Northwest Illinois Forestry Association - NIFA

09/19/2026

09/08/2026

The Northwest Illinois Forestry Association is offering four day-long Chain Saw Safety classes to be held at Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation's Big Sky Nature Reserve near Stockton IL.

Many home and land owners use chain saws to maintain their property but learned operation by trial and error or from a friend or family member who probably learned the same way as professional instruction was hard to find.

On September 18th and 19th, Level 101 will be held and is designed for those with little or no operational experience.

On September 25th, Level 1 is geared more towards those with previous experience and presents using the saw safely and hands-on felling of trees.

Level 2 on September 26th builds upon saw maintenance and felling techniques presented in Level 1.

Registration per class is $175.00.

For more information and to register, go to http://nifatrees.org and click on "Events". Or contact Tom Arnold at [email protected] or 815-990-3663.

07/21/2026

The Northwest Illinois Forestry Association (NIFA) will sponsor four days of Chain Saw Safety and Woods Worker (SAWW) courses in 2026. These courses are designed to teach novice and seasoned saw operators safe use and maintenance of gas and electric powered chain saws.

Course cost is $350 for the 2-day Level 101 class and $175.00 each for Level 1 and Level 2 classes. Sign up before August 15th and save $15.00 per class. Level 101 = $320.00. Level 1 = $160.00. Level 2 = $160.00. To register, go to http://nifatrees.org and click on “Events”. Scroll through options to find class or combination you are interested in and select “Register”. Contact Tom Arnold for additional information at [email protected] , call 815-858-2407, or mail to 997 N Salem Rd., Elizabeth IL 61028. To ensure everyone receives hands-on, personal instruction, class size is limited to the first 10 applicants, so register early!

Check out our website for more information.

Northwest Illinois Forestry Association uses workshops, field events, and professional expertise to help the public recognize the economic potential and environmental benefits of our local woodlands.

04/22/2026

Join us April 24th at 2:30pm at Stone House Park in Mount Carroll for a dedication ceremony in memory of Ralph Eads. Ralph Eads was a founding member of NIFA. He was The District Forester for 38years in the region. He wrote hundreds of Forest Management Plans for woodland owners in the area. The White Oak tree was Ralph's favorite tree, the most valuable tree for insects and wildlife.

East State Street &, IL-78, Mt Carroll, IL 61053

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!!