Jason Fisher
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Jason serves the Central District Region of Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), bringing leadership in promoting sustainable forest and natural resources management research and techniques to landowners, loggers, professional foresters, and educators in the 18 counties and four cities that comprise Central District. He has worked for VA Cooperative Extension for 30 years, and currently serves as District Extension Agent/Forestry and Natural Resources. He received his undergraduate in Forestry and Wildlife Management, and Master’s Degree in Career and Technical Education, both from Virginia Tech. He is a Certified Arborist and Tree Farm Inspector. He served as Senior Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor with VA Department of Wildlife Resources for 20 years, supports efforts for Halifax Young Life ministries, and serves his local church family. He is married to Cindy Fisher with two daughters, Libby and Malory. He enjoys introducing family and friends to the outdoors every year, is a licensed Taxidermist and enjoys all sports outdoors.
The Central District Forestry and Natural Resources Program strives annually to meet the emerging and existing needs of the aforementioned groups. Programming emphasis areas:
- Land legacy and succession planning
- Implementation of logging safety practices and water quality best management practices
- Educating youth and natural resources educators about sustainable forestry practices
- Landowner timber, wildlife and water resources advice and experiences in the field
- Agroforestry interests to include silvopasture and non-timber forest products and site assessments
- Continuing education opportunities for professional foresters
- Proclaiming that “Virginia Forests Matter”, 16 million acres, 400,000 private landowners with forest industries having a total impact of $23.6 billion in total industry output, 108,451 jobs, and $11.3 billion in value-added (Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, Nov. 2022)
Education
- M.S.Ed., Career and Technical Education (Emphasis in Agriculture Education), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2001
- B.S., Forestry and Wildlife Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Minor: Biology, 1994
- A.S., Danville Community College, 1991
- Established hardwood crop tree release sites (2) on private land in Halifax (ongoing)
- Monitor shortleaf pine site in Red House, Appomattox for growth and survival with VA Department of Forestry Research Forester Zoe Bergman (ongoing)
- Assist new Virginia Tech Southern Piedmont Research Station Director and VA Department of Forestry on updating the Forest Management Plan to include pine research trials and an hardwood demonstration sites (marked locations in 2025, plantings in 2027).
- Attended Agroforestry Advanced training in 2025 for refresher in markets for non-timber forest products and management of potential growing sites.
- Frey, G. The Basics of Shiitake Mushroom Production on Natural Logs. 2013
- Frey, G. One-year Health, Mortality, and Growth in Southeast Virginia of Shortleaf Pine from Three Sources. 2012
- Gagnon, J., Barrett, S., Parkhurst, J. Virginia's Guide to Threatened and Endangered Species. 2009
- Parkhurst, J. Managing Wildlife Damage - Snakes. 2009
- Fisher K. J., D. Goerlich, B. Wagner, J. Lemire, S. Barrett. 2008. Skidder Safety and Efficiency DVD and Discussion Leader Guide – VCE Publication #420-122. 10 p.
- Fisher, K. 2007. Chronic Wasting Disease in Virginia's Deer. Forest Landowner, Volume 66, No. 6, November/December: 15-18.
- Goerlich, D.L., J.L. Kirwan, H.C. Estes, J. Hunnings, E. Oliver, J. Willis, G.A. Minnich, J. Napier, L. Bruce, K. Cronin, and K.J. Fisher. 2004. 4-H Virtual Forest. https://virtualforest.ext.vt.edu/
- Goerlich, D.L. and K.J. Fisher. 2002. Education through competition. Virginia Forests. 58(1):10-12.