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SmallWood '98

Profit Opportunities in Value-Added Wood Products, Featuring Innovative Uses of Small Timber: A Conference and Exposition

SmallWood '98 was held October 14-17, 1998, in Lewiston, Idaho. Although the conference is over, the value of the information lives on! The pages linked below contain the most complete record of the presentations and information.

Goals and Objectives

The ultimate goals of this event are to improve forest health by effective utilization of small-diameter timber and to improve the regional economy by creating new forest product businesses in the Intermountain West. Specific objectives are to demonstrate equipment and products and to encourage adoption and use of:

• Harvesting and manufacturing methods specifically designed for small-diameter timber.
• Forest products that can be made from small-diameter timber.
• Innovative marketing practices that permit entrepreneurs to expand current operations or begin new businesses that use small-diameter timber.

Desired Participant Outcomes:

• Think outside the box about the potential of intermountain forests.
• Uncover new ideas.
• Develop new friends, contacts, and allies.
• Feel like you've participated, not just attended.
• Be energized to try something new.
• Have fun!

Intended Audience:

• Timber harvesting enterprises, especially small firms
• Small woodlot owners
• Rural development professionals
• Forest products manufacturers
• Forest products wholesalers/brokers
• Leaders within timber-dependent communities
• Forest land managers
• Financial lenders looking for investment opportunities
• Vendors of wood harvesting and processing equipment.
• Vendors of wood products.
• Scientists and inventors with innovations to share.

Logistics:

• October 14-17, 1998.
• Red Lion Hotel, Lewiston, Idaho.
• Wednesday, October 14th: Registration begins; whole-day and half-day tour experiences; no-host evening social and poster session.
• Thursday, October 15th: Conference sessions; some half-day tour experiences; exposition and barbecue.
• Friday, October 16th: Conference sessions; exposition.
• Saturday, October 17th: Optional fun tours.

Initial Sponsors:

• Blue Mountains Natural Resources Institute, Pacific Northwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service
• Idaho Rural Partnership
• Intermountain Woodnet
• Bank of America
• Oregon Economic Development Department / Oregon Lottery
• Forest Products Laboratory and FPC&R Technology Marketing Unit, USDA Forest Service
• Pacific Rim Sustainable Resources Forum
• Rural Business Online: An Eastern Oregon University / Lewis-Clark State College Collaboration funded by USDA Rural Development and supported by the Idaho Small Business Development Center and Institute for Community Development at LCSC
• State and Private Forestry, Cooperative Forestry, National Investment Program, USDA Forest Service
• Clearwater RC&D Council, Inc.
• Wallowa Resources

For More Information:

Contact conference co-chairs Larry Hartmann, 541-962-6537, or Dick Gardner, 208-334-6113, or contact Conference coordinators Joanne Parsons or Linda Fratzke at 541-962-6574.