Aubra Anthony Named to First U.S. Lumber Board

U.S. Congressman Mike Ross of Prescott announced that U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed Aubra Hayes Anthony, Jr., of El Dorado, to the first national Softwood Lumber Board as a representative for the South region.  The board, composed of 19 representatives from the U.S. and Canada, was created to coordinate research and promotion efforts for softwood lumber, which is primarily used in products like flooring, siding and framing.  Anthony is the President & CEO of Anthony Forest Products Company, a family-owned company based in El Dorado.

“I was proud to support Aubra’s nomination to the Softwood Lumber Board and I’m pleased to be able to help announce his selection,” said Ross.  “This is the first-ever national Softwood Lumber Board and I’m hopeful it will be instrumental in helping boost production of timber products, which represent a key part of south Arkansas’s economy.  Aubra’s extensive experience and knowledge in the timber industry will bring valuable and critical insight to this board’s efforts and he will be a strong voice and advocate for Arkansas timber producers.”

The national Softwood Lumber Board is composed of 12 U.S. manufacturers and seven Canadian importers, each of whom serves two, three or four-year terms in office.  The board was set up following the creation of the Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order, funded by a levy on large lumber manufacturers’ shipments.  The research and promotion program is industry-driven, allowing the board to conduct promotion, market and production research and new product development for the benefit of the timber industry nationwide.