Voices of Forestry

Voices of Forestry is back with a new episode! This month, Host Seth Stephenson talks with Dr. Nate Irby, the executive director of the Railway Tie Association, to talk about this important forest product. The two talk about how many ties can be found in the U.S., some issues the industry is facing, and the work being done to improve that industry. For more information on RTA or to see some of the data they have collected, you can ...

We finally sat down with our 2025 Tree Farm of the Year winners, the Russ and Lee Ann Matson. The two talk about their property just outside of Little Rock, some of the work they've done and what it was like having a large crowd tour their land during the Tree Farm of the Year Tour. 

Thank you to our sponsor this month, Shelby Taylor Trucking! We appreciate their continued support of the show.

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Voices of Forestry is back this month with a new, and long overdue, guest, Rob Beadel! Rob is the Director of Forestry Education with the AFA Education Foundation and joins Host Seth Stephenson to talk about the role the foundation plays in providing education to teachers, students and landowners. 

Thank you to this month's sponsor, PotlatchDeltic! We appreciate their continued support of the show.

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For the month of March, Voices of Forestry is taking a trip down memory land as we discuss the massive amount of wildfires that rocked Arkansas in March of 2025. Host Seth Stephenson is joined again by Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Robert Murphy to discuss what happened that day and how that is influencing their preparations for 2026. 

Thank you to this month's sponsor, Caribou Software for their support of the show.

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Welcome back to Voices of Forestry! For February 2026, Host Seth Stephenson sits down with Mark Knight and Ray Galloway with DDK Forestry & Real Estate to discuss evaluating land before you buy. The trio talk about what a potential buy needs to have ready, the process of evaluating, and how that has changed over the years.

Thank you to this month's sponsor, DDK Forestry & Real Estate for their continued support of the show!

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To start off the 2026 year, Host Seth Stephenson sits down again with Division Forester Chandler Barton to discuss the new Pine Pandemic Preparedness Plan, or P4. The two talk about how this plan came together and the benefits it will provide if a threat to our forests arises. 

To read more of the P4, visit pineplan.orgor contact Barton at chandler.barton@agriculture.arkansas.gov for a physical copy.

Thank you to this month's sp...

For the final episode of 2025, Host Seth Stephenson sits down with the Executive Director of the Arkansas Environmental Education Association Sophia Stephenson. The two talk about the role the association has in making sure teachers around the state have the tools they need to provide environmental education to students around the state. For more information on AEEA, CLICK HERE. You can also look at the resources  available in...

Two new voices of forestry join Host Seth Stephenson this week to talk about the Arkansas Stream Heritage Partnership. Eric Brinkman and Tyler Fox sit down to talk about what the partnership does and how exactly their work affects not only forestry but the entire state.

To reach out to the Partnership, you can email Eric at eric.brinkman@agfc.ar.gov or Tyler at john.fox@tnc.org.

Thank you to this month's sponsor, DDK Forestry & R...

Voices of Forestry is back this month with a discussion on how carbon credits can be a good alternate source of income for landowners. Seth sits down with past guest Tim White with NativState and new guest JD Neeley with Neeley Forestry Service to talk about why a consultant might suggest this to clients and how important it is to do your research.

This month's episode is sponsored by Neeley Forestry Service! We appreciate their con...

Voices of Forestry is back with a new voice, Anna Sparks, the Arkansas Forestry Association's Director of Business and Tree Farm Program Administrator. For September, she sits down with Seth to talk about the recent Tree Farm Audit. The two go over the full process and how this is designed to keep the program honest. 

Thank you to this month's sponsor Farm Credit! We appreciate their continued support of the show!

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For the month of August, we have a returning voice of forestry to talk the Southwest Forest Products Expo! Larry Boccarossa, the executive director of the Arkansas Timber Producer's Association, is back to discuss the history of their event and the benefits it brings not only to vendors but to loggers looking receive education credits. Visit arkloggers.com for more information about the expo and to purchase a ticket.

Thank you to th...

With summer upon us, Voices of Forestry Host Seth Stephenson thought it would be a good idea to talk about tickborne diseases. He is joined by Dr. Laura Rothfeldt, the State Public Health Veterinarian with the Arkansas Department of Health. The two talk about symptoms of various tickborne diseases, what to do if you star feeling those symptoms and tick prevention tips. To reach out to the zoonotic team at the AR Department of Healt...

This month Seth is joined by Josh Smith, an area forester with NRCS, to discuss Cost Share Programs. The two talk about the application process, what landowners need to know, and how long it takes for projects to get chosen. This episode was recorded in January 2025 and since then there has been a federal administration change that may have affected some of these CSP's. We advise anyone interested in these programs to call their lo...

This month, Seth sits down with AFA Executive Vice-President Max Braswell, the associations registered lobbyist, to discuss the most recent Arkansas legislative session. The two discuss some of the issues AFA got involved with, the trends of the year, and the importance advocacy plays in the forestry industry. 

Thank you to this month's sponsor, Farm Credit. We appreciate their continued support of the show.

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This month, Seth Stephnson sits down wit both Mark Pitts and David Ross with AF&PA to discuss the European Union Deforestation-free Product Regulation, otherwise known as the EUDR. The three talk about the requirements this would set for U.S. landowners, how it doesn't work for our current system, and what changes we are pursuing. If you have more questions about this topic, you can email Ross at David_Ross@afandpa.org.

Thank yo...

This month, Voices of Forestry talks workforce development with the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama Forestry Associations. The four discuss what their respective organizations are doing to educate students on the green careers available to them after graduation. If you like what we are doing here at Voices of Forestry and want more, make sure you check out Louisiana Forestry Association's podcast, Minding the Forest.

Thank you t...

For the month of February, Seth Stephenson sits down with Travis Haile, the coordinator of the Arkansas Firewise program, to discuss his work with rural communities to help prevent wildfire damage. The two discuss how they work with local fire departments, what landowners need to know, and the preventative steps they promote.

To see more information on the Arkansas Firewise program, CLICK HERE.

Thank you to our sponsors this month, D...

For the first episode of 2025, Seth Stephenson sits down with NativState's Tim White to discuss the evolution of the forest carbon market. The two talk about the factors that cause these changes and how companies like NativState are showcasing their due diligence.

Thank you to this month's sponsor NativState! We appreciate their continued support of the show.

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A returning Voice of Forestry joins host Seth Stephenson this month to talk about Arkansas's Prescribed Burning Act, which passed in 2023. Robert Murphy with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture is on the show to talk about the process of getting new rules created for this act and what this means for landowners who want to put prescribed fire on their property. CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE INFORMATION ON PRESCRIBED BURNS IN ARKANSAS.Th...