Northwest Illinois Forestry Association - NIFA

03/28/2026

Still time to sign up for the tour today!
https://www.nifatrees.org/event-6615953

03/24/2026

03/15/2026

Forest Regeneration Tour

On Saturday, March 28th, at 1:00 pm, the Northwest Illinois Forestry Association will host a tour of natural forest regeneration on past timber harvest sites at the Tom and Jessica Arnold Tree Farm northeast of Elizabeth, IL. Selective walnut harvests performed in 2018, 2010, and 2008 will be viewed as well as 2011/2012 fifteen-acre and 1995 four-acre hardwood clear cuts. Forester Kevin Oetkin of Woodland Forestry Inc., Monmouth IA, who consulted on each harvest, will review the selection and bid-for-sale process. He will also discuss how timber sales fit into the Arnold Farm Forest Management Plan with trees marked for sale in 2026. Trails have been groomed by Andy Phillips of Noble’s Grove Land Management, Stillman Valley, IL, who will be on site to explain his services.

Dress for hiking hills, primitive trails, and possible wet conditions. For day of tour confirmation or last-minute changes, check out the “Events” page of www.nifatrees.org and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NWILForestry/

The Arnold Farm is located at 997 N. Salem Road, Elizabeth, IL. All NIFA events are open to the public.

03/15/2026

Join the Northwest Illinois Forestry Association for an upcoming Forest Regeneration Tour!

On Saturday, March 28 at 1:00 PM, we will visit the Tom & Jessica Arnold Tree Farm northeast of Elizabeth, Illinois, to look at how forests regenerate after timber harvests.

During the tour we will view several past harvest sites, including:

Selective walnut harvests from 2018, 2010, and 2008

15‑acre hardwood clear cuts from 2011/2012

A 4‑acre clear cut from 1995

Forester Kevin Oetkin of Woodland Forestry Inc. (Monmouth, IA), who consulted on each harvest, will discuss the timber sale process, selection and bidding, and how timber sales fit into the Arnold Farm Forest Management Plan, including trees marked for sale in 2026.

“Some landowners are hesitant to consider timber stand improvements or harvests due to the perception their forest will be damaged or degraded,” says landowner Tom Arnold. “We would like to show what we feel are the positive ecological effects a forest management plan has had on our farm’s timberland.”

📍 Location: 997 N. Salem Road, Elizabeth, IL
🥾 What to bring: Dress for hiking hills and possibly wet conditions.

Trails have been groomed by Andy Phillips of Noble’s Grove Land Management (Stillman Valley, IL), who will also be on site to talk about his services.

✅ All NIFA events are free and open to the public.

For day-of updates or weather-related changes, visit:
www.nifatrees.org (Events page)
or follow NIFA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWILForestry/

Questions? Contact Tom Arnold
📧 [email protected]
📞 815‑858‑240

03/12/2026

Thank you everyone for attending the annual NIFA annual dinner meeting yesterday evening!! We had a wonderful turnout!! Huge shoutout to Doug Duren with Sharing the Land, and also Woodbine Bend with their amazing hospitality!!

03/07/2026

Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference!

03/06/2026

We’ll be at the Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference tomorrow — stop by our table to say hello and learn more about what we do!

While you’re there, don’t forget to sign up for our Annual Banquet next week. We’re excited to welcome Doug Duren as our featured speaker — you won’t want to miss his thoughtful talk on stewardship and community.

See you at the conference!

Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference
Registration is now LIVE for the 2026 Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference, which will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Dubuque, IA.

View 2026 agenda and REGISTER here!

The Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference has a 25+ year tradition of providing science-based information and resources to forest landowners and stewards in the Illinois/Iowa/Wisconsin tri-state area. It is one of the largest conferences for forest landowners in the Midwest, and is sponsored by Iowa State University, University of Illinois, and University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension Services. Although designed specifically for woodland owners, attendance by forestry professionals, consultants, volunteers, Master Naturalists, and students is highly encouraged.

The one-day conference is held in spring of each year, usually in early March. For 2026 and beyond, the conference will be hosted at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, IA.

Contact Billy Beck, ISU Extension Forestry Specialist, for general content/programmatic information and/or vendor and sponsorship opportunities: (515) 294-8837; [email protected]

03/05/2026

Due to popular demand, we’re keeping registration open right up to the day of the event — so if you’ve been on the fence, there’s still time to join us for the Annual Banquet this Wednesday, March 11 at 5:30 PM!

The photo below shows Doug Duren with his family at their farm — a reminder of the heart behind his message: “It’s not ours. It’s just our turn.” Doug’s talk, Sharing The Land, will explore that powerful idea of caring for the land and community together.

Don’t miss an evening of good food, great company, and inspiring conversation — reserve your seat today!

🔗 https://nifa.wildapricot.org/event-6530912esday

03/04/2026

Conservation is conservation. Hunting can and should be a part of conservation but I think we as hunters confuse the order at times.
If we think Conservation is a yardstick, hunting and the funding that results is may be a foot or two of that yard.
is an example of both. It’s amazing how much that organization puts into habitat for all members of the biotic community.

03/02/2026

https://outdoor.wildlifeillinois.org/articles/nine-new-invasive-species-regulated-in-illinois-with-expansion-of-exotic-weeds-act?fbclid=IwdGRjcAQSo_VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeyMmEdKDjzMZLYd4Isetx-_tsbnHLUwTpCmWYLvkl0Tl9WPKfQIlLzWbbzx4_aem_zZaGqc-RjrzZYAu_vYf5Hg

The forests and prairies of Illinois have a new line of defense against harmful non-native plants. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has added nine more invasive plants to the list of species that are illegal to buy, sell, distribute or plant in Illinois. New to the Illinois Exotic Wee...

03/01/2026

🌲 Good News — Registration Extended!
We’ve extended sign-ups for our Annual Banquet on March 11th at 5:30 PM, but seats are limited — don’t wait to grab yours!
In this photo, Doug Duren leads a group along a woodland lane on his farm during a Learn About Your Land Day, sharing firsthand how he puts conservation into action. Doug will bring that same passion and insight to his banquet presentation on Sharing The Land — a program rooted in collaboration, stewardship, and community.
🌿 Reserve your spot today before they’re gone: https://nifa.wildapricot.org/event-6530912

02/27/2026

⏰ Last Chance to Reserve Your Seat!
Our Annual Banquet is just around the corner — March 11th at 5:30 PM - Make sure to reserve your spot by tomorrow to guarantee your seat.
In this photo, Doug Duren stands beside the kiosk marking the site of the original Riley Game Cooperative, where Aldo Leopold helped lay the groundwork for community-based conservation. That legacy directly inspired Doug’s work with Sharing The Land, the focus of his presentation at our banquet.
🌿 Join us for an evening of great stories, conservation insight, and fellowship — you won’t want to miss it!
👉 Reserve your seat now: https://nifa.wildapricot.org/event-6530912