In a hands-on display of practical education, the Forestry and Wildlife students in the FRST 209 Silviculture class at Glenville State University recently conducted a prescribed fire on the college farm, followed by an enlightening field trip to Weyerhaeuser property in Greenbrier County.
The prescribed fire, which took place on October 25th, covered a one-acre field on the college farm. Preceding this, the students had applied herbicides to eliminate cool-season and non-native grasses, optimizing the area’s nutritional value for wildlife. Meticulously, a fire line was mowed around the field’s perimeter, and students used a wet line to control the burn.
Employing drip torches, a backing fire was initiated on the uphill and downwind side, and strip fires were then used to systematically burn the fields. Post-burn, the field was prepared by Tom Snyder for a fall food plot, which will consist of a mix of winter wheat and red clover, benefiting deer, turkey, and other wildlife.
Payton Brown, a student who participated in the prescribed burn, commented, “The prescribed burn I participated in while taking the Silviculture class allowed me to implement the skills learned in the classroom and apply them to a real-world application. Better preparing me for a career in the Natural Resource field and furthering my understanding of silvicultural techniques.”
Dr. Brian Perkins, the class instructor, emphasized the importance of providing real-world experiences, stating, “We are preparing students for their careers by providing hands-on learning experiences that mimic what they would encounter on the job. Wildlife managers conduct prescribed burns and plant food plots for the benefit of wildlife. The knowledge, confidence, and experience gained by students will benefit them in a competitive job market.”
The Weyerhaeuser field trip, organized by Weyerhaeuser foresters Dan Abston ‘86, Adam Osborne ‘21, and Michael Moran, showcased various forestry practices and harvesting systems.
Adam Osborne ‘21, a forestry alumnus turned Weyerhaeuser employee, shared insights into his career path during the trip. The class observed sustainable forest management practices on Weyerhaeuser’s quarter-million acres of West Virginia forestland, including stands of different ages and a demonstration of a tethered logging system—a new approach improving safety and productivity in steep terrain.
Reflecting on a related field trip to Weyerhaeuser property in Greenbrier County on October 31st, student Jonah Siminski expressed his appreciation: “I enjoyed the field trip our Silviculture class took to Weyerhaeuser this fall. During the trip, we saw many diverse types of trees and logging sites. It was remarkably interesting to hear the Weyerhaeuser foresters speak of their jobs, and it helped me learn what to expect in this type of career.”
Expressing gratitude to Weyerhaeuser, Dr. Brian Perkins ‘97 acknowledged the company’s contribution to the students’ education: “I appreciate our alumni at Weyerhaeuser for providing a field trip for our students. Several of our alumni work as foresters for Weyerhaeuser, and they have hosted several field trips over the years. Weyerhaeuser has also provided internship opportunities for students. Students learned a lot about silviculture, forest management, and timber harvesting during the field trip. It is always nice to visit other areas of the state to see diverse types of forests.”
For more information about our Department of Land Resources at Glenville State University, contact:
Mr. Adam Black
Department Chair
Associate Professor of Landman Technology
215 Waco Center
304-462-6378
