ecological regions. These lists help landowners select resilient species predicted to thrive 50-100 years into the future.
Actionable Impact: The program has successfully documented a 95% adoption rate among course participants for its recommendations and influenced a change in state statute related to invasive species management.
Minnesota Woodland Steward Program: This high-engagement, hybrid training utilizes self-paced online modules alongside in-person field tours to ensure deep, lasting knowledge transfer to participants.

Purdue University FNR Extension: Research-Driven Scale – Zhao Ma and Mike Saunders.

Purdue’s program was honored for its massive scale, its deep connection to a long-term research asset, and its commitment to building future workforce capacity:

HEE Integration: The program directly integrates findings from the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE)—a 100-year research study—into its curriculum, providing landowners with unbiased, real-time data on management issues like oak/hickory regeneration and wildlife response to timber harvest
Economic & Ecological Scale: The program supports the multibillion dollar hardwood industry by having an impact on over 57,000 acres and engaging a network of tens of thousands of landowners through its extensive publications.
Curricular Innovation: Purdue was recognized for its pioneering move to formally incorporate Extension traininginto its undergraduate and graduate curricula, ensuring the next generation of forestry professionals is equipped with crucial outreach skills.

2024 Family Forests Education Award Winners: University of Idaho Forest Stewardship Program, Purdue University Forest Management’s Private Woodland Owner Course

James Richardson — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 17:32:00 +0000

Excellence in Family Forests Education Programs are jointly recognized each year by the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs (NAUFRP) and the National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA). Awards for excellence are presented for both an Individual Project and a Comprehensive Program that exhibits excellence in education programming benefitting family forest owners across the U.S. Projects and Programs nominated address critical family forest ownership is-sues using a wide range of educational approaches and programs.

The Comprehensive Program Award: Idaho Forest Stewardship Pro-gram developed and hosted by University of Idaho Extension Forestry The 2024 series of comprehensive educational seminars, workshops and field experiences span the entire state of Idaho. Timely and diverse topics were created in collaboration with University of Idaho Extension, local county Extensionists, and augmented through partnerships with the USDA Forest Service, Washington State University, and Idaho Tree Farm Program.

The Individual Program Award: “Forest Management for the Private Woodland Own-er Course” developed and hosted by Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources Extension The Forest Management for the Private Woodland Owner course provides forest land-owners eight learning sessions designed to introduce them to the biology and management of forests, and the resources and professional assistance they can access to help them form their property management goals and pursue their objectives. Field experiences are integrated into the course to provide in-person, hands-on connections with the biology and management of Indiana forests. Connections made during the course and field tours introduce landowners to the foresters and other natural resource professionals who can help them with the management of their forestland.

University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources Outreach Program and the Connecticut Master Woodland Manager Program named 2023 Family Forest Education Program Award Winners

James Richardson — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 18:36:00 +0000

Excellence in Family Forests Education Programs are jointly recognized each year by the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs (NAUFRP) and the National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA). Awards for excellence are presented for both an Individual Project and a Comprehensive Program that exhibits excellence in education programming benefitting family forest owners across the U.S. Projects and Programs nominated address critical family forest ownership issues using a wide range of educational approaches and programs.

The Individual Project Award went to the Connecticut Master Woodland Manager Program. The highly interactive program requires family forest owners to complete 7 required integrated online and field education “modules” and 6 elective events. These provide the education and training necessary for the participants to complete a self-assessment and planning process for their individual woodlands that are submitted for completion of the program. This robust education experience is a collaboration among University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension, Connecticut Forest and Park Association, Forestry Division–Connecticut DEEP, Audubon Connecticut, Yale University, and the Connecticut Land Conservation Coalition, with funding providing by the US Forest Service.

The Comprehensive Program Award was presented to the Outreach Program at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. The 15 faculty and 4 professional staff members working from 4 locations throughout Georgia continue to provide effective educational programs and resources to address critical issues faced by the states family forest owners ranging from invasive species control to navigating timber tax issues. Over the last 5 years, their work is truly comprehensive, involving applied research, family forest owner needs assessments, development of over 660 publications, conducting 51 programs for over 2,700 participants, and providing a host of on-line resources. Last year alone the images in Bugwood Images and EDDMaps were viewed over 2 million times and their National Timber Tax website garnered over 281,000 unique views. Their list of stakeholders, partners and supporters are lengthy and they annually engage with over 45 agencies and organizations to educate and provide valuable resources for family forest owners in Georgia and beyond.

On behalf of NAUFRP and NWOA our sincere congratulations and thanks to these notable Extension programs, delivery staff, leaders, and nominees.

University of Maryland and University of Kentucky Named 2021 Family Forests Education Awardees

James Richardson — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 17:40:00 +0000

The 2021 Family Forests Education Awards winners were announced during the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs (NAUFRP) General Assembly on November 3, 2021. The award is co-sponsored by the National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA).

The University of Maryland Extension (UME) program received the 2021 FFEA Comprehensive Program for programming most benefiting family forest owners over the last five years. The UME Woodland Stewardship Education (WSE) program connects woodland property owners to their land through education and outreach. Using varied Extension delivery, WSE enables woodland owners to make sound and informed decisions about managing their land by bringing forestry, wildlife ecology professionals to simplify and demystify natural resource management.

The nomination includes multiple examples or UME’s innovative, needs-based, collaborative, impactful multidisciplinary outreach efforts. “It’s a real David becomes Goliath tale led by sage Jonathan Kays over a career” claimed one reviewer. Said reviewer suggests the 125 page plus documentation, that accompanied the nomination, would be a great primer to gauge what’s possible with grants, and collaborations- for anyone in the outreach business.

UME Natural Resource and Forestry work is led by Dr. William G. Hubbard Assistant Director & Program Leader Environmental, Natural Resources & Sea Grant in College Park.

This year’s Individual Project Award focused on exemplary educational programming responses to the 2020 pandemic. The University of Kentucky Extension program was selected for its From the Woods weekly webinar and podcast delivery system that is available live and recorded in concert with a local radio station and online. From the Woods Today is a weekly internet show co-hosted by Renee’ Williams and Billy Thomas with UK Forestry and Natural Resources Extension. From the Wood’s role in outreach has expanded throughout the pandemic and is a popular broadcast in multi-platforms.

The UK extension program is led by Dr. Jeff Stringer Chairman, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and Extension Professor of Hardwood Silviculture and Forest Operations in Lexington.

Our sincere congratulations and thanks to these notable Extension programs, delivery staff, leaders, nominees and our fine partner NAUFRP.