The MSR Workshop has a solid reputation for providing practical, real world learning, and this spring’s program in Orange Beach, Alabama is shaping up to be one of the strongest yet. The 2026 agenda features two concentrated blocks of educational sessions — Thursday morning (8 am to 11 am) and Friday morning (8 am to 10:15 am) — designed to give you a sharper, more complete understanding of the current MSR landscape.
Woven into a schedule that also includes plenty of networking opportunities, a tour of Canfor’s newest mill, and time for a little R&R, this year’s lineup includes some standout sessions:
Benefits of Using MSR in Component Design
It’s no secret that MSR lumber plays a critical role in delivering efficient, reliable, and high-performance building components. But what does that look like from a truss designer’s perspective? In this session, Joshua Harris, Design Manager at Hiwassee Truss, breaks down the real-world advantages MSR brings to truss design, from achieving longer spans to managing deflection and supporting heavy loading conditions. A storyteller at heart, he will draw on more than a decade of experience to connect engineering principles with relatable jobsite and production realities, showing how MSR can strengthen both truss designs and business outcomes.
Building the Future South: What’s Driving Tomorrow’s Construction Landscape?
The U.S. South continues to reshape the nation’s housing and construction landscape. Canfor’s Chris Leftis will take a focused look at regional supply trends, demographic shifts, and evolving cost structures that are redefining building activity across the Southeast. He will explore how affordability dynamics differ from other regions, how recent intrastate migration patterns may redirect future demand, and what an aging population could mean for construction labor and design needs. The discussion will also examine shifting fiber availability — including lower Canadian SPF volumes — and how new capital investment is reshaping mill operations and future capacity.
Southern Yellow Pine in Global Markets: Trends, Trade & Opportunities
Take a data-driven look at how Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) is evolving to meet shifting demand and how the Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA) is helping expand its footprint through market development and trade initiatives. Presented by SFPA’s Executive Director Eric Gee, this session will examine U.S. production trends, mill investments in automation and grading, and how these advancements support export growth. You will gain insights into leading export regions, along with product mixes and buyer expectations for quality, moisture control, and sustainability. Whether you focus on truss manufacturing, engineered systems, or market strategy, you will leave with a clear understanding of how SYP is growing its presence in a competitive marketplace.
Analyzing Trends in the 2025 MSR Production Survey
Since the MSR Lumber Producers Council (MSRLPC) began tracking data in 1994, the annual MSR Production Survey has become a valuable tool for both monitoring the progress of the industry in North America and promoting the use of MSR lumber worldwide. Join FEA’s Crystal Gauvin for a deep dive into the results of the Council’s most recent survey.
North American Macro, Housing & Lumber Markets: Where Do We Go From Here?
FEA’s Crystal Gauvin will help you gain a clear understanding of the U.S. economic outlook and its impact on the wood products industry. She will provide answers to questions about where the U.S. economy is headed and how residential construction markers will fare, so that you can better anticipate the effects of inflation, interest rate fluctuations, and housing market trends. In addition, Crystal will explore the future of lumber production in Canada and how timber supply constraints across North America could impact lumber markets in the year ahead.
Understanding the Role of ALSC in the Forest Products Industry
Join American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) President, David Kretschmann, for a brief history of the ALSC and its role in the forest products industry. He will explain the organization’s governance structure and the programs it accredits, tell you about other activities in which ALSC is involved, and answer any questions you might have along the way.
Workshop Roundtable: The Final Countdown
Join another lively discussion on the Workshop’s most important topics! Led by industry veteran Dan Uskoski of Metriguard Technologies, this roundtable is a great way to revisit the valuable content from other sessions or ask the questions you didn’t get a chance to ask. (Feeling shy? Get your question to Dan to ask anonymously — he’ll ask anything!) Then depart the Workshop with a plan to integrate everything you learned into your business plans.
It goes without saying, these aren’t generic presentations. They’re practical, technical, and led by experts who shape the MSR industry. Whether you’re responsible for design decisions, purchasing strategies, estimating, or plant operations, these sessions deliver the kind of information that helps you work smarter.
“If you are new to the industry, the Workshop is a great place to learn,” says Hunter LeCaire from Wildwood Trading Group. “I learned something from every session and got a good foundation in a number of areas, especially about how MSR lumber is being used by component manufacturers.” Join us April 29–May 1 in Orange Beach — your MSR strategy will be stronger for it! Learn more and register at msrlumber.org/workshop.