Wayne Community College’s Forest Management Technology program now provides an enhanced learning space for students and has additional funds thanks to Canal Wood, the Southeast’s largest independent timber merchant.
WCC’s forestry program uses property that is leased from the county for students to learn about managing forest resources. Former forestry students planted trees on the land, and rent is paid through the management of the property.
Jim Brodie, WCC adjunct forestry instructor, explained that some trees must be removed periodically to manage the area responsibly.
Brodie contacted Canal Wood to see if they would be willing to thin the property according to his recommendations. “I wanted to create a situation out there with diverse conditions that would be important for the students to understand different management scenarios,” he shared.
Canal Wood Area Manager Ronnie Brinson and many of the company’s employees are alumni of WCC’s forestry program and were eager to help. “We recognize that the strength of our industry depends on the next generation of forestry professionals,” Brinson said. “That’s why we’re proud to support Wayne Community College’s forestry program—an institution that has played a critical role in training many of our own.”
Contracted by Canal Wood, Jared Sasnett Logging Company thinned the area to Brodie’s specifications. Because the property’s lease stipulates that it cannot be used for commercial enterprise, the timber was given to Canal Wood.
Brodie said the space is now an invaluable resource for educating students on various management techniques. “They did a great job,” Brodie said. “Now the students have a really good representation of several different conditions there in one spot from which to learn about forest and wildlife management.”
After the project was completed, Canal Wood generously donated $11,000 toward WCC’s forestry program.
“This donation is not just about giving back; it’s about investing in a workforce that’s skilled, passionate, and prepared for the future,” Brinson said.
WCC’s Forest Management Technology program offers students an Associate in Applied Science degree and the opportunity to transfer to North Carolina State University to earn a Bachelor of Science in Forest Management. Learn more on WCC’s website.
About Canal Wood
Established in 1937, Canal Wood is headquartered in Conway, South Carolina, and operates offices in seven states across the Southeast. With over 100 timber buyers on staff and over three dozen field offices, they are the largest independent timber merchant in their region.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.