AUGUSTA — Maine Woodland Owners is set to host its annual Forestry Forum at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan 15, on the second day of the Maine Agricultural Trades Show, on the second floor of the North Wing of the Augusta Civic Center, 76 Community Drive. Doors open at 8 a.m.

The forum, Maine Woodland Owners’ largest indoor event of the year, will be conducted both in person and online.

Ecologist and author Tom Wessels will be keynote speaker for the Forestry Forum on Jan. 15 in Augusta. Marcia Wessels photo

The program will feature renown ecologist and author Tom Wessels, who will provide interpretation of a series of photographs submitted by woodland owners that they encountered while in the woods.

The forum will start with a brief Maine Woodland Owners member meeting followed by an announcement of the Maine Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year winner, and a recognition of Maine Woodland Owners’ 50th anniversary.

Starting at 9:30 a.m., there will be a series of informative presentations about forestry, the forest market, reading the forested landscape as well as the latest information about forest pests and disease. Lunch will be available for purchase in the meeting room at noon; the program will close at 3 p.m.

Additionally, the organization plans to hold an online auction with items like handmade wooden items, equipment, art, and experiences such as a tour of the Brant & Cochran axe making shop in South Portland. The auction will be open until 5 p.m. Jan. 15, just after the end of the Forestry Forum. There also will be a live auction during the event, featuring items like a sculpture created by chainsaw wood carver Josh Landry (the creator of the sculpture that Stephen and Tabitha King commissioned for their home in Bangor), a tour of the world’s first 3D printed bio-based home manufactured at the University of Maine, and a restored vintage axe.

For more information, visit mainewoodlandowners.org, or contact Jennifer Hicks at jenn@mainewoodlandowners.org or 207-626-0005.

Check out other upcoming area events!