The Georgia Forestry Association (GFA) and Georgia Forestry Foundation (GFF) recently partnered with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences to host students for the college’s annual Spring Break Tour of Georgia agriculture – offering a firsthand look at one of agriculture’s largest components: forestry.

As part of the tour, more than 25 students, faculty, and staff engaged directly with agriculture and forestry leaders and operations across the state. GFA team members Dillon Hendrix and Zach Clifton provided an in-depth overview of Georgia’s forestry sector, highlighting its economic impact, sustainability practices, and role in supporting rural communities.

The conversation also addressed a growing challenge: how divisive or misinformed rhetoric can shape public perception of both agriculture and forestry. By equipping students with facts and real-world context, GFA and GFF aim to foster a more informed and balanced understanding of working forests and the people behind them.

Tour participants also visited GFA member operations, including PRT Growing Services and Canfor, where they experienced the forestry supply chain in action—from seedling production to forest product manufacturing. These hands-on stops gave students a tangible connection to an industry many had never encountered up close.

For many on the tour, this marked their first meaningful exposure to forestry and that’s exactly why this work matters.

Reaching students outside of traditional forestry programs is central to GFF’s mission. Many of these students will go on to careers in agriculture, business, policy, and environmental fields—roles that directly influence or intersect with forestry. Without early exposure, critical decisions about the industry risk being made without a full understanding of its impact and importance.

Experiences like this Spring Break Tour help close that gap.

By connecting students with industry professionals and real-world operations, GFA and GFF are helping build a stronger, more informed future workforce—one that understands the value of Georgia’s 22 million acres of working forests and is equipped to support their sustainability for generations to come.

Bottom line: Early exposure to forestry isn’t just educational—it’s foundational. Investing in these moments today helps ensure a stronger, smarter future for Georgia’s forestry community tomorrow.