PA Woodmobile Marks One Million Visitors to Sustainable Wood Products Classroom
Centre County Students Recognized as One Millionth Visitors
ROCK SPRINGS, Centre Co., Aug. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding today marked a major milestone for the Pennsylvania Woodmobile, as the sustainable wood products classroom on wheels celebrated one million visitors.
The traveling classroom, which first hit the road in 2002, has appeared in 64 counties throughout the state at nearly 450 events, from schools to the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. The Woodmobile attracts an average of 110,000 patrons each year.
"Pennsylvania has more acres of hardwood forests than any other state, and it is important that we educate the public about this tremendous natural resource and the good efforts of the forest industry to provide jobs, support local communities and keep Pennsylvania growing for future generations," Redding said during an event at Penn State's Ag Progress Days to mark the Woodmobile's milestone.
Forty students from the Solid Foundation Education Association from Port Matilda, Centre County, participated in the celebration and were recognized as the one-millionth visitors.
The Woodmobile is a traveling learning laboratory sponsored by the Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council, with support from the Pennsylvania Forest Products Association. The council, which operates through the state Department of Agriculture, was created in 1988 by the General Assembly to promote and expand the state's hardwood industry.
"It is thanks to the support of our industry partners that we were able to reach this remarkable milestone, and I look forward to many more miles and visitors to come," Redding added.
Despite a long history of timber operations in the state, Pennsylvania has worked to restore its forests. There were only about 5 million acres of forestland remaining after widespread clear-cutting operations 100 years ago, but today, the state has more than 17 million acres of forestland—the most of any state in the nation.
Pennsylvania also leads the nation in production and sales figures, producing more than 1.1 billion board feet and $17 billion in sales in 2006. The state also is known as the "Black Cherry Capital of the World."
For more info about the Pennsylvania's hardwood industry, or to reserve the Pennsylvania Woodmobile, visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us and click on "Bureaus, Commissions, and Councils" and then "Hardwoods Development Council," or call the council at 717-772-3715.
Media contact: Nicole L. C. Bucher, 717-787-5085
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
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