State Fair features lumber, forest education

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana forests and hardwoods were celebrated at this year’s State Fair.

The Forever Forest was a new experience inside the Farm Bureau Building. Children learned about sustainability, selective harvesting, wood products and transportation.

Did you know?

• Indiana is known for producing high-quality white oak and other hardwoods.

• Indiana ranks among the top four hardwood producers in the United States.

• The Indiana wood products industry employs around 70,000 workers.

• The highest quality logs with the fewest defects can be sliced into thin sheets of veneer.

• About 1,450 people and 25 companies in Indiana are involved in the production of hardwood veneer and plywood manufacturing.

• About 10,000 different products in our daily lives are made of wood.

• The industry contributes $17 billion to Indiana’s economy.

Indiana Woods on Wheels also stopped at the fair. The traveling exhibit provides information about forest and forest management.

Woods on Wheels is housed in a 40-foot trailer that is pulled by a pickup truck. The exhibit is free for elementary school programs and public events such as maple festivals, fall foliage festivals and forestry-related events.

Learn more about Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association at www.ihla.org.