This was originally a University of Kentucky publication.  They changed or dropped the link so this is a copy from the Wayback Machine.

What Is Forestry?

A project developed and designed by Dr. Marcella Szymanski, Assistant Extension Specialist in Forest Economics and Natural Resources; Gwenda Adkins, Family and Consumer Science Agent, Elliott County; William Thomas, Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent, Elliott County

Forestry starts with trees—knowing how they grow and what part they play in the world as a whole. It helps to know the history of the forest, what kinds of animals live there, and what makes Kentucky's forests special.

Forests affect how we live and provide many things we use, so it is important to take care of them, understand what they give us, and use them wisely. It is also important to know about jobs for people who want to work with trees, timber, or lumber.

We need to understand the effect of today's world on the forests of the future, and we need to think about what kind of forests we would like our grandchildren to enjoy.

Students at Isonville Elementary, Lakeside Elementary, and Sandy Hook Elementary in Elliott County, Kentucky, have provided the artwork and ideas in this booklet to help educate others about our forests and forest resource issues.

These words and pictures show how much a group of young people can come to appreciate Kentucky's forests. We hope they will help you care about our forests, too.


The History of the Forest


Katie Ison's fourth grade class, Sandy Hook Elementary

I remember when an ice storm came through our area and broke down most of the trees!

The forest has been changed by many things: weather, insects, disease, and people.

When Daniel Boone came to Kentucky, much of the land was covered with large trees, and native peoples were the caretakers of the forest. Later some trees were cut, and land was cleared by settlers for homes and farms. In the late 1800s to early 1900s, the forests changed because of widespread logging. The trees Daniel Boone saw when he came to the state were cut.

When trees are cut from the forest, it leaves room for new trees to grow. This is what has happened in Kentucky, and if Daniel Boone returned today, he would see lots of trees but a different forest.


How the Forest Grows


Laura Sparks' fourth grade class, Lakeside Elementary

"Seeds can travel many different ways. You can even carry one in your shoe."

Trees need air, water, sunshine, and minerals.

There are many different parts of the tree. The roots hold the tree in the ground and give the tree water and minerals. The bark protects the tree like skin protects humans. The leaves make food for the tree. The stem and branches hold up the leaves.

The forest has layers. The top is called the canopy and is made of larger trees. The middle is called the understory and is made of smaller trees. The bottom is called the forest floor, or ground.


Life in Kentucky's Forests


Linda Stafford's fifth grade class, Lakeside Elementary

"Animals are not the only thing alive in the forest. There are also plants, like poison ivy."

There are more than 300 kinds of wildlife living in Kentucky's forests. The forest provides habitat for wildlife, so taking care of the forest takes care of where the animals live.

There are around 200 different kinds of trees and shrubs in Kentucky, and about 50 of these can bring in income.


The Importance of the Forest to Our Environment


Darreline Lewis' fourth grade class, Sandy Hook Elementary

"The forest is like our community, always changing."

Trees hold the soil in place and keep it from washing into the creeks. Forests provide a special place for many animals and small plants.

The forest is like a puzzle; everything is connected: the animals, plants, soil, water, and trees. They all depend each other.

Everything is tied to everything else like a spider web. When you move one piece, it affects other parts.


Today's Trends and the Future of the Forest


Betty Williams' sixth grade class, Sandy Hook Elementary

"It is up to us to make a decision now as to what our future forests will be."

Fire can take waste out of the forest, but uncontrolled fires can be bad and cause a loss of future income from your forest.

If you keep taking the best trees out of the forest and leave the bad trees, the forest's value is decreased, which is called high grading. Damaged trees become more open to insects and disease.

You need to balance or care for what you take from the forest so the future forest increases in quality.

As cities grow in what is called sprawl, land is cleared that results in a loss of forest and agricultural land and a loss of habitat, or places for animals to live.


How the Forest Affects Our Community


Linda Stafford's fifth grade class, Lakeside Elementary

"If we take care of the forest, it can provide a lot of what we need to live: a place to work, a place to live, a place to play."

The forest provides homes, food, jobs, and a place to play, and it cleans water. A forest provides a place for recreation: hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping.

The trees are pretty in the spring and fall and that makes people want to come and see the forest.

Lots of people make a living from the forest: loggers, truck drivers, and people in many other careers.


Forest Products


Denise Boggs' fourth grade class, Isonville Elementary

"I had no idea there are so many things that come from trees."

Over 5,000 products come from the forest: lumber, makeup, toothpaste, paper, pencils, maple syrup, oxygen, medicines, furniture, and many more. The forests are a renewable resource. Managing our forests well will allow us to have a continuous supply of forest products.


From Forest to Product—What Is the Process?


Toni Johnson's sixth grade class, Lakeside Elementary

"I did not realize the number of jobs in the forest industry."

It takes more than one step to produce a product:

  1. The logger or mill owner buys trees from the landowner.
  2. The trees are cut or harvested and then gathered at the log landing.
  3. At the log landing the trees are loaded on a truck and driven to a mill.
  4. At the mill, the logs are separated, sawn into lumber, and dried.
  5. The lumber is loaded onto trucks and shipped to stores.
  6. People or companies buy the lumber and build products such as furniture or flooring.

    Careers the Forest Holds for Us


    Sharon Boggs' sixth grade class, Isonville Elementary

    "To get a job in forestry, you should do well in school. Some jobs in forestry require you to go to college or technical school."


    What Do We Want the Forest to Look Like in 100 Years?


    Shana Reed's fourth/fifth grade class, Lakeside Elementary

    "We would like a forest with no trash, healthy trees, homes for animals, and a natural and peaceful setting with clean rivers."

    If you could look out your window at a forest in 100 years, what would you want to see?

    It could be a healthy forest, lots of wild flowers, different kinds of wildlife, an investment for your grandchildren that could send them to college, the trees you climbed when you were a child, and a creek with clean water.


    Caring for Our Forests


    Robin Griffith's fifth grade class, Sandy Hook Elementary

    "If you care for the forest, it will give you more of what you want and need."

    We can take care of our forests for many different reasons, including providing timber, recreation, water, and a home for wildlife.

    To decide how we want to take care of our forests, we need to think about how we want our forests to look in future. Do we want income from the forests, hiking trails, wildlife, or something else? With a good forest plan we can have many choices.

    Caring for our forests is like raising our children; the attention we give them will determine their outcome.


    Caring for Our Trees Pays


    Brenda Bradford's sixth grade class, Lakeside Elementary

    "I realized how important it is to take care of your trees so they will be worth more money in the future."

    It is important to take care of our trees so they will be worth more in the future.

    Preventing fires from getting out of control and not using living trees for fence posts will make our trees more valuable. While not all fire is bad, fires that are uncontrolled or "torched" do damage and cost money. Although fire can kill trees, more often fire just causes damage and allows insects and disease to attack. In future years the damaged trees may look sound, but the heartwood or core of the trees may be rotten, which takes away from the quality of the wood and its value.


    Forest Harvesting


    Freida Tussey's fifth grade class, Isonville Elementary

    "Cutting trees is not bad, but it needs to be well planned."

    There are many ways to harvest trees:

    Trees can grow back or re-sprout from the stump and roots of cut trees.


    What to Know Before Selling Timber


    Vicky Riffe's sixth grade class, Sandy Hook Elementary

    "Before I sell my timber, I want to have written on paper what's going to happen."

    Here are steps to follow before selling timber:

    1. Decide if you want to sell the whole "boundary"or just part of the timber on your farm.
    2. Decide how you want to sell your timber: Ask a forester to help you make a decision (for help finding a forester, go to page 17).
    3. Request a reference to find out how well the logger did on other jobs.
    4. Advertise widely. If you only get one offer, how can you know if it is a high offer or a low offer?
    5. Sell by written contract to protect both you and the logger.
    6. Oversee the sale. Make sure the contract is followed.

      Resources for Forest Information


      Jady Skaggs' fifth grade class, Sandy Hook Elementary

      "All the information is available for you; all you have to do is ask."

      • Kentucky Division of Forestry: Call (800) 866-0555 or (502) 564-4496 to find out the phone number of your county forester, who can make up a free forest management plan for you.
      • Cooperative Extension Service: Find it in the phone book under the name of your county. An Extension agent can provide you with a list of loggers and consulting foresters.
      • Natural Resources and Conservation Service: Call (859) 224-7350 for conservation plans for water and soil quality and information about the Forestry Incentive Program (FIP), which will pay part of the cost of replanting trees if you have a forest management plan.
      • Consulting foresters: Contact your county Cooperative Extension Service office for a list of consulting foresters, who charge a small fee but usually help get a better price for timber.

      About This Project

      We wanted to celebrate one of our best assets in Kentucky, our youth, by using their help to create a publication for all ages to explain forest resource issues.

      Students at Isonville, Lakeside, and Sandy Hook elementary schools in Elliott County, Kentucky, took part in a 4-H project using interactive educational activities about 15 different topics in forestry.

      The youth were asked to tell us, in words and drawings, what they learned for each of the15 different topics.

      This project was developed and designed by Dr. Marcella Szymanski, Assistant Extension Specialist in Forest Economics and Natural Resources; Gwenda Adkins, Family and Consumer Science Agent, Elliott County; and William Thomas, Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent, Elliott County. Educational activities were provided by Project Learning Tree and Project Wild. Information was provided by the Kentucky Division of Forestry and Daniel Boone National Forest. Some information was specifically designed for this project by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.

      We would like to thank students and teachers at Isonville, Lakeside, and Sandy Hook elementary schools for their hard work on the project. We thank Debbie Murray, Extension Program Director of the Northeast Area for her support. For their help in reviewing this publication we thank Dr. Jeff Stringer, Assistant Extension Specialist in Hardwood Siliviculture; Doug McLaren, Forestry Extension Associate; and Laurie Taylor, Natural Resource Educator. We also thank UK Agricultural Communications Services for its assistance and the Kentucky Division of Forestry for help with educational activities.

      A special thanks to our sponsors: This work was made possible with financial support from the Robinson Forest Initiative Trust, the Northeast Area Homemakers Association, and an Agriculture Achievers grant from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.


      Participating Schools

      Isonville Elementary School

      Fourth Grade
      Teacher: Denise Boggs
      Scott Orban Barker
      Michael S. Eldridge
      Jonathan P. Ferguson
      Tiffany Dawn Fields
      Jessica N. Gilliam
      Lucas D. Gilliam
      Carmen D. Hall
      Michael J. Hay
      Shelia M. Laney
      Elizabeth S. Lovato
      Kimberly McDowell
      Nathan Von McDowell
      Ronnie C. Oney
      Aaron Michael Peters
      Tyler R. Riggsby
      Heather Lynn Skaggs
      Silena Skaggs
      Meggan Renee Sloas
      Kayla N. Stephens
      Elizabeth C. Thomas
      Nicole Renee Wagoner
      Brandle A. Wells
      Amanda F. Whitley

      Fifth Grade
      Teacher: Freda Tussey
      Lori A. Adkins
      Brittany J. Barker
      Kelley Marie Barker
      Samantha A. Cox
      Amanda Eldridge
      Gregory N. Gilliam
      Christopher A. Hall
      Jonathan J. Hall
      Ashley Keaton
      Billy Maxie
      Bonnie M. Maxie
      Hazel Maxie
      Timothy R. Maxie
      Rodney D. Messina
      Tiffany R. Mullett
      Cory E. Opp
      Garrick Pennington
      Jessica R. Salyers
      Sarah J. Salyers
      James Z. Skaggs
      Adrianna Sturgill
      Nathan L. Sturgill
      Donald C. Vaughn
      Amy M. Wagoner
      Joanna L. Wagoner
      Kimberly W. Wagoner
      Rachel C. Wagoner

      Sixth Grade
      Teacher: Sharon Sloas Boggs
      April N. Blankenship
      William J. Conley
      Kayla R. Evans
      Lacy D. Lewis
      Nathan S. Lewis
      Anastasia N. Lovato
      Travis L. Matthews
      Margaret C. Maxie
      Willis A. Maxie
      Sarah E. Porter
      Rebecca Sue Rupe
      David Skaggs
      Keshia D. Skaggs
      Johnny G. Stevens
      Justin R. Wagoner
      Windy R. Wagoner
      Rebecka J. Whitley

      Lakeside Elementary School

      Fourth Grade
      Teachers: Laura Sparks & Shana Reed
      Marissa C. Adkins
      Seth Alan Adkins
      Mikeal Joe Barker
      Megan Danielle Boggs
      Joseph Adam Conley
      Willard Justin Conn
      Christopher E. Dickerson
      David Leston Dyka
      Cheisi A. Elliott
      Samatha J. Griffith
      Corey Hall
      Bradley S. Hickman
      Crystal L. Holbrook
      Kera Ann Howard
      Tella Marie Johnson
      Joshua C. Leadingham
      Zachary James Lewis
      Tabathia L. Mason
      Stacy D. Middleton
      Britanni A. Parmley
      Beverly N. Porter
      Lauren R. Porter
      Aaron Brent Randolph
      Whitney N. Salyers
      Alyssa Ann Skaggs
      Danielle L. Skaggs
      Lashawn Angel Skaggs
      Damen Lee Smith
      Braydan S. Tucker

      Fifth Grade
      Teachers: Linda Stafford & Shana Reed
      Corey T. Bames
      Danny Martin Bayless
      Leevon Bear
      Matthew T. Blevins
      Tasha R. Carrington
      Joseph Aaron Carter
      Morgan E. Carver
      Ashley D. Cox
      Jonathan Ray Cox
      Shaun Riley Cox
      Nathan W. Davis
      Jared T. Dickerson
      Adam J. Eldridge
      Tommy Lee Garris
      Joshua Ray Greene
      Hallie Sue Griffith
      Kelsay D. Harper
      Lela N. Hickman
      Joshua S. Hill
      Melissa Leann Holbrook
      Sarah R. Ison
      Sarah Johnson
      Derrick Laney
      Christoph Leadington
      Hayley Nicole Lewis
      Natasha N. Lewis
      Justin L. Lyons
      Vickie Lee Nicholson
      Emily Grace Porter
      Jacob D. Randolph
      Keisha R. Randolph
      Brittany N. Rose
      Timothy E. Stephens
      Danielle Turner
      Latysha D. Walker

      Sixth Grade
      Teachers: Brenda Bradford & Toni Johnson
      Lisa Boggs
      Vanessa Sue Brown
      Reba Katherine Click
      Gregory L. Conn
      Michael Paul Cox
      Amelia Eldridge
      David Chase Evans
      Michael Scott Fannin
      Nancy K. Greene
      Thelma N. Griffith
      Troy J. Griffith
      Hilary D. Holbrook
      Leah E. Horton
      Adam L. Howard
      Alesha Howard
      Joshua Lewis
      Kayla Lewis
      Chelsa C. Markwell
      Andrew Alderick McLaughlin
      Nathan A. Moore
      Stephanie D. Porter
      Derek D. Randolph
      Jackie Reynolds
      Christopher R. Skaggs
      Jessica F. Smith
      Nathan Stephens
      Heather M. Stevens
      Derek Whisman
      Amber Nicole Wood

      Sandy Hook Elementary School

      Fourth Grade
      Teacher: Darreline Lewis
      Theressia M. Adkins
      Heavan Clevenger
      Matthew A. Elliott
      Caitlin Rose Fannin
      Ethan Grant Faulkner
      Evan Blake Faulkner
      Garrett Walter Fultz
      Jenna M. Gilliam
      Jacqueline H. Harmon
      Bobby Ray Howard
      Treyleigh Nichole Lewis
      Michael David Marx
      Brandy Moore
      Jonathan Moore
      Donovan Wade Perry
      Chrystal Riggsby
      Banasha Elaine Rowe
      Dustin Brian Eugene Russell
      Johnny Edward Skaggs Jr.
      Kevin Lee Stamper
      Megan A. Tolliver
      Talisa Danielle Wagoner

      Fourth Grade
      Teacher: Katie C. Ison
      Lacy Morgan Blevins
      Leah Kathryn Blevins
      Bethany Bowling
      Kaleb Carpenter
      Keith Anthony Center
      Billy Click
      Whitney Nicole Cline
      Bronson J. Flatt
      Krista Lynn Fultz
      David Ray Gillum
      Benjamin Terry Green
      Stephanie Juniper
      Charles A. Kibbey
      Mary Ann Noble
      Wayne T. Reynolds
      Joseph M. Stapleton
      Ricky K. Stevens
      Kaneatha Thornsberry
      John William Walter
      Kala Noel Wilson
      Sheena Rene Wilson

      Fifth Grade
      Teacher: Robin L. Griffith
      Samantha K. Brickey
      Jeremy C. Clinger
      Heather Eagle
      Justin Tyler Fannin
      Billy Malcolm Fultz
      Cassie M. Gray
      Bryan Lee Holland
      Korey Scott Ingram
      Samantha Faye Ison
      Andrew Zachary Le
      Amber Nicole Mofford
      James Talbit Nickell
      Paul O'Neal Jr.
      Nathan Adam Perry
      Lucas Lee Stegall
      Brittany D. Stephens
      Maynard A. Stevens
      James Michael Trimble
      Laken Hope Wilder
      Mary A. Williamson
      Danielle Wolfenbarger

      Fifth Grade
      Teacher: Jady R. Skaggs
      Angel Renee Brown
      Jeremiah Joseph Butts
      Kaleigh Carter
      Rachel Marie Castle
      Melissa G. Clevenger
      Caitlin Coffey
      Brian K. Eldridge
      Bethann M. Englehardt
      Jeffery S. Flannery
      Monica Lee Fraley
      Samantha L. Gilliam
      Teara Noel Jessie
      Travis Colby Jones
      Brittany Renee Layne
      Sabra L. Lewis
      Joshua Allen Mason

      Sixth Grade
      Teacher: Betty S. Williams
      James K. Adkins
      Ashly N. Boggs
      Carol Layne Burton
      Frances Collette Burton
      Pamela Jean Cline
      Jeramie Elliott
      Brittany Ferguson
      Jessica E. Gilliam
      Adam L. Howard
      Ricky N. Juniper
      Amber N. Kinster
      William Anthon Mason
      Issac S. Smith
      Shelly Rena Smith
      Robert Brian Spears
      Whitney A. Thompson
      Trista June Wagoner
      Charles A. Weddington
      Charles Daniel Weddington
      Jordan Wilder

      Sixth Grade
      Teacher: Vicky Riffe
      Joann M. Brangard
      Cody A. Carpenter
      Amelia G. Conway
      Kendra E. Dickerson
      Jaclyn B. Ferguson
      Erica D. Gibson
      Cameron A. Griffith
      Justin Lee Kidd
      Dustin E. Line
      Aaron D. Moore
      Lisa M. Short
      Joshua Allen Sims
      Joshua Joe Smith
      Brenna Ann Telaroli
      Justin D. Watson
      Ronald E. Weddington
      Randi E. White
      Aleisha N. Whitt