Page 11 - Tree Line - North Carolina Forestry Association - Third Quarter 2020

Allen said. “There is no way you can reprice your raw materials fast enough to accommodate your loss of demand and the price of units going down. So my hope is that it stabilizes quick enough so the industry doesn’t suffer an insurmountable loss of producers. There’s going to be some contraction in the industry, there already has been, [but] maybe the impact won’t
be as hard. There is significant pain in the hardwood industry at this time.”
Allen is not without hope. Knowing that change will once again occur at the mill, he is looking at new partnerships to develop, but still focused on his long-term relationships: “Those gold customers we have enable us to keep on going. However, if you get in a rut and never look at prospects that come by, then customers will be gone.”
Reaching Out, Speaking Up
One challenge that has faced forestry over the years is common misconceptions that surround our field and industry.
A member of the NCFA since 1995, Allen joined through Forestry Mutual: “We got in through the insurance. Then, as
time passed and I developed relationships with Bob Slocum, I got an idea of what the NCFA was trying to accomplish in North Carolina and realized how important
it was and what task we had.” With the understanding that the 15 urban counties in the state can often overshadow the rural populations, Allen said, “They are going to tell us what to do, they are going to direct the path North Carolina takes. In order for us to survive, we are going to have to justify what we are doing and why it is important.”
As time passed and Allen became more active with the NCFA, he realized the importance of being engaged in the industry, General Assembly and the public. “It won’t be enough just to show up to work every day at your business,” he said. “You are going to have to not only show up at work but also show up in the general public.”
Lending his voice to speak on behalf of the industry, Allen served on the NCFA’s Executive Board and served as President in 2014 and Chairman of the Board in 2015. In 2019, Uwharrie Lumber Company received the Manufacturer of the Year Award. When asked about memorable moments, he said, “I have always enjoyed the annual meeting for a couple of reasons. I enjoy people and I enjoy music. A lot
of times, we focus in on what is going on with just our place, and it’s nice to get a
broader picture. Also, some of the speakers that have been brought in to the meetings have been tremendous.”
Allen recognizes the need to speak up and to have an informed voice. When encountering individuals with opposing viewpoints, he said, “we have to talk about the strengths that we have as an industry. Those strengths are that we have a renewable resource. We focus on water quality. We have a natural product that is something that can be used, and reused. We can recycle cardboard and pallets. When something comes to our yard, we sell everything but the smell. We sell the sawdust, the bark, the chips and the lumber. All that comes in and all that leaves. You can’t find a much greener footprint than the lumber business.”
As reported by NC Commerce, North Carolina’s population grew 1.1%, adding 113,000 people, between 2017 and 2018. As a result of this growth, Allen said,
“the pressures that we face will intensify. With land use, a lot of people think that harvesting timber to make lumber is going
A Lifetime Legacy
In 2020, Allen was appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to serve a six-year term on the North Carolina State Board of Agriculture. Serving out the unexpired term of previous board member Tommy Burleson, Allen was honored to be selected again to serve. The Board is a rule-making body that represents all facets of agriculture. It is responsible for implementing standards, consumer advocacy, assistance to farmers, and budget allocations. “There are so many
Socially distant and hard at work.
to be the biggest concern, but the acres
we are losing to development are one of
the things we want to consider. We want
to grow. If you don’t grow, you become stagnant, but land use is going to become
a hotter topic. Water quality is going to be such a concern, and it should be. We are in a position to make a big difference because nothing filters water as well as a forest. No land type or use. I think forestry can be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”
Allen has taken this passion and knowl- edge to the NCFA’s annual Forestry Day and when speaking to representatives about our industry. “It’s been interesting to see how
to navigate the legislature,” he said. “I have enjoyed opportunities to meet these folks.”
things that need attention. You got to have a broader view,” Allen said. “Other people’s topics need to be heard and represented, and hopefully I can do some of that.”
As I wrapped up my visit at Uwharrie Lumber Company, Allen spoke to the future of the mill, stating once again that change is inevitable. Engineered products, new uses for wood and new mills are imminent.
“People want immediate gratification and nobody has any patience,” he said. “Forestry is a long-term farming operation. Most people are worried about tomorrow instead of 15 to 20 years. It is a tough sale because of people’s timelines. But I think we have a really good story to tell. We just need to get the story out to the public.”
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