CHS students tour new Two Rivers mill to celebrate Alabama Woods to Goods Week
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Central ag students visit Two Rivers Lumber Company
Special to the News
Ten students from Central High School Coosa County got an inside look at the new Two Rivers Lumber mill currently under construction in Kellyton.
The mill tour on October 16 was conducted as part of Alabama Woods to Goods Week activities.
The 10 students had Kuder Career Interest Assessments and Skills Confidence Survey results that showed a match to agriculture-related careers, which led to their recent participation in this Chew & Chat event focused on agriculture.
Procurement Manager Jeff Holley and Mill Manager Brad Gould guided students through the 100-acre property, sharing insights into mill operations and the opportunities the new facility will bring to Alabama’s forest industry. The Two Rivers mill is expected to begin production later this year.
Holley further provided students with an overview of the mill, including safety requirements and the various types of jobs within each section of the company.
Students were able to observe and learn about the entire lumber process – from cutting trees in the forest and hauling them to the site, to sorting logs by size and quality, processing and curing the lumber through the kiln stages, smoothing the boards, and stacking them for storage and delivery.
Gould guided the group through the facility, explaining each phase of production. Once operational, the mill will source lumber exclusively from local loggers within its service area.
Students also enjoyed a hands-on learning experience with David Benefield of Forestry Works, who introduced them to the different species of trees found in our region. He explained that each leaf has unique characteristics, that many nuts are technically fruits and spotlighted the various types of pine cones.
Benefield also shared how trees are selected for lumber by using a process known as grading, based on diameter, height and shape.
Following the tour, students participated in hands-on forestry activities focused on tree identification, forest management and forest products, helping students connect classroom learning to real-world forestry careers.
Students took a walk through the woods where the shared knowledge was put to the test during a tree identification challenge, where they successfully named 10 marked trees – a fun and interactive way to reinforce what they learned.
To wrap up the day, Maggie Pope, director of education for Forest Workforce Training Institute, shared valuable information about credentialing programs designed to prepare future workers for employment in the forest industry. She explained how many everyday items we use or eat are made with wood-based materials, emphasizing the industry’s commitment to using every part of the tree to minimize waste.
Students were especially surprised to learn that cellulose, a fiber extracted from wood pulp, is commonly used in food and household products such as toothpaste, salad dressing and shredded cheese. This discussion helped students recognize how deeply forestry connects to their daily lives and how innovation within the industry supports sustainability and efficiency.
Forest Workforce Training Institute staff members Pope and Benefield coordinated the event alongside Career Coach Karen Hayes from Central High School, with Pope and Benefield facilitating the educational activities for ForestryWorks. Students are planning to return to Kellyton in the spring semester for a follow-up visit, which will include a trip to a nearby logging site and another tour of the sawmill once in production.
Coosa County Schools would like to thank Mrs. Pope for coordinating this educational Chew & Chat. We are also beyond excited to welcome Two Rivers Lumber Company to their new home in Coosa County. It is great to see our newest employer already partnering with the school and showing our students what great opportunities are here in our Coosa County community.
Thank you to Central Coosa Schools career coach Ms. Hayes for organizing the field trip and providing information and pictures on the trip. Pictured are trip participants Darrell Cardwell, Kirby Clark, Tristan Gonzalez, Kendel Luke, Zakendrick McKinney, Jacob Stevens, Parker Tidwell, Ethyn Tison, Rodrigo Xool, and Ethan Cosby.
Alabama Woods to Goods Week is a week-long promotional event celebrating forestry’s professionals, products and industry. It is a public-private partnership with the Alabama Forestry Association, the Alabama Forestry Commission, the Alabama Forestry Foundation, the Forest Workforce Training Institute, the Alabama Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and the Alabama Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils.
Gov. Kay Ivey proclaimed the third week in October as Alabama Woods to Goods Week coinciding with National Forest Products Week. Across the state, these organizations celebrated with mill tours, log site visits, forest product donations, and many other educational events to highlight the forest industry’s environmental, community and economic impact.
To learn more, visit www.alwoodstogoods.com.
