The Alabama TREASURE Forest Association Conference and Tour is coming to Pike County Sept. 17 and 18 and will celebrate the “Year of Family and Friends.”

“We are very excited that the Pike County TREASURE Forest Association was selected to host this year’s conference and tour,” said Claire Murphy, publicity chair. “Friday events will be held at Cattleman Park and we have an outstanding conference planned that will include lunch and feature a rodeo performance by the Troy University Rodeo team and informative workshops. The ATFA Conference will include a Saturday prayer breakfast and tour of Gene and Jana Renfroe’s TREASURE Forest which is one of the most beautiful farms that you will see.”

Conference registration will be from 8:30 until 10:30 a.m. on Friday and the conference will get under way officially at 10:30 a.m. with the ATFA luncheon.

“Following the luncheon, everyone will be invited to enjoy an exciting rodeo performance and then participate in the workshop sessions,” Murphy said. “The topics include Land Management, Selling Your Timber, The Role Birds of Prey Play, Feral Hog Management and Self-Reliance and Sustainability on Your Land.”

The ATFA Banquet and Auction will be from 7 until 9 p.m. on Friday night.

“The live auction is always a lot of fun and we have some really nice items on the auction block,” Murphy said.

The prayer breakfast will be at 7:30 a.m. Saturday and George Merritt will be the featured speaker. Following the breakfast, everyone will load onto wagons for the forestry tour.

“The Renfroe Family Farm will provide an opportunity for conference participants to see and learn how wildlife, recreation, timber management and aesthetic beauty can be great educational opportunities,” Murphy said.

The Alabama TREASURE Forest Association Conference and Tour is open to the public and all of those who are interested in the forestlands of Alabama are encouraged to attend.

The conference fee is $99 and includes the luncheon, rodeo, sessions, banquet, auction and the TREASURE forest tour.

Registrations may be made by calling 675-7481 or at Cattleman Park from 8:30 until 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 17.