28 VIRGINIA FORESTS Virginia Forestry Educational Foundation Update Reframe to Recruit By Shannon McCabe, VFEF Board of Directors So, how did you get into forestry? It’s a common question for foresters as we get to know each other. If you asked me, I’d say I got into this field because I grew up running around the woods as a child, fishing and hunting with family, and enjoying the outdoors. Then, I was lucky to have a high school guidance counselor who pointed me in the direction of a natural resources major because she knew it aligned with my interests and hobbies. Does that feel familiar, as if you’ve heard it from someone before, or perhaps even because it’s similar to your own story? I often find myself asking fellow foresters the question because I’ve come to expect relatability in their response. I recently had the privilege of attending the 2023 Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources and Environment’s Scholarship & Awards Banquet as a representative of the Virginia Forestry Educational Foundation (VFEF) and was seated with VFEF scholarship recipients. Naturally, I asked how each of them found their way to forestry, anticipating a familiar response. One student spoke about visiting and being inspired by clean energy and sustainability initiatives in Ireland. Another described a fascination with the integrative nature of ecosystems and wishing to make a difference at a landscape level. Forestry was a second career path for a student who had spent time in another industry for about a decade. One even shared an early connection to forestry through a video game. On my drive home from Blacksburg that evening I found myself considering how these varied experiences might set apart the next generation of foresters. What does this mean for forestry and the forest products industry? What does this mean for recruiting future forestry students?
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