UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State's College Of Agricultural Sciences Is Partnering With The Pennsylvania Forest Products Association To Host The Association's Bi-annual Trade Exposition, June 17-18.

The Timber 2005 Forest Products Equipment and Technology Exposition will be held at the Ag Progress Days site at Rock Springs, on Pa. Route 45, nine miles southwest of State College. The event is supported in part with a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Hardwoods Development Council.

"We're very excited about our new partnership with Penn State, which will allow us to improve upon past events in many ways," says Paul Lyskava, PFPA executive director.

"We'll have a site in the center of the state, making it more accessible to most of the state's forest products industry," Lyskava says. "Exhibitors will see lower costs, including reduced space-rental rates and free electric and forklift service. The site has both indoor and expansive outdoor space, allowing for exhibitor demonstrations. Also, parking and admission will be free for attendees."

Organizers expect more than 100 commercial exhibitors at the event, which is aimed at loggers, sawmill operators, value-added processors and forest landowners in Pennsylvania and surrounding states.

Pennsylvania is home to more than 2,700 forest product companies and 500,000 forest landowners. The forest products industry generates about $5.5 billion a year for the state's economy.

"The combination of the state's large timber industry, Penn State's extensive forestry and wood products programs and our experience in hosting a major agricultural trade event makes this a natural partnership," says Bob Oberheim, manager of Penn State's Ag Progress Days, who will oversee Timber 2005. "We feel we can add a lot of value to the show experience for exhibitors and attendees."

The event will feature new and emerging technology, on-site and "in-the-woods" machinery demonstrations, seminars, and opportunities to visit with government and private-sector business assistance specialists. Faculty and extension specialists from Penn State's School of Forest Resources also will offer workshops and presentations.

For information on Timber 2005, including details on exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities, call 814-863-2873 or visit the Web at http://patimbershow.cas.psu.edu.

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EDITORS: Contact Paul Lyskava by phone at 717-312-1244 or by e-mail at rlo1@psu.edu.

Chuck Gill Office 814-863-2713 FAX 814-863-9877