ESFPA E-News

Log-A-Load Cornhole Tournament at NY SAF Meeting

The Empire State Forestry Foundation and New York Society of American Foresters are partnering on the first ever Log-A-Load for Kids Cornhole Tournament at the Annual NY SAF meeting in Syracuse this Thursday as a fun fundraiser. Put together your two-person team (your organization can have as many teams as you like) and enter our round robin tournament for winner bragging rights. Registrations will start on Wednesday at the event registration table and will be collected through Thursday afternoon. $25/team (you may donate more if you'd like) with all proceeds to benefit NY Log-a-Load for Kids. We will also have a 50-50 raffle that everyone can enter.

The tournament will be held on Thursday, January 30^th at 8:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom Foyer of the Double Tree Inn. 

NY Log-A-Load for Kids is an annual campaign which began in 1988 when loggers and others in the forest products community donated the value of a load of logs to their local Children's Miracle Network Hospital. The Empire State Forestry Foundation, along with a team of dedicated volunteers, annually raises funds that benefit seven Children's Miracle Network Hospitals throughout New York. New York's biggest event each year is our Boonville Woodsmen's Field Days fundraiser, but our new team of volunteers is looking to broaden our fundraising horizons. Help us kick off this first ever mid-winter Log-A-Load event! 

Yale Forest Forum – From Timber to Tomorrow: Old Challenges, New Pressures, Changing Paradigms

The Yale Forest Forum is excited to announce the spring 2026 speaker series, “From Timber to Tomorrow: Old Challenges, New Pressures, Changing Paradigms.” Webinars will take place on Tuesdays, from January 20 through April 28, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. U.S. EST.

The series examines forestry's shift since the 1970s from a primarily production-oriented enterprise, or one of conservation, to one centered on multifunctional landscapes, ecological resilience, and diverse social values. Through conversations with scholars, historians, practitioners, and policymakers, the series will trace changes in land, labor, and ownership. The series will explore novel and evolving approaches to managing disturbances and environmental change, and it will highlight the growing importance of ecosystem services in forest stewardship. Together, these discussions will illuminate how people and forests continue to shape one another — and what that means for the next half-century of forestry.

This spring 2026 speaker series is hosted by The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment, Forest History Society, Society of American Foresters, Environmental Policy Innovation Center, and American Forests.

Click the link below to register:

National Wooden Pallet & Container Association Becomes Woodpack Global, Reflecting the Industry's Evolution and Expanded Capacity

The National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) on Monday announced that it is officially becoming Woodpack Global, a name that reflects the explosive growth, cutting-edge innovation, and boundless capacity that define today's wooden packaging sector. As global supply chains evolve at breakneck speed, this rebranding captures the industry's unstoppable momentum and its critical role in moving the world's goods.

The rebrand follows extensive planning and significant input from members, industry stakeholders, and the association’s Board of Directors. The decision signals a shared goal: adopting a name that is shorter, more memorable, and more representative of the full scope of wood packaging in today’s industry, expanding the association’s impact.

Board Chair Hinton H. Howell of Hinton Lumber Products emphasized the balance between honoring the association’s roots and preparing for the future.

“The name Woodpack Global speaks to the evolution of our industry from local operations to a worldwide network, while honoring the legacy and leadership that began here at home,” Howell said. “We are wood. We are pallets. We are wood packaging. We are a pack that supports one another and fights for the wood pallet industry. While our name is changing, our message remains the same: Pallets Move the World®. That spirit continues to guide everything we do.”

“This change is member-driven and reflects how our industry has evolved,” said Brent McClendon, President and CEO. “Woodpack Global better represents wood packaging today and reinforces our leadership and advocacy. The name change also aligns with a staff expansion that provides greater capacity on U.S. issues while delivering strong value to our growing global network.”

The association will debut the new name and unveil its full logo and brand identity on Wednesday evening, March 25, 2026, during the Annual Leadership Conference. Together as Woodpack Global, the association is building a stronger, more connected future for wood packaging, anchored in U.S. leadership and advancing opportunity worldwide.

Watch this video on YouTube to hear directly from industry peers and elected board members as to why we took this step, and why we took it now. 

About Woodpack Global

The National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (soon to be Woodpack Global) is the leading trade association representing the wood packaging industry. Founded in 1946, the association serves more than 820 member companies across 43 countries, and has lobbying offices in the EU, USA, and Mexico, advancing advocacy, safety, sustainability, and innovation throughout the global supply chain. United by the message Pallets Move the World®, Woodpack Global supports the businesses that make modern commerce possible.