What does it take to turn Georgia’s forests into products used in homes, businesses and communities around the world?
Last week, the Georgia Forestry Association partnered with the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources and the Georgia Forestry Commission to give staff members from Georgia’s Congressional Delegation a firsthand look at the answer.
The Congressional Staffers Tour brought staffers out of their Washington D.C. offices and into the field to experience the full forestry supply chain — from the woods to the mill, from manufacturing to distribution, and ultimately into the buildings and products that rely on Georgia-grown wood.
Tour of Faircloth Forest Products in Nunez, GA | Photo by GFA
Tour of Interfor Sawmill in Swainsboro, GA | Photo by GFA
From the Woods to the Mill
The tour began in the woods, where staffers met with Ms. Lynda Beam, a landowner and longtime forest steward, and loggers at Yeomans Wood & Timber to learn more about silvicultural practices and harvesting operations, plus the critical role loggers play in moving Georgia’s forest products industry forward.
From there, the group visited forest product manufacturers, including Faircloth Forest Products, Interfor and Claude Howard Lumber. These stops provided a closer look at how timber harvested in Georgia is transformed into valuable products and the people, equipment and investment required to keep those facilities operating.
Tour of Port of Savannah with Frank Peeples of Peeples Industries | Photo by GFA
Following the Supply Chain
The tour continued beyond the mill to explore what happens next.
At Peeples Industries, staffers learned more about the distribution of finished forest products and how Georgia’s industry connects to markets beyond our state.
The group then traveled to the Port of Savannah for a firsthand look at one of the critical transportation hubs connecting Georgia forest products with customers around the world.
The final stop highlighted an exciting opportunity for Georgia’s forest industry: mass timber construction at The Sabal House in Savannah. Staffers saw how Georgia-grown wood can become part of innovative, sustainable construction and the potential for new markets for the state’s forest products.
Tour of The Sabal House in Savannah with Patrick Shay of GMSHAY Architects | Photo by GFA
Seeing the Full Picture
In just one tour, these eight congressional staffers touched nearly every part of Georgia’s forestry supply chain — from the forest to the finished product and its journey to market.
Experiences like these matter.
Georgia is the #1 Forestry State in the Nation, and forestry supports communities, jobs, manufacturing and economic activity across the state. By bringing policymakers and their staff into the woods, mills, manufacturing facilities and ports, GFA and its partners are helping provide a clearer picture of the industry and the policies needed to support its future.
We’re grateful to all the businesses, organizations and professionals who opened their doors — and their land — to make this tour possible.
The best way to understand Georgia forestry is to see it in action.