NIFA is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1986.  Our self-organized, self-supported, and self-run organization started as a six-county organization, but now have members statewide.  The six counties where we primarily focus our activities are Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, and Whiteside in Illinois.


As a not-for-profit group organized to educate, and further the interests of, its members, the Forestry Association looks for various ways to accomplish its goals.


During the
winter months, November through February, we hold meetings on the second Tuesday in Stockton, Illinois.  In November and December, we plan our agenda for the next year and hold elections.  In January and February, we host speakers on a variety of subjects related to landowning and forestry.


For an archive of our business meeting minutes, click here.


In March, we gather for our annual dinner meeting in Mount Carroll. Following dinner, there is a slide show of the year's past events, a featured speaker,  presentation of awards, and distribution of door prizes.  In March, in addition to the dinner meeting, our members  assist at the Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin - a day-long seminar of elective sessions that supplement our field days and meeting speakers.


From April through October, we host field days at members' tree farms, at area businesses related to forestry, and at natural resource areas featuringforestry or wildlife. We have also hosted educational events, such as chain saw safety seminars, wood utilization seminars, and forums on tree diseases and pests.  Our current year calendar is listed here.


Beyond these meetings, field days, and educational sessions, we publish a booklet that markets products that our members derive from their forests as well as forestry services that our members provide to other landowners. This booklet also includes information about forestry practices.


We manage an eleven-acre stand within Schurmeier Forest in Jo Daviess County to illustrate the benefits of forest management. This is described elsewhere on this website.


For a membership form, contact us at info@nifatrees.org.  Membership dues are $15 if we can send our newsletter to you via email, or $20 if you wish US Postal Service delivery of our newsletter.


In addition to our officers (president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary), we elect six directors - each to two-year terms. We attempt to find candidates that represent each of the six counties in our membership area.


Current Officers:

        President - Tom Arnold                    Vice President - Dick Pouzar

        Secretary - Jerry Misek                  Treasurer - Keith Arnold


Current Directors:

        Ralph Eads                            Lee Freedlund                        Dave Harrison

        Greg Hopton                         Alvin Wire                              (vacant position)