Strengthening Roots: VFEF’s Strategy for Sustainable Forestry Education

For over 65 years, the Virginia Forestry Educational Foundation (VFEF) has provided impactful educational programs to Virginia’s youth, raising awareness of the crucial role that working forests and forest products play in improving our quality of life.

In 2023, the VFEF Board of Directors initiated a strategic planning process to assess how we can better support forestry education and promote sustainable forests for the environmental, social, and economic benefit of all Virginians. Our vision is to lead coordinated educational efforts that advance a sustainable future for Virginia’s forests and the forest industry. Healthy forests rely on a thriving forest industry to implement essential conservation and management efforts. A well-managed forest is no accident—it requires a scientifically sound plan and a skilled workforce to bring it to life.

In 2024, VFEF officially adopted a Strategic Plan to guide our efforts through 2027 and beyond. As part of this process, we surveyed our stakeholders—you responded, and we are listening. Our strategic plan focuses on four key areas:

1. Increasing the impact of VFEF’s annual programs.
2. Strengthening ties with all forestry stakeholders.
3. Aligning grant and scholarship funding with key forestry sector priorities.
4. Enhancing governance and operational leadership to support growth and impact.

As we enter 2025, we are actively implementing this strategic plan. Our current initiatives include:

1. Virginia Forest Trails Initiative (VFTI): We are developing this program to coordinate and expand the impact of our existing grant programs and stakeholder collaborations.
2. Communications and Marketing Plan: We are crafting a new strategy to better inform you about our activities and provide opportunities for feedback and engagement—because together, we are stronger.
3. Scholarship Expansion: We are enhancing our scholarship opportunities with Virginia Tech and Mountain Gateway Community College and are working to establish new partnerships with Southside Virginia Community College to support workforce development in the forestry sector.
4. Governance Review: We are evaluating our board’s structure and operations to improve efficiency, ensuring we fulfill our mission effectively while implementing our strategic plan.

Please join our mailing list to receive regular updates from the VFEF Board.
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Thank you for your ongoing support of our mission to promote forestry education and sustain Virginia’s forests for generations to come.

Matt Dowdy

Matt Dowdy is the owner and operator of Dowdy’s Forest & Land Management, LLC, is a full-service forestry consulting firm specializing in managing forestland for timber management, forest health, wildlife management and recreation. Matt is a passionate advocate for sustainable forestry practices and has been actively involved with the Virginia Forestry Educational Foundation (VFEF) ans serves on the Board of Directors, supporting the organization's mission of promoting forestry education. Matt believes in the critical role that well-managed forests play in Virginia’s environmental, social, and economic well-being, and he works tirelessly to educate the public on the importance of forest stewardship.