Tennessee Forestry Association

What Tennessee Forestry Association does

Tennessee Forestry Association (TFA) is a private, non-profit trade association founded in 1970 (originally as "Keep Tennessee Green") and headquartered at PO Box 290693, Nashville, Tennessee. It serves as the self-described "Voice of Forestry" in Tennessee, representing a cross-section of the state's forestry value chain including private forest landowners, logging contractors, sawmills, paper mills, professional foresters, equipment dealers, trucking companies, and supporting businesses. TFA delivers three flagship programs — the Master Logger voluntary certification program (with 4-day initial courses at $175 and 1-day continuing education at $85), the Tennessee Tree Farm Program (administered under the American Tree Farm System), and the Tennessee White Oak Initiative (a multi-stakeholder restoration effort offering up to $20,000 per landowner in reimbursement) — alongside workforce development (ForestryWorks Tennessee, Forest Worker Certification, partnerships with TN Colleges of Applied Technology), youth education (FFA Forestry Camp, Forestry Day Camps, Project Learning Tree, Teacher Conservation Workshops), and landowner extension (Tennessee Healthy Hardwoods Field Days).

The association operates a hybrid go-to-market model: recurring membership dues form the primary revenue base, supplemented by pay-as-you-go course fees, event registration (e.g., $30 regional meeting dinners), and grants (U.S. Forest Service Wood Innovation Grants, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation funding via the White Oak Initiative). Distribution is direct and in-person — annual convention, regional meetings, field days, and training courses — augmented by a website, a ForestryWorks job board, and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram). TFA is governed by a Board of Directors headed by President Jay Wolfe and Executive Director Jason Maxedon, with regional Vice-Presidents for East, Middle, and West Tennessee representing firms such as American Forest Management, Independent Stave, and Packaging Corporation of America.

Strategically, TFA's positioning rests on three pillars: (1) regulatory-adjacent program administration (ATFS Tree Farm, SFI standards since 1995, Master Logger certification endorsed by the Tennessee General Assembly), (2) workforce pipeline development in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, and federal agencies, and (3) a coalition-building role in the Tennessee White Oak Initiative linking forest landowners with end-buyers (Brown Forman, Jack Daniels, Old Forester), conservation NGOs, and federal funders. The association's 2024 industry data — $184M in forest product exports (a 22.8% YoY rebound) and $334M in total economic impact supporting over 1,300 jobs — provides the advocacy backbone for its "wise use" mission.

Name

Tennessee Forestry Association

Legal name

Tennessee Forestry Association

Website

https://tnforestry.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tennessee Forestry Association is a 55-year-old Nashville-based non-profit trade association representing landowners, loggers, sawmills, and forest-product businesses across Tennessee. It delivers Master Logger certification, Tree Farm Program administration, workforce development, and the White Oak Initiative through membership dues, training fees, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forestry Industry Association Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Forestry and Logging (113), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (1132)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Forestry (800), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Carbon & Climate-Aligned Forest Certification Add-ons (e.g., FSC Ecosystem Services, climate modules) (AFAMALAH), Nuts, Seeds & Cones (Pine Nuts, Acorns, Chestnuts) Harvesting (AFAMAFAH), Forestry & Ecosystem Carbon Removal (Afforestation/Reforestation, Improved Forest Management) (EUABAFAH)

Keywords

• Sustainable forestry advocacy
• Forest landowner education
• Logger certification programs
• Forest industry workforce development
• Conservation best management practices

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: TFA is primarily funded through membership dues from landowners, loggers, sawmills, paper mills, professional foresters, equipment dealers, trucking companies, and supporting business members such as banks and various suppliers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tennessee Forestry Association is a private non-profit membership organization that promotes sustainable forestry, forest-based industry workforce development, and conservation in Tennessee. It delivers its mission through member services, professional certification programs (Master Logger, Tree Farm, White Oak Initiative), workforce development (ForestryWorks Tennessee), youth education (FFA Forestry Camp, Project Learning Tree), and advocacy with state and national agencies.

Product overview

Tennessee Forestry Association (TFA) operates as a unified association offering multiple interconnected programs rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings include the Master Logger Program (professional certification for logging contractors), Tennessee Tree Farm Program (landowner certification through ATFS), and the Tennessee White Oak Initiative (restoration program with financial assistance). Supporting these are workforce development programs (ForestryWorks Tennessee and Forest Worker Certification), educational programs for students (FFA Forestry Camp, Forestry Day Camps), and educator training (Project Learning Tree, Teacher Conservation Workshops). The Tennessee Healthy Hardwoods Field Days provide hands-on training for landowners and managers. All programs work together to promote sustainable forestry, wise use of forest resources, and the development of the forest industry workforce in Tennessee.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tennessee ForestryWorks: A part of the multi-state ForestryWorks program that creates a sustainable pipeline of workers for the forest industry through education, career promotion and training.
• Tennessee White Oak Initiative

Products and services

• Tennessee Master Logger Program
• Tennessee Tree Farm Program
• Tennessee White Oak Initiative
• ForestryWorks Tennessee
• White Oak Acorn Collection Program
• FFA Forestry Camp
• Forestry Day Camp
• Project Learning Tree
• Forest Worker Certification
• Tennessee Healthy Hardwoods Field Days
• TFA Annual Convention and Regional Meetings
• Teacher Conservation Workshops

Quantifiable outcome

• Master Logger program receives praise from Tennessee General Assembly
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of ForestrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTDF is a key partner in multiple TFA initiatives including the White Oak Initiative, Master Logger program, and tree planting programs. The partnership involves technical assistance, cost-share programs, and regulatory coordination for sustainable forestry in Tennessee.
• University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUTIA partners with TFA on research reports (Economic Impact of Tennessee Forest Product Exports), educational programs, Tree Farm Program, and forest management education. Provides academic expertise and extension services.
• Brown FormanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Tennessee White Oak Initiative. Brown Forman uses white oak for whiskey barrel production and supports restoration efforts for this critical species.
• Jack DanielsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Tennessee White Oak Initiative. Jack Daniels relies on white oak for whiskey barrels and supports restoration and sustainable management of white oak forests.
• Old ForesterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Tennessee White Oak Initiative supporting white oak restoration efforts for whiskey production.
• Land Trust for TennesseeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner in the White Oak Initiative working to protect and restore Tennessee forests through land conservation efforts.
• USFWS Partners for Fish & Wildlife ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the White Oak Initiative supporting wildlife habitat restoration alongside forest management.
• White Oak InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTFA leads this initiative in collaboration with TDF and UTIA Extension. The initiative focuses on restoring white oak and associated species across Tennessee's forests.
• American Tree Farm System (ATFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTFA administers the Tennessee Tree Farm Program under ATFS, promoting sustainable forest management on family forestlands across the state.
• Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTFA promotes SFI standards which support perpetual growing and harvesting of trees while protecting wildlife, plants, soil, and water quality. Project Learning Tree is an initiative of SFI.
• Forestry MutualminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsurance partner providing workers' compensation coverage for wood products industry. Offers injury management programs and safety training for TFA members.
• TN Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with TFA to initiate workforce development programs in primary and secondary schools as well as vocational schools across Tennessee.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Forest Foundation: National nonprofit that administers the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), which TFA operates locally in Tennessee. Broader national scope with overlapping landowner certification and family forest stewardship mission.
• Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI): National sustainability certification standard that TFA has promoted since 1995 and which is the parent organization of Project Learning Tree. Operates at national/international scale with overlapping standards, certification, and education mission.
• National Association of State Foresters: National organization representing state forestry agencies (including TN Division of Forestry, a key TFA partner). Overlapping mission in promoting sustainable forest management and federal policy advocacy relevant to TFA's work.

Direct peers

• Georgia Forestry Association: Georgia's statewide forestry trade association representing the full forestry value chain — landowners, loggers, mills, and manufacturers. Directly comparable membership model and program portfolio to TFA.
• Alabama Forestry Association: State-level forestry trade association serving Alabama with a closely comparable mission: landowner advocacy, logger certification, workforce development, and sustainable forestry promotion. Most direct peer to TFA given parallel structure, programs, and Southeast U.S. focus.
• Mississippi Forestry Association: Mississippi's state-level forestry association serving landowners, loggers, and industry with similar advocacy and sustainable forestry programs. Direct comparable to TFA in mission and Southeast U.S. operating context.
• North Carolina Forestry Association: North Carolina's statewide forestry trade association with a comparable membership base of landowners, loggers, and manufacturers. Similar advocacy, certification, and education programs make it a direct peer to TFA in the Southeast.
• Kentucky Forest Industries Association: Kentucky's state forestry trade association representing forest landowners, loggers, and forest products manufacturers. Directly comparable to TFA in mission, membership model, and program offerings (Master Logger-equivalent certification, advocacy, education).
• Virginia Forestry Association: Virginia's statewide forestry trade association providing education, advocacy, and certification programs to landowners and industry. Closely parallel structure to TFA including logger training, Tree Farm administration, and workforce development.

Regional players

• Forest Landowners Association: National association focused specifically on private forest landowners — a core TFA constituency. While not state-specific, it provides overlapping landowner education, advocacy, and policy representation at the federal level relevant to TFA's landowner services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/forestryworks
• Instagraminstagram.com/forestryworks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tennessee-forestry-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tennessee Forestry Association