SUNY ESF
New England Kiln Drying Association
2026 Fall Meeting
November 17 - 18 | Best Western Grand Victorian Inn, Sayre, PA
New England Kiln Drying Association (NEKDA) Officers and Board of Directors have put together an excellent meeting program with important and informative topics and opportunities for kiln operators and managers.
Accommodation
The accommodations for the meeting are at Best Western Grand Victorian Inn, 255 Spring Street, Sayre, PA, 18840.
Mark your calendars and let them know when you call that you are with the NEKDA for our special $85 rate!
Registration
Please mail your pre-registration form and check directly to Bill Smith, [email protected]. There is $20 per person surcharge for late registration.
Tuesday | November 17
Tour participants must preregister and should bring their own hard hats, safety glasses and wear appropriate footwear.
4060 Gaskill Road, Owego, NY 13827
Wagner Hardwoods/Baillie Group saws and kiln dries high quality northeastern hardwoods. The sawmill is quite new, having recently been completely rebuilt after a devastating fire in 2014.
From Rte. 17/I-86, exit #65, at the end of the ramp go right over the bridge and then bear right onto Rte. 17C east. Take 2nd left on to Day Hollow Road for about 1 ½ mi. Go to stop and turn right, staying on Day Hollow Road for about ½ mile, then take first left onto Gaskill Road. The mill is about ½ mile on left.
217 Lamoka Rd, Sayre, PA, 18840
Cabinetworks in Sayre kiln dries high quality hardwood lumber, which is used in their modern manufacturing, rough mill and glue up operations to make kitchen and related cabinet door and panels for several well-known and highly regarded brands.
Driving from the Wagner Lumber visit take Rte. 17/I-86 to exit #60, turning left onto W. Bradford St, and then quickly left again onto US 220 south and after about ½ mile take Sayre/S Waverly exit, and head west for about 1 ½ mile on Wilawana and then Mile Lane Rd. Turn right onto Lamoka Rd about ¼ mile to Cabinetworks.
At the Best Western Grand Victorian Inn
Registration
Welcome and Introductions, Tom Graber, NEKDA President
Wednesday | November 18
At the Best Western Grand Victorian Inn
7:00 am - 7:45 am - Board of Directors Meeting
7:45 am - 8:00 am - Registration and Coffee
8:00 am - 8:05 am - Welcome and Introductions | Tom Graber, NEKDA President (Weedsport, NY)
Moderator: Jon St. Jean, NEKDA 2nd Vice President (Hull Forest Products, Pomfret Center, CT)
- 8:15 am - 9:00 am | Modern Kiln Control: Understanding and Interaction
Josh Goin, Lignomat, Portland, OR - 9:00 am - 9:45 am | Thermal Modification: from a Producer's Perspective
Tyler Shields, Bingaman & Son Lumber, Kreamer, PA - 9:45 am - 10:30 am | Wood Moisture Meters - Evolution and Best Use
Tom Laurenzi, Delmhorst/Nielsen-Kellerman, Towaco, NJ - 10:30 am - 10:45 am - Questions and Coffee Break
Moderator: Ian Griffin, NEKDA 2nd Vice President (NYLE Dry Kilns, Brewer, ME) - 10:45 am - 11:30 am | Small-Scale Sawing and Drying
Ian Griffin, NYLE Dry Kilns, Brewer, ME - 11:30 am - 12:15 pm | Sampling for Quality Kiln Drying
Tom Graber, Weedsport, NY - 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm | Annual Business Meeting
Lucheon Buffet