Autauga County – Alabama Extension

Friends of the Forest was a huge success this year with 620 Autauga County fifth grade students attending over a three-day period.

This is sponsored each year by the Autauga County Forestry Wildlife and Stewardship Council and was hosted by landowners, Heather and Ryan Conner. The Council includes Autauga County Extension, the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC), Alabama Power, Autauga County Master Gardeners and private landowners.

On behalf of Autauga Extension and the Council, a big thank you to Heather and Ryan for their generosity and hard work in preparing for this event as well as the homemade breakfast that they provided for all the Council members to enjoy! A special thanks to the Chilton County, Montgomery County, and the Autauga County AFC foresters and rangers who helped set up, worked all three days and packed up.

There were six stations which taught the students about forestry practices, natural resources and wildlife. Thank you to all the instructors who made the lessons fun and interesting and also our special guest, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, Rick Pate, for visiting. It takes a lot of people and organizations to put on this event, and it is all worth it to see the students running and learning their way through the woods!