A total of 18 Alabama Forestry
Commission employees graduated from the 2024 Forestry Academy at the Solon
Dixon Forestry Education Center in Andalusia. The graduation ceremony was held
on April 26 to commemorate the students’ completion of eight weeks of intensive
study and exercises in forest protection, forest management, and teamwork
building.
Composed of recently hired AFC
employees from 15 counties across Alabama who serve as either foresters or
forest rangers, these academy graduates are returning to their work units with
a wealth of knowledge that will last the entirety of their career. They have
also built friendships with their classmates, reaching a newfound level of
camaraderie.
State Forester Rick Oates encouraged
the graduates to reflect on the three facets of their experience at the
Forestry Academy: Safety, Service – serving the people of the state through
forest management, protection from wildfires, and storm response – and finally,
Community Involvement.
Assistant State Forester Will
Brantley congratulated the 18 graduates on their achievement and noted the
sacrifices, made by both students and instructors, to complete eight weeks of
Forestry Academy. He also recognized the Solon Dixon Center staff and Auburn
University for their willingness to provide the perfect forestry setting for
this learning experience, noting that the training venue had become the AFC’s
‘home away from home.’
The keynote address for
graduation was delivered by Ms. Connie Rowe, Senior Advisor to Alabama’s
Lieutenant Governor. She gave a generous amount of influential advice and
challenged the students to be aware of the significance of relationships, the
choices they make, and their overall outlook on life moving forward.
Since 1924, the mission of the
Alabama Forestry Commission has been to protect and sustain Alabama’s forest
resources using professionally applied stewardship principles and education,
ensuring that the state’s forests contribute to abundant timber and wildlife,
clean air and water, and a healthy economy. For more information about the
Alabama Forestry Commission, visit the AFC website at forestry.alabama.gov.