{"id":30253,"date":"2024-11-08T13:06:53","date_gmt":"2024-11-08T17:06:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/?p=30253"},"modified":"2026-02-25T21:27:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T01:27:23","slug":"purdue-extensions-showcase-impacting-indiana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/purdue-extensions-showcase-impacting-indiana\/","title":{"rendered":"Purdue Extension’s Showcase, Impacting Indiana"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Purdue<\/a>Purdue Extension\u2019s annual report<\/a> showcases the accomplishments, outcomes and activities that highlight the impact of Purdue Extension across Indiana. Extension specialists and educators provide educational programs and research-based knowledge to help families, individuals, and communities prosper and thrive.<\/p>\n

The Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources specialists featured:<\/p>\n

Private Woodland Owners Make Decisions and Take Actions to Improve Acreage Value<\/a> – project specialist include Lenny Farlee<\/a>, Ron Rathfon<\/a>, Don Carlson<\/a>, and Jarred Brooke<\/a>, along with county extension educators Dave Osborne<\/a>, and Phil Woolery<\/a>. Indiana has 20% forest lands, most privately owned. Forests are important habitats for wildlife and provide environmental and social benefits. Purdue Extension offers Forest Management for the Private Woodland Owner, in-person and virtually. The in-person program has eight 2.75-hour evening sessions and two Saturday three-hour field day tours. Purdue Extension and local forestry and natural resource professionals provide presentations and direct activities. Participants receive a tree measuring stick and a flash drive containing more than 100 publications and resources.<\/p>\n

Participant forest management knowledge improved after the program. More than 90% found it useful for making decisions, and 80% plan to take actions in the next year. A participant said, \u201cThis course provided exactly the information I needed to understand the DNR forester\u2019s report on my classified forest and to act on it. It will also help form a land management plan of my own (beyond what the forester provided), find programs to help manage and expand the forest, and earn a little money from the property in future years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Furniture Production Addresses Workforce Development and Rebuilds Lives in Indiana<\/a> – project specialist include Dr. Eva Haviarova<\/a> and Dr. Henry Quesada<\/a>. Most U.S. school furniture is made overseas and from nonrenewable materials (steel, plastic, and composite). Increasingly, the product sustainability, the circular economy, and the benefits of natural materials are being shown to be important in learning environments.<\/p>\n

To create a new market for low-value hardwoods, urban woods, and plantation resources by designing and producing innovative products, including wooden school furniture, Purdue\u2019s Wood Research Lab has tested all strength and environmental attributes. At the same time, Purdue Extension is focusing on workforce development for Indiana\u2019s wood products industry. An approach is to provide potential employment and entrepreneurial opportunities to residents with troubled pasts, underprivileged workers, and those needing a second chance in life by partnering with Purposeful Design<\/a>, the Forest Service<\/a>, Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen\u2019s Association<\/a>, Urban Forest Products<\/a> and other industry players to train workers in furniture production and qualify for future work.<\/p>\n

To view full report visit: Purdue Extension Showcase.<\/a>
\nTo learn more about Purdue Extension visit: About Us<\/a>.
\nFor all Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources publications, videos, webinars and initiatives view: Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Resources:
\n<\/strong>A Woodland Management Moment<\/a>, Playlist, Purdue Extension \u2013 Forestry and Natural Resources Youtube Channel
\nInvasive Species<\/a>, Playlist
\nWoodland Stewardship for Landowners<\/a>, Playlist
\nInvasive Plant Species Identification<\/a>, Video
\nInvasive plants: impact on environment and people<\/a>, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
\nInvesting in Indiana Woodlands<\/a>, The Education Store
\nWoodland Invaders<\/a>, Got Nature? Blog
\nDistrict Forester<\/a>, Indiana DNR Division of Forestry, for over 10 acres of woodlands
\nDirectory of Professional Foresters<\/a>, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA)
\nIndiana Woodland Steward E-newsletters<\/a>, Eleven Member Organization
\nConservation Tree Planting: Steps to Success<\/a>, Purdue Extension \u2013 FNR Youtube Channel
\nForest Improvement Handbook<\/a>, The Education Store
\nJoint Design Manual for Furniture Frames Constructed of Plywood and Oriented Strand Board<\/a>, The Education Store
\nThe Shrinking and Swelling of Wood and Its Effect on Furniture<\/a>, The Education Store
\nPerformance Test Method for Intensive Use Chairs – FNEW 83-269: A Description of the Test Method with Drawings\u200b<\/a>, The Education Store
\nHow Baby Bear’s Chair Was Made<\/a>, The Education Store<\/p>\n

Purdue Extension<\/a><\/p>\n

Diana Evans<\/a>, Extension & Web Communications Specialist
\nPurdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Purdue Extension\u2019s annual report showcases the accomplishments, outcomes and activities that highlight the impact of Purdue Extension across Indiana. Extension specialists and educators provide educational programs and research-based knowledge to help families, individuals, and communities prosper and thrive. The Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources specialists featured: Private Woodland Owners Make Decisions and Take […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1786,42,80,43,971,499,81,53,54,55,622],"tags":[60,1575,2018,257,2017,132,554,495,1920],"class_list":["post-30253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community-development","category-forestry","category-trees","category-gardening","category-land-use","category-natural-resource-planning","category-timber","category-urbanforestry","category-wildlife","category-woodproductsmanufacturing","category-woodlands","tag-forestry","tag-furniture","tag-managment","tag-purdue-extension","tag-school","tag-timber-marketing","tag-wood-products","tag-woodlands","tag-workforce-development","audience-for-enthusiasts","audience-for-homeowners","audience-for-landowners","audience-for-professionals"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-23 07:35:48","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30253","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30253"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30253\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35602,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30253\/revisions\/35602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30253"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}