“The Kentucky Master Logger WebTV Program was hosted in 30 Kentucky County Offices spread out throughout Kentucky to reduce drive time and travel for the logging workforce by providing relevant and timely information delivered close to home. All of the content was delivered live from the UK Forestry and Natural Resources Departments Webinar Studio housed in the Thomas Poe Cooper Building on Campus and streamed to the 30 participating county offices. 376 Master Loggers were dispersed throughout the 30 participating county offices in strict masked and distanced protocol to county office covid-capacity limits allowing the loggers to receive their mandatory 6 hrs. of continuing education to maintain their Master Logger Designation. This took extensive time and communication to generate, film and prepare the technical content for delivery in the program as well as coordination with the county agents participating to ensure that the program ran properly and to the strict guidance's required to put on this program and protect the safety of participants.. The master logger program requires the continuing education programs to be proctored and delivered face to face which required strict masking and distancing to participate. Feedback from the Loggers indicated that this was program was successful and even somewhat enjoyable to listen to for a continuing education program. One participant said “The content and segments were great, this was the best master logger program I have attended in all my years going to these." Another participant said that they could hear better during this program as there were fewer people in the room due to the capacity limits allowing them to hear better. The logging workforce is critical in the harvest of private woodland owners’ forests and accomplishing their land management objectives as well as supporting the forest sectors $14 billion economic contribution.” Chad Niman, UK Primary Forest Products Specialist 

Marion Co. was able to host the Kentucky Master Logger Program in the Marion Co. Extension Office. Due to the size of the office the program was able to be offered allowing plenty of room for participants to spread out and keep their distance but also allow an enjoyable experience. Marion Co. hosted 6 Master Loggers. This program is extremely important to our entire community as it allows loggers to continue their education and continue producing logs to be used for lumber and log farmers’ properties. Marion Co. has numerous acres of knob land and farmland that is covered in timber. This program has a potential to reach a large amount of farmers and clientele across the county. Ensuring that Loggers can continue their education to maintain certifications will have a direct relation with increasing profitability on farms and increase Agriculture and Natural Resources awareness across the county.