College of Natural Resources Advisory Board Meeting
Director Miller attended the College of Natural Resources Advisory Board meeting March 3 in Moscow. Miller serves as an advisory board member and is the incoming chair. The advisory board assists the CNR Dean, Dennis Becker, in implementing his vision for the college in order to remain as the premier natural resources college in the west.
Miller also attended the annual CNR awards banquet where students, faculty and alumni are recognized for their achievements across many diverse disciplines. As an alumni of the college, Miller received the “Celebrating Natural Resources” award which is presented to a CNR graduate whose career exemplifies integrated natural resource management.
 Dustin Miller with his “Celebrating Natural Resources” award
Administrative Professionals Meeting in Eastern Idaho Supervisory Area
IDL's Administrative Professionals held their annual meeting last week at the Eastern Idaho Supervisory Area. This was a three day conference that covered a number of topics including: Submitting Corrections to Fiscal for Cost Accounting, Safety Review, Future Proofing Goals/Leading IDL, FPA Compliance Training; Budget to Actuals/Tips for payroll in LUMA/Fire Travel in XM, Seasonal Hiring Strategies/Sharepoint Updates, and several fire business topics.
On Thursday, Eastern staff provided a field tour to Twin Buttes, where there is just over 20,000 acres of endowment land. They discussed grazing and grass production in that area, crop leases, wind projects, solar projects and recreation.
 AP tour of Twin Buttes in Eastern Idaho Supervisory Area
Women in the Woods Workshop
The second annual Women in the Woods Workshop at the Coeur d'Alene Staff Office on April 5 was a success with 30 attendees.
Landowners brought in photos of their forest and received personalized management assistance from the fleet of instructors. After the exercise, attendees then presented their forests and plans to the class, and did a great job. The energy was fun and positive and with a lot of positive feedback from participants.
One attendee commented that they were able to reinforce and update their own education and see how sharing their experiences strengthens the confidence of the next generation of women in the woods.
This is the first year where t-shirts were included as part of the registration and they were a hit.
One male attended with his wife this year and everyone made him feel welcome.
 IDL's Erika Eidson presenting at the Women in the Woods Workshop
Arbor Day Funds Available
IDL’s Community Forestry program is again making funds from the Timber License Plates available to the Area offices and Fire Protection Districts to assist communities in celebrating Arbor Day. We hope that you and your staff will encourage communities to celebrate Arbor Day and support them in doing so by helping to fund their public events.
Urban Community Forestry will cover the costs associated with the outreach you do for Arbor Day celebrations if you are able to participate.
IDL's Southwest Forest Protective District Prescribed Burns at Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area
IDL Wildland Firefighters assisted Idaho Fish and Game with two prescribed burn at the Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area (WMA) near Parma.
The burns were successful and was used to control noxious weeds on just over 200 acres of reed grass in the marsh areas.
IDL firefighters burned approximately 110 acres on April 2 and returned to burn 96 acres of marsh at Fort Boise WMA on Thursday, April 11.
Photos of the burn by Ruth Luke
 Prescribed burn Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area 4/2/24
 Prescribed burn Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area 4/11/24
Smokey Cheering on the Women!
Smokey Bear took time out of his busy schedule to attend the Women in the Woods Workshop. He was there to cheer on the instructors for the successful event!
 Smokey thought these women did a fabulous job leading the workshop!
Deadline for the Raffles to Support the Idaho Forestry Contest is Coming Up Soon
The deadline to enter the raffles to support the Idaho State Forestry Contest is next Friday, (April 19). To participate it is $5 for one entry or $20.00 for 5 entries for either raffle.
Both packages are worth nearly $500 each. There is the Oklahoma Joe Smoker Package that includes a smoker and accessories, donated by Lowes, and the Stihl Chainsaw package that includes a Stihl Farm Boss MS 291 20 in. 55.5 cc Gas Chainsaw, donated by North 40 Outfitters.
Larger donations from the community are significantly down this year, so the committee is doing all it can to raise money. It costs approximately $11,000 annually to present the Forestry Contest. These expenses reflect course supplies, equipment, rental costs, and event day expenses.
This is the 41st year of the one-day field event for Idaho's youth to compete and learn about the forestry profession.
Last year more than 300 students, 95 coaches/chaperones and over 150 volunteers participated. This was largest group of competitors so far.
Checks should be made out to Bonner SWCD with Forestry Contest noted on the memo line.
For questions or additional information please contact: Lynn Buhl, Idaho Department of Lands Main: 208-769-1577 Desk: 208-664-7248 Email: lbuhl@idl.idaho.gov
 
More Great Photos
These are additional photos of the Fort Boise WMA prescribed burns on April 2 and April 11. Photos by Ruth Luke.
 Prescribed burn Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area 4/2/24
 Prescribed burn Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area 4/2/24
 Prescribed burn Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area 4/11/24
 Prescribed burn Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area 4/11/24
 Prescribed burn Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area 4/11/24
 Prescribed burn Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area 4/11/24
In Case You Missed It
Here's a recap of other recent IDL newsletters you may find interesting:
One Team One Voice Newsletter Archive
Did you miss some important news? Are you curious about knowing what's happening across IDL? Our One Team, One Voice webpage contains an archive of IDL's newsletters covering:
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