In just a couple weeks, HMA members will be gathering in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for our 2024 Fall Regional Meeting. This members-only event will take place Tuesday–Thursday, October 15–17, and it’s sure to be time well spent in the Hawkeye State.
I repeatedly hear from HMA members that our Regional Meetings are one of our association’s most valued membership perks. They offer an excellent opportunity to see new equipment, technology, and solutions first-hand, and provide plenty of time for networking with industry colleagues—new and old. Following is a brief overview of our schedule.
Our first tour stop will take us to Edgewood, Iowa, where we’ll get to see Kendrick Forest Products sawmill and Forever Cabinets by Kendrick plant, as well as their Kendrick Home and Shimlee facilities. We’ll then head to The Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa, to see the iconic movie site and enjoy lunch. Day one will wrap up with a tour of Bruggeman Lumber’s sawmill and kiln operations in Hopkinton, Iowa.
Later that evening we’ll gather for a reception and dinner. Tripp Pryor, international program manager for the American Hardwood Export Council, will be with us to share the latest news and developments on the European Union Deforestation Regulation.
On Thursday, we’ll be off to Muscatine, Iowa, to tour Kendrick’s newest sawmill, KFP Muscatine.
All the details and our full schedule can be found online at HMAmembers.org.
Before I close out this month’s column, I’d like to take the time to thank our Fall Regional Meeting sponsors: Kendrick Forest Products, Bruggeman Lumber, Inc., and Stella-Jones Corporation.
And one last reminder. Mark your calendar for HMA’s 2025 National Conference and Expo, which will take place in Knoxville, Tennessee, June 10–12. Keep a look out for more details in the months ahead.
