2025 MFA Polaris Gathering @ the North Star Expo
You are invited! Join us for the annual fall gathering of the Minnesota Forestry Association, held in conjunction with the North Star Expo – the "Great Minnesota Logging Get-together!" This event brings together all parts of Minnesota's logging community, including vendors, truckers, foresters, lawmakers, policy makers, woodland owners, and loggers.
When: Friday, September 12, 2025
Where: Log Building, Itasca County Fairgrounds, Grand Rapids, MN
Cost: $20 per person
Register By: September 8, 2025
TENTATIVE AGENDA:
Morning and early afternoon: Tour the fairgrounds on your own (it's free!)
2:30 PM: Q&A with Patty Theilen, Department Head, MN DNR Forestry
3:00 PM: Having a Healthy Forest - Josh Donatell, MN DNR; Dave Roerick, MFA
4:00 PM: Forest Wildlife Applications - James Hansen, MN DNR Wildlife
4:30 PM: TimberView Demo - Brian Huberty, MFA; Dave Roerick, MFA
5:00 PM: Social Hour
6:00 PM: Dinner (sweet-and-sour pork, veggie, breadstick, and apple cranberry crisp)
6:30 PM: Welcome and Introductions
6:45 PM: MFA 150th Banquet - March 13, 2026 @ St. John’s University
6:50 PM: MN Tree Farm Update and Tree Farm Awards
7:00 PM: Tree to Therapy: The Surprising Connection Between Woodlands and Medicine with Rick L. Kortekaas, Director-Site Management at Lonza
7:30 PM: Forestry Education Panel Discussion:
Avery Roerick, Grand Rapids High School, FFA - Student (Tentative)
Shawn Linder, Grand Rapids High School, FFA - Instructor (Tentative)
James Harding, Bemidji State University, Forestry Instructor (confirmed)
Mike Sullivan, Minnesota Forestry Works (Confirmed)
TO REGISTER:
Please RSVP by September 8, 2025 so we add up the total number of attendees to plan for seating and food. RSVP with any of the following options:
Call the MFA Phone Number: (218) 879-5100
Send an email to: expo@minnesotaforestry.org with the name(s) of people in your group
Register online by clicking the button below:
BRING:
Bring $20 cash or check (if you did not register online) per person on Friday, Sept 12.
Monitor the MFA website for updated information later this summer.
More info about the expo can be found here: https://www.timberproducers.com/expo