The Ohio Forestry Association (OFA) is entering 2026 with strong momentum after a productive and successful 2025.
As Ohio's forestry, logging and wood-products industries continue to grow — with more demand for land-clearing services, new equipment technology and increased workforce needs — OFA remains focused on supporting its members through training, education, advocacy and industry promotion.
Highlights of 2025
OFA saw steady growth across its programs in 2025. Workshops, chainsaw safety training and woodland stewardship courses all experienced higher attendance as contractors and landowners worked to stay current with best practices.
The Paul Bunyan Show once again stood out as a major highlight. The event drew thousands of visitors and featured a wide range of exhibitors from across the forestry and equipment industries. Dealers showcased new chippers, grinders, mulching heads, sawmills, log loaders and compact land-clearing machines — reflecting strong interest from contractors preparing for 2026 projects in timber harvesting, utility line maintenance, storm cleanup and land development.
Focus Areas for 2026
OFA has identified several key priorities for the year ahead:
• Workforce development: Expanding hands-on training, logger certification and outreach to help address labor shortages.
• Safety and education: Updating safety classes and technical training to match changing equipment and jobsite requirements.
• Member engagement: Enhancing year-round communication through networking opportunities and OFA's biweekly Timber Talks. Public updates will encourage readers to join OFA for more in-depth, members-only information.
• Paul Bunyan Show growth: Building on strong exhibitor demand, live demonstrations and youth education to continue growing the event.
• Supporting the OFA Foundation: Assisting with fundraising, grants and scholarships while exploring new ways to strengthen the future workforce of Ohio's forest products industry.
"OFA is grateful to all of our members and to our local partners who help us disseminate the messaging that bolsters the forest products industry in Ohio," said Kalah Forbus, director of communications and member engagement. "We look forward to a great year in 2026."
For more information, visit ohioforest.org. CEG
