The University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Extension team launched the weekly online program From the Woods Today in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the program remains an important component of our forestry and natural resources Extension programming efforts (https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/woods-today). The From the Woods Today program features current information on woodlands and wildlife in Kentucky including presentations on woodland management, tree identification, invasive species, forest health, wildlife habitat management, and many other forestry-related topics. This program continues to serve as a key communication link and educational outlet between county Extension agents/staff, those who depend on or care about Kentucky’s woodlands and wildlife, and the UK Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Extension team.

Billy Thomas and Reneé Williams serve as hosts, interviewing a wide range of guest speakers including University of Kentucky Extension specialists and faculty with expertise in forestry, watersheds, wildlife, tree improvement, and other related topics. The program also spotlights Kentucky forestry and natural resources partners such as the Kentucky Division of Forestry, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Natural Resources Conservation Service, State Nature Preserves, Kentucky Forest Industries Association, American Chestnut Foundation, Kentucky Woodland Owners Association, and Kentucky Tree Farm Committee. 

The live From the Woods Today program allows viewers to interact directly with hosts and presenters. In addition, the program provides continuing education credits for county Extension agents. While some participate in the live program, through Zoom or Facebook Live, many more viewers access the educational content through recordings posted to YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@UKForestryExtension As of July 2024, more than 206 full episodes of the show have been posted to the From the Woods Today playlist.  In addition to long-form episodes, individual show segments are produced into shorter videos on the channel to increase viewership. From July 2023 to July 2024, these From the Woods Today videos (and others on the channel) have been viewed more than 29,606 times. 

Laurie Thomas: “The Tree of the Week” segment, which includes, natural history and botanical features of each species has proved to be a popular and well used/viewed segment from the show. The live on Zoom FTWT shows that had a Tree of the Week episode had more than 378 participants. The segments is posted as a stand-alone video on the departments YouTube channel and there are currently 80 species/videos posted and the videos created in this reporting year have had more 9,458 views. The video segments can be found on the Common Kentucky Trees page of the department website https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/common_ky_trees