2026 KWOA Annual Conference

Registration is Open!

October 19-21, 2026

Join us for the upcoming Kentucky Woodland Owners Association (KWOA) Annual Conference to be held October 19–21, 2026, in Berea, Kentucky! Register, find lodging, and view the full agenda below.

Conference activities will take place at the Berea College Forestry Outreach Center, 2047 Big Hill Road, Berea, KY 40403.

Registration

Online Registration

To register and pay online, visit kwoa.net/2026-conference-registration and complete the form. Continue to the next page of the form and submit your payment by card.

Offline Registration

To register offline and pay by check, download the PDF registration form. Submit the form and payment by mail to KWOA, PO Box 1201, Frankfort, KY 40602.

View the Full Agenda Below

Lodging

A block of rooms has been reserved for conference attendees for both Monday and Tuesday nights at the following locations:

Please note that one day of the conference will include a field day in the woods, so attendees are encouraged to dress appropriately for outdoor conditions and walking on uneven terrain.

The KWOA General Meeting will begin on Tuesday morning.

We look forward to seeing you in Berea for an outstanding conference filled with fellowship, education, and woodland stewardship opportunities!

View the Full Agenda Below

2026 Sponsors

Kentucky Farm Bureau

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact president@kwoa.net to learn more about the opportunities and benefits.

KWOA 2026 Fall Conference and Membership Meeting Agenda

Focus on Active Forest Management

Monday, October 19, 5:00 - 8:00 PM

Boone Tavern Hotel, 100 Main Street, Berea, KY 40404

Roundtable Open Discussion Sessions (Consecutive)

• Management Philosophy of Forest Land Ownership

• Birds and Forestlands

Tuesday, October 20 | Registration includes all meals for the day

Berea Forestry Outreach Center, 2047 Big Hill Road, Berea, KY 40403

8:00 am Registration Sign-in 

8:30 am Welcome

9:00 am Talk the Talk: Basic Forestry Terminology and Definitions

9:45 am Break

10:00 am Forest Management Plan: Your Road Map for Sustainable Forest Management

11:00 am KWOA Annual Business Meeting

12:00 pm Lunch Buffet in Woodland Center

1:00 pm Afternoon Field Sessions (Concurrent)

Session A: Forest Stand Evaluation

Session B: Forest Water Management

Session C: Walk the Walk: Implementing Your Forest Management Plan

Session D: Invasive Plant Management in Forestland

 2:00 pm Switch Sessions

3:00 pm Switch Sessions

4:00 pm Switch Sessions

5:45 pm      Silent Auction Closes

5:45 pm Woodland Quiz begins

6:30 pm Banquet

Keynote Speaker

Friends of Forestry Award

8:00 pm Silent Auction Winners Settle Up

Wednesday, October 21 | Registration includes coffee, juice, and pastries

Berea Forestry Outreach Center, 2047 Big Hill Road, Berea, KY 40403

8:30 am NRCS: Landowner Support for Forest Management 

9:15 am Business Management for Forest Ownership

10:00 am Break

10:15 am Partner Highlights

Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation

Kentucky Division of Forestry

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Adjournment

Berea has a strong claim to being the birthplace of forestry in Kentucky, but it is not considered the birthplace of forestry in the United States.

In 1898, Berea College established one of the first collegiate forestry programs in the South and one of the earliest in the nation.

Carl Alwin Schenck, one of America’s pioneering foresters, spent time at Berea and helped influence forestry education there.

Berea College also established a college-managed forest, now known as the Berea College Forest, which has been used for sustainable forest management, research, and education for well over a century.

Because of this history, Berea is often referred to as the birthplace of forestry in Kentucky.

If you’re thinking about the birthplace of American forestry, that distinction is usually given to:

Biltmore Forest School near Asheville, founded by Carl Alwin Schenck in 1898 on the Biltmore Estate. It is widely recognized as the first forestry school in the United States.

Given your involvement with the Kentucky Woodland Owners Association, Berea is a particularly fitting location for meetings because of its deep forestry heritage. Many Kentucky foresters consider it the historic center of forestry education in the Commonwealth.