Campus News

Robinson Center Wood Products Now Available

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 13, 2012) — Did you know there is a place in Quicksand, Ky. (Breathitt County), where teaching, research, and demonstration of wood utilization takes place on a daily basis?  And, where there is now a Wood Products Catalog with items available for sale to all University of Kentucky colleges, departments, county extension offices, as well as to the general public? 

That place is the Wood Utilization Center of the Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability (RCARS), which is aligned with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture and its Department of Forestry.  The assorted products are manufactured at the Wood Utilization Center and are listed on the RCARS website at or at the UK Ag Store site on the College of Agriculture home page.

"The items that we manufacture at the center were originally developed by the UK Department of Forestry and primarily feature solid Appalachian hardwoods such as cherry, walnut, maple, and oak," said RCARS Director David Ditsch.  "And on most of these products, custom laser engraving is available."

The primary mission of RCARS and its Wood Utilization Center is economic development, by creating jobs and adding value to the sustainable, renewable resources that are native to Eastern Kentucky.

"The Robinson Center, established in 1925, is located on what was the site of the world's largest hardwood sawmill back in the early 1900s," Ditsch said.   "The center is truly a valuable university resource that continues to support a variety of research and extension programs relevant to the Appalachian region today."

In addition to nearly 20 standard items available via the Wood Products Catalog, the center often manufactures specialty items requested by customers. For more information, contact Jackie Allen at (606) 666-2438, Ext. 285 or by email at Jlalle8@email.uky.edu.  Order completion and delivery is handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

MEDIA CONTACT:  Carl Nathe, (859) 257-3200