Willie Newman, District Manager in Lufkin, Texas, started his career in 1998. He has a Bachelor of Science in Forest Management from Stephen F. Austin State University and is an Accredited Forester in Texas. Willie is a member of the Texas Forestry Association and the Society of American Foresters. Lastly, he is a Certified Pesticide Private Applicator and Texas Pro-Logger Certified.
Why did you pursue a career in forestry?
It all started planting potatoes one cold East Texas morning on Valentine's Day. I was five years old, standing in the rich, tilted soil with grandparents and father in the family garden, placing potatoes eyes up in neatly plowed rows, watching the sunrise. I was thinking of how much joy it gave me to finally be able to help bring substance to the table that would feed my family. Watching the beautiful colors of the early morning sunshine peeking through the surrounding forest, feeling its warmth, and enjoying the smell of freshly plowed soil mixed with the scent of the forest being pushed by a slight wind from the north, started to bring about questions of how plants grow. Being an inquisitive young boy, I started to ask many questions. My grandfather lived in the same small community that his family had for five generations and was a cattle and goat rancher, farmer, and a true woodman. He and my father are both surveyors for a large timber company. He took the time to explain the environmental requirements necessary for plant growth. This conversation also led to my first introduction to photosynthesis. Just the idea of something so simple as a plant converting carbon dioxide and water into chemical energy and then oxygen, we breathe using only sunlight for energy obsessed my mind. I knew right then that I was going to be a farmer. As I matured, my quest for a greater understanding of how a plant grows and the chemical process involved did as well. I couldn’t wait to attend my first Biology class in high school. This brought about a greater understanding on a microbiology level that only fueled my need for actual field study. I am from a small town in East Texas where the main industry is industrial forest management, which is the art and science of managing a long-term crop (trees) as compared to traditional agriculture. The choice was practically made for me to pursue forestry as a career.
What is your favorite part about your role at AFM?
My favorite part of my role at AFM is having the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience with the next generation of foresters.