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School of Environment and Natural Resources

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The Bourbon Barrel Connection: Revitalizing Appalachian Ohio economies and oak-dominated forests

Jan 14, 2020, 7:15am - 9:30am

Program Summary

This EPN Breakfast, co-hosted with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry, will highlight the bourbon cooperage industry in Appalachian Ohio and the economic benefits that it is providing to communities in the region.  We will explore the oak-dominated forests of the region and challenges that we face in sustaining them for future generations. Finally, we’ll introduce you to the Ohio Interagency Forestry Team and our multifaceted approach to sustaining oak-dominated forests across all ownerships. 

Join this program to hear Darren Whitmer (vice president and general manager, Speyside Bourbon Cooperage, Inc.) share about oak barrels and their role in making bourbon, the reasons why white oak is used in bourbon barrels, and the history of Speyside Bourbon Cooperage including its expansion of operations into Appalachian Ohio.  Cotton Randall (cooperative forest management administrator, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry), and Dave Apsley (natural resources specialist, Ohio State University Extension) will explore the oak-dominated forests of the region and challenges that we face in sustaining them for future generations, and introduce us to the Ohio Interagency Forestry Team and its multifaceted approach to sustaining oak-dominated forests across all ownerships. 

In addition, Dan Balser (chief and state forester, ODNR Division of Forestry) will provide opening remarks and Jamie Dahl (forest outreach coordinator, Central State University Extension and McIntire-Stennis Program) will facilitate the audience Q&A session.


Agenda

7:15 a.m.   Doors open at Ohio State 4-H Center; Coffee served.

7:40 a.m.   Breakfast buffet served.

8:10 a.m.   Jeff Sharp, PhD. (director, School of Environment and Natural Resources) provides welcome remarks.

8:15 a.m.   Dan Balser (chief and state forester ODNR Division of Forestry) provides a brief program overview including details about the Ohio Interagency Forestry Team. 

8:20 a.m.   White Oak Barrels and Bourbon by Darren Whitmer (vice president and general manager, Speyside Bourbon Cooperage, Inc.)

This presentation focuses on: barrels and their role in making bourbon, the reasons why white oak is used in bourbon barrels, and the history of Speyside Bourbon Cooperage including its expansion of operations into Appalachian Ohio. 

8:35 a.m.   The Future of Oak is in Our Hands! by Cotton Randall (private lands administrator, ODNR Division of Forestry) and Dave Apsley (natural resources specialist, Ohio State University Extension).

This presentation focuses on the importance of oak-dominated forests in Ohio and obstacles to sustaining them into the future; Ohio’s Interagency Forestry Team’s shared stewardship approach to management across ownerships (federal, state and private); Interagency team goals, approaches, accomplishments to date, and future plans; and collaborative outreach efforts designed to increase awareness and to encourage woodland owners to take an active role in sustaining this valuable resource. 

9:10 a.m.   Audience Q & A facilitated by Jamie Dahl (forest outreach coordinator, Central State University Extension and McIntire-Stennis Program).  

9:30 a.m.   Closing Comments by Dr. Sharp and invitation to June 9 Tour at the Vinton Furnace State Forest and Speyside Bourbon Cooperage in Jackson, Ohio.  

 


Speakers

Dave Apsley photo

Dave Apsley, natural resources specialist, Ohio State University Extension

Mr. Apsley has 30 years of professional experience in forestry and natural resources education, management and research. Prior to joining Ohio State University Extension in December of 2000, he taught for six years in Forest Management Technology at Hocking College.  Other positions that he has held include forester and supervisory forester for the Department of Army at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and research technician and research coordinator in the School of Forest Resources at the University of Georgia.  Dave is a past chair of the Ohio Society of American Foresters, a Fellow and a Certified Forester.   He lives on a Tree Farm-Certified Family Forest in Jackson County. Mr. Apsley received his M.S. in Forest Resources from the University of Georgia and B.S. in Forest Management from Purdue University.

 

Jamie Dahl photo

Jamie Dahl, forest outreach coordinator, Central State University Extension and McIntire-Stennis Program

Ms. Dahl works in forestry outreach and education, with a focus on southeast Ohio. She started with Central State in the summer of 2018 and is based at the Wayne National Forest Headquarters in Nelsonville, Ohio. She previously worked on forestry, natural resource management and public outreach projects in Pennsylvania and Colorado. She is an active member of the Society of American Foresters. Ms. Dahl received her M.S. in Forest Resources, Wood Procurement and Utilization and a B.S. in Forest Management from The Pennsylvania State University.  She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Higher Education Leadership at Colorado State University with a focus on social science within natural resources.

 

Cotton Randall photo

Cotton Randall, private lands administrator, Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Forestry

Mr. Randall oversees ODNR Division of Forestry’s landowner assistance, forest health, and urban forestry programs.  He has worked for the Division since 2005.  Prior to joining the Division, Cotton worked as a technician for Franklin Soil & Water Conservation District and a research forester for the University of Florida. He also served in the Peace Corps in Bolivia.  Mr. Randall received his M.S. in Forest Resources and Conservation from the University of Florida and B.S. in Wildlife Science from Virginia Tech.

 

Darren Whitmer photo

Darren Whitmer, vice president and general manager, Speyside Bourbon Cooperage, Inc.

Mr. Whitmer has over 25 years of operations leadership in multiple manufacturing with 17 in the cooperage industry. He is experiences in lean manufacturing, Kanban systems, JIT parts flow and an expert at identifying waste and streamlining production processes. He has served as general manager at Speyside Bourbon Cooperage, Inc. since 2014 and became vice president in January of 2019. Mr. Whitmer is a US Navy Veteran and received his MBA from the University of Tennessee at Martin and B.S. in Business Management from the University of Louisville. 

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