BHFRA Introduction | Meet the BHFRA | Meet Our Partners | Benefits of Membership

About BHFRA                

BHFRA Introduction

Welcome! The driving force in all BHFRA endeavors is working toward the achievement of our Mission Statement:

to ensure the perpetual coexistence of healthy ecosystems and healthy forest resource economies in the Black Hills

The Black Hills Forest Resource Association is a non-profit (501-C3) membership-supported organization devoted to improving forest management decision-making and policies on the Black Hills National Forest of South Dakota and Wyoming.  Our members include forest products companies, professional foresters, and concerned citizens who support protecting the Black Hills’ forest environment while maintaining its relationship with dependent communities and economies.  Headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, the BHFRA and its members:

·         actively support and promote continuing sustainable, scientific forest management on the Black Hills National Forest;

·         continually monitor, participate, and partner with the Forest Service on their forest projects and planning activities;

·         serve as liaison between, and forge collaborative partnerships among the forest products industry, the public, land management agencies, all levels of government, and other professional and citizen’s organizations;

·         provide information and facilitate education about forestry, the environment, and land use;

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Meet the BHFRA

Our Staff:

          Tom Troxel

Director

          BS, Forestry -- University of Montana; 10 years with the Forest Service; 12 years with BHFRA.

          Aaron Everett

          Forest Programs Manager

          BS, Forestry -- Michigan Tech University; 2 years educating loggers and slinging paint; BHFRA since July, 2001.

Our Full Members:

Our members are the heart and soul of the Black Hills Forest Resource

Association.  They and their employees are upstanding members of their respective communities, contributors to the rural economies of South Dakota and Wyoming, and consummate stewards of the forest environment.  

Merillat Industries

          Rapid City, SD

          Richard Krull, Manager

          Forest Products Distributors

          Rapid City, SD

          Carrol Korb, Co-Owner

          Tim Danley, Co-Owner

          Hills Materials      

Spearfish, SD

          Dave Merideth, Manager

          Stan Adelstien, President

          Wheeler Lumber

          Whitewood, SD

          Jeff Parrett, Manager

          R.E. Linde Sawmill, Inc

          Custer, SD

          Bob and Jack Linde, Owners and among the Founding Members of BHFRA

          Sturgis Sawmill

          Sturgis, SD

          Don Baldwin, Owner/operator

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Meet Our Partners

“Partnership” is a term we use to describe agencies and organizations the BHFRA works with closely and often.  They are friends, not members, and we do not always agree.  However, forging partnerships with diverse interests is a requisite of good natural resource management; for this reason, we value our partners greatly and would like to acknowledge them here.

Agencies and Government:

USDA Forest Service; Black Hills National Forest

US Natural Resources Conservation Service

US Bureau of Land Management

SD Department of Agriculture

Secretary’s Office

Division of Resource Conservation and Forestry

Division of Wildland Fire Suppression

SD Department of Game, Fish, and Parks

SD Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Custer State Park

WY Office of Federal Land Policy

WY Department of Environmental Quality

WY Game and Fish Department

WY Office of State Lands and Investments

          Division of Forestry

Community:

          County Commissions

                    Lawrence, Meade, Pennington, Custer, and Fall River County, SD

                    Crook and Weston County, WY

University of Wyoming

University of South Dakota

          South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Black Hills State University

SD Resource Conservation and Development Association

          WY Resource Conservation and Development Association

          Black Hills-area Chambers of Commerce

          The Journey Museum

Organizations:

          Black Hills Regional Multiple Use Coalition

Intermountain Forest Association

Project Learning Tree

          Society of American Foresters

          Keep South Dakota Green

          American Tree Farm System

          Black Hills Sportsmen’s Club

          Black Hills Homebuilders’ Association

          Black Hills Women in Timber

          American Forest and Paper Association

          Forest History Society

          SD Association of Conservation Districts

          Evergreen Magazine

          The Resource Roundup

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Benefits of Membership

For Businesses:

·         We are tireless advocates for active forest management through the administration of a consistent timber sale program on the Black Hills National Forest

·         We offer technical and scientific forestry and forest policy expertise at your disposal

                    -participation in environmental analyses for upcoming timber sales

-participation in the Forest Planning process

-maintaining dialogue with government officials about issues affecting the forest and its dependent industries and communities

-maintaining adequate funding for the Black Hills National Forest’s programs

-keep abreast of pertinent scientific research and developing forest management systems and strategies

·         We addressing contract provision, appraisal, and sale administration issues and policies with the Forest Service

·         We serve in the role of public and media relations

·         …But most of all, your membership allows the Black Hills forest products industry to speak with a unified, professional, constructive voice about the issues that are important to you and your livelihood

For Individuals:

·         Stay abreast of current and upcoming events, projects, and opportunities to provide input on National Forest projects and plans

·         Make sense of all the legal, regulatory, procedural, and political mumbo-jumbo that surrounds forest management issues

·         Clearinghouse of information and resources for forest issues

-Something killing your trees?  We’ll tell you who can help.

-Have a question or concern about a timber sale ongoing near you?  We can point you in the right direction.

-Interested in joining another club or organization?  We can put you in contact with the appropriate group.

·         Receive invitations to occasional forest and mill tours

·         ...But most of all, make a difference on issues you care about

To inquire about membership, send an email to BHFRA@yahoo.com or call us at 605-341-0875.  

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