Sims is here to help defend our forests

By Traci Rushing
U of A System Division of Agriculture – UAM College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources

MONTICELLO, Ark. — With Arkansas’ multibillion-dollar forestry industry to defend, forest health researcher Laura Sims has been named director of the recently announced $16.8 million Arkansas Forest Health Research Center based at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

Sims comes to the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources at UAM as an associate professor with more than 15 years of experience in botany and plant pathology research and teaching, holding degrees from North Carolina State University and Oregon State University. Throughout her academic career, she has engaged in extensive research projects relating to diseases in trees.

Her professional journey included time as a researcher at University of California, Berkeley, studying forest pathology and mycology. Most recently she served as an assistant professor of forest health at Louisiana Tech University with both teaching and research responsibilities.

“Throughout my academic and professional journey, I’ve worked on numerous projects focused on plant growth, forest health monitoring and developing best practices for managing plant pathogens,” Sims said.

FOREST FUNGI — Associate professor of forest health Laura Sims and Jacob Hackman, extension forestry specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, discuss fungi found on the forest floor during a site visit (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Traci Rushing)

In addition to joining the faculty at UAM, Sims is also joining the Arkansas Forest Resources Center as a researcher for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. The Arkansas Forest Resources Center conducts research and extension activities through the experiment station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s research and outreach arms.

Healthy trees, healthy economy

Arkansas’ forests contribute $6.5 billion per year to the state’s economy according to reports from the Arkansas Center for Forest Business at UAM, and they support wood products facilities, tourism, hunting and many other activities vital to the state’s economy and quality of life. Sims’ role will focus on protecting the state’s forestland resources through her research and by preparing the forestry and natural resources workforce to identify and mitigate forest health threats through her teaching.

“I am thrilled that Arkansas understands the importance of trees and wants to help keep the state’s forests healthy,” said Sims.

Michael Blazier, dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources and director of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, expressed confidence in the skills and experience Sims brings to both UAM and the Arkansas Forest Health Research Center.

“I know Dr. Sims to be very knowledgeable about a wide array of insects and diseases that affect forests of Arkansas and surrounding states,” Blazier said. “She’s energetic and enthusiastic about forest health and forest ecology research and teaching, and I’m excited about the leadership she’ll provide for the Arkansas Forest Health Research Center. This new research facility will be one of the top of its kind, and it’s great to have a faculty member of her caliber at its helm to help safeguard the forests of Arkansas.”

Sims is currently housed in the George H. Clippert Forest Resources Annex, where she is equipped with a lab to immediately begin research on forest pests. The university announced in early August that groundbreaking for the state-of-the-art forest health center will be in October. The vision for the Arkansas Forest Health Research Center and this new position comes from Blazier, with a goal to rapidly address current and future forest health threats.

Blazier said the new facility will include labs to support research on insects, disease and genetics to determine the nature of forest health threats and management actions to mitigate them. It will also have a conference center where the findings of this research will be incorporated into training events for natural resource professionals and forest landowners, benefitting stakeholders throughout the state.

About the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center

The College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, a University of Arkansas System Center of Excellence, brings together interdisciplinary expertise through a partnership between the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The College and Center are headquartered at the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus, but their programs range statewide with the mission of developing and delivering teaching, research, and extension programs that enhance and ensure the sustainability and productivity of forest-based natural resources and agricultural systems. Academic programs are delivered by the College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources through the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Through the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, research is administered by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, and extension and outreach activities are coordinated by the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offer all of their programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and are Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employers.

Southeast Arkansas youth receive show ring coaching

By Lon Tegels
College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources
University of Arkansas at Monticello

MONTICELLO, Ark. — Heidi Parrish takes care of her animals on a small farm outside of Judsonia. She has a couple of heifers, a steer, a donkey, chickens, and a Guinea. She’s been showing her steer Trampus and heifer Sassy at county and state fairs for the last three years with reasonable success.

This year, however, she decided she is ready for a change and bought her first sheep, named Pringles.

Heidi Parrish, center, has changed from showing cattle to sheep. She was among the youth taking part in a showring clinic held by the Cooperative Extension Service. (UAM photo by Lon Tegels)

“I've always wanted to show sheep. I think they're cute and just something different for me,” said Parrish. Parrish added she hopes to have Pringles ready in time for this year’s fairs. “I haven't shown sheep at all, so it's just a refresh and help with my technique and help me figure out what I need,” said Parrish.

For her new animal she decided she needed a little extra hands-on training, and for that she turned to the University of Arkansas Extension Livestock Clinic 101 held July 15 at the Drew County Fairgrounds.

At age 16, Parrish is a little bit older than some of the others at the Livestock 101 Clinic. Parrish, along with nearly 40 other students from across the state, spent the day with county extension agents and people who show animals on a regular basis. Parrish says the primary difference from showing her cattle is that she uses a halter and a show stick, while with sheep she uses her hands a lot more to position the animal for the judges.

The Livestock 101 Clinic was put on by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. It provided space for showing cattle, sheep, goats, poultry and rabbits. Drew County Extension summer intern Rayvin Callaway, an agriculture senior at University of Arkansas at Monticello, organized the event. Callaway said, “We show them how to get their animal ready and some showman basics to take the animal into the ring.”

The show arena clinic was free, and most students brought their own animals. Besides animal care, Callaway said, “there is so much that I can learn from livestock. They can learn responsibility, determination, and confidence. I can't tell you how much showing cattle has made me confident in myself.” Callaway herself is a member of the University of Arkansas at Monticello Show Team. She’s been showing cattle for about eight years and has shown goats, rabbits, and poultry.

Parents' clinic

Something new at this year’s Livestock 101 was a parent clinic. While the students were outdoors learning arena techniques for the show pens, parents were indoors learning about vaccines, diseases and nutrition and feeding their animals.

Among this year’s seven speakers for the parent-focused section was extension educator Les Walz, who spoke to parents about forages.

Also speaking to parents was Rocky Lindsey, veterinarian and University of Arkansas at Monticello associate professor of animal science. Lindsey said, “I wanted to train them on the veterinary-client patient relationship, which means the relationship they have to have with the veterinarian in order to get prescription medications filled like antibiotics.” Lindsey also taught them about the animal health requirements for livestock competitions.

The highlight of the day focused on students getting to practice with their animals and gain some one-on-one feedback from people with previous arena experience.

Lincoln County Extension Agent John David Farabough helped students learn how to show their cattle in the show ring. Farabough said, “entering the show ring is a good way to build confidence.”

Farabough added that presenting a project they’ve worked on personally can also raise confidence levels. Farabough emphasized that the amount of time they work with their animals at the house, at the barn and walking these animals will determine their success.

Drew Central High School instructor Brittany Leek put her young sheep showman through a hands-on routine. Leek answered questions about animal care, maintenance, selling in the ring, what they need to be wearing, what they need to be doing. Leek said, “It is that important for them to know they're going to gain a lot from their first show.”

Leek also offered,” We talked about things that were basic care for sheep and goats. Their feet are really important to them. We talked about health care; we talked about worming practices.

Worms can be a huge parasite issue here in South Arkansas.”

Not glued to her phone

As for Heidi Parrish, she continues to work with her animals Pringle, Sassy, and Trampus on a daily basis. Parrish said, “Most kids are glued to their phone. But me, I can just come out here, play with the animals, and ride the horse.”

AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | New Center Assists Forest Business

LITTLE ROCK – Today I’d like to talk about the recent opening of a new academic center to promote the forest industry in Arkansas.

Agriculture is the leading industry in our state, and timber plays a critical role in our state’s economy. When you think of agriculture in the Natural State, the first commodities to come to mind are typically rice, cotton, poultry, soybeans, or cattle. But the forest industry is critical to our state’s economy and agricultural production.

Last week, I traveled to the campus of the University of Arkansas at Monticello for the grand opening of the Arkansas Center for Forest Business. The purpose of this Center is to provide technical assistance for solutions to forest resource challenges, degree programs, and information on timber supply, market conditions, and efficiency.

The forest industry accounts for $6 billion of the Arkansas economy. Our state is the most timber-dependent economy in the South and third most in the country. We are growing forests twice as fast as they’re being harvested, and we could double our timber production and still be a leader in forest sustainability.

The Center for Forest Business will provide a number of resources to the timber industry in Arkansas. Not only will the Center provide expanded educational opportunities at UA-Monticello, but it will also provide opportunities for greater economic development projects in South Arkansas.

Companies like Drax and Highland Pellets chose to expand their operations in Arkansas because of our abundant and sustainable forest products. The Center for Forest Business will not only help our timber producers maximize their profits, but it will also help attract additional businesses who utilize this resource.

But the Center for Forest Business will not just benefit timber producers in South Arkansas. Dean Peter MacKeith of the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture in Fayetteville has long had the vision for the entire state to work together to promote our state’s forest products. According to Dean MacKeith, the Center for Forest Business focuses on the economics and the finance side of the timber industry, while the Anthony Timberlands Center in Fayetteville will focus on the development and promotion of forest products.

UA-Monticello is home to the only forestry school in Arkansas, and UA-Fayetteville is home to the only architecture school in our state, so the two programs together provide a natural fit.

Our state is more successful when all corners of Arkansas work together to create economic success. The Center for Forest Business will not just benefit timber producers in South Arkansas, it will benefit any Arkansan in the forest product supply chain.

Congratulations to Dean Michael Blazier of the UA-Monticello College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, and thank you for helping keep Arkansas the Natural State.