Top industry and political figures are on the program for the 57th annual convention of the Louisiana Forestry Association in Baton Rouge August 31-September 2.

After a series of social and entertainment events on opening day, the main business session on Wednesday, September 1 at the Baton Rouge Marriott will feature keynote talks by Rick Holley, CEO of Plum Creek Timber Company; and Dale Bosworth, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Washington, DC; and Wade F. Camp, director of market information services, Southern Forest Products Association at New Orleans.

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco is the invited guest speaker at the LFA officer's breakfast on Thursday morning, September 2.

Forest Service Chief Bosworth is the invited speaker for the Louisiana Logging Council breakfast on Wednesday at 7 a.m. Chief Bosworth, a native of California, holds a B.S. degree in forestry from the University of Idaho. He is a career forester with the U.S. Forest Service, having served most recently as a regional forester in Montana and Utah. He is also scheduled to appear at the 9 a.,m. general session of the LFA.

Rick Holley, Plum Creek CEO, will speak on the topic "The Value of Owning Forestland in Louisiana" during the 9 a.m. general session.

Plum Creek is the second largest private timberland owner in the U.S., with 8 million acres in a Real estate Investment Trust. The company came to Louisiana in 1996 with purchase of 538,000 acres from Riverwood. Plum Creek also owned and operated major sawmills at Joyce, Louisiana, and Huttig, Arkansas, before selling the mills to the Canadian -owned West Fraser, Inc. in 2000. In 2001, Plum Creek merged its timberlands with The Timber Company, a subsidiary to Georgia-Pacific, to become the nation's number-two timberland owner. Plum Creek continues to own and manage major forest land and logging operations in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi, as well as in the West and the Northeast.

Other events scheduled at the Wednesday general session include presentation of the Future Forest Award, the Tree Farmer of the Year award, and Lifetime Member recognition.

Jim GOssett, a nationally known political comedian, will entertain at the Wednesday Fun Night following the Outstanding Logger presentation.

Registration information has been mailed to LFA/Logging Council members. For information phone LFA at Alexandria, 318-443-2558, email lfa@laforestry.com

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