Got Nature? Blog

Congratulations to Liz Jackson, FNR Extension Specialist, on receiving the 2025 Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association (IHLA) President’s Award. This award is given for exceptional contribution to the forest products industry and to members of IHL. We are proud to celebrate her achievements along with seeing her featured in the April 2025 edition of the Agriculture & Natural Resources (ANR) newsletter.

Liz presenting an award plaque at a Walnut Council national conference.

Agricultural & Natural Resources (ANR) Newsletter: Liz has worked as an Extension specialist associated with three forestry organizations since March 2004. Liz obtained her BS in forest products (’82) from Purdue’s Forestry & Natural Resources Department and MS in business management (’84) from Krannert School of Business under a special forestry/business master’s program.

Before coming to Purdue Extension, Liz spent 15 years in wood products manufacturing as a plant manager at Aristokraft cabinets (now MasterBrand) and purchasing and inventory control manager at Lafayette Venetian Blind.

Liz’s Extension role is to provide programs and products on sustainable forest management and forest stewardship to address woodland owners’ concerns and needs. While representing the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, she works on behalf of three organizations.

The Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC) is a research partnership between Purdue FNR and the USDA Forest Service focusing on management, protection and improvement of fine hardwood species. For the HTIRC she coordinates annual meetings, research conferences and educational programs.

Liz presents on forest management to a group of schoolchildren at Martell Forest.

For the Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA) and National Walnut Council, she represents the interests of the members and manages all business of the associations, including board meetings, annual conferences and education programs, membership and finances, and communications, including newsletters, websites and social media.

Liz is involved in many partnerships around the state, including as a member of the Extension Invasive Species Working Group, on the editorial board for Indiana Woodland Steward newsletter, member of NRCS state technical committee, and advisory partner with Indiana DNR Division of Forestry Forest Stewardship Committee, Sentinel Landscapes, and Let the Sun Shine In Indiana programs.

A highlight of her career was traveling to Washington, D.C., in 2005 to see Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana and representatives from HTIRC and Indiana forestry plant an Indiana walnut tree on the U.S. Capitol grounds. Ten years later she returned to the site and was thrilled to find the tree and see it was thriving.

Resources:
Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA) YouTube Channel
Observing Seasonal Changes in Nature Webinar with Amanda Wanless, IFWOA YouTube Channel
Magnificent Trees of Indiana Webinar with Author Carroll Ritter, IFWOA YouTube Channel
Ask the FNR Expert: Pests in your Woods, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Directory of Professional Foresters, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA)
Indiana Woodland Steward E-newsletters, Eleven Member Organization
Invasive Species, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Invasive Plant Species Identification, Video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Subscribe – Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel

Agricultural & Natural Resources (ANR), Purdue Extension