Haywood Community College was recently awarded a Tennessee Valley Authority Ag & Forestry Fund Grant through the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The grant, Improving Technological Innovation of Forest Management Students, will fund $13,800 of hardware and software to facilitate learning experiences and employability opportunities for the college’s Forest Management Technology students. 

With four new hand-held GPS units, the forestry students will keep current with advances in forest inventory and geospatial technology and further their knowledge base. Through this state-of-the-art forest inventory technology, students will use these skills throughout their time at HCC and rely on it to complete their final capstone project of preparing an entire forest management plan. 

HCC is working with ForesTech Resource Solutions, LLC for the equipment. According to its website, the company provides technical products and services for forestry and natural resource management through the use of the latest technology, a well-developed network of strategic partners and a wealth of applied knowledge in natural resources management.  

“In order for students to be properly prepared to enter the workforce, it is very important for them to be trained on technology they will be using in the field,” explains Terry Porter, President of ForesTech.

“HCC Forestry students will have access to new and emerging technologies that are being utilized by the forest industry, state and federal agencies,” says Blair Bishop, HCC Forest Management Technology Lead Instructor. “As a result, the use of this technology will have a long-term impact on the future foresters.”  

According to Porter, “When these students are ready to enter the workforce, employers are looking for people who have been utilizing this technology. They are looking for people who are well versed and will be able to hit the ground running.” 

HCC is the only technical college in Western North Carolina to offer a two-year Forest Management degree and the only Forest Management Technology Program in the state accredited by The Society of American Foresters. 

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