Press Releases

2025

• Press Release: AWFS®Fair 2027 to Debut Three-Day Schedule – Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers®
• AWFS® Honored by Vital Link for Advancing Workforce Development and Industry-Education Connections
• Finalists Announced for 2025 Visionary New Product Awards
• AWFS®Fair Education Programs
• AWFS® brings together Industry and Education with hands-on workshop for educators and students
• AWFS® Supports SkillsUSA CA by connecting industry and education

2024

• AWFS® and AWFS®Fair Introduce AWFS® C.A.R.E.S
• AWFS® Advocates for Woodworking Industry in Successful Washington DC Fly-in Trip
• AWFS® Announces new Board of Directors for 2024-2025 Term
• AWFS® Donates Safety Goggles to Bienstock Furniture Library Furniture Designers Summit
• AWFS®Fair 2025 Tool Tour Logo Reveal
• The Start of SkillsUSA 2024: Introductory to Woodworking (California Region)

2023

• AWFS Fair Live Show Floor Stage Schedule
• 2023 Fresh Wood Student Competition Finalists Selected
• AWFS Fair 2023 Seminar Program Registration Now Open
• AWFS^®Fair 2023 Visionary Awards Call for Entries
• Congratulations to SkillsUSA CA State Woodworking Contest Medalists
• SWM Sponsors CNC Training Event for Educators
• Introducing the AWFS^®Fair Tool Tour Maverick Award

2022

• AWFS^® Announces New Edition of Fresh Wood Book
• Fresh Wood 2023 Call for Entries Now Open
• AWFS^®Fair 2023 CWWK Call for Proposals Now Open
• Female Students Sweep Gold Medals in SkillsUSA California Woodworking Contests
• AWFS^® Welcomes Five New Board Members and Installs Rob Howell from WSI Machinery, as AWFS^® President
• AWFS^® to Offer Economic Update Webinars with Dr. Chris Kuehl

2021

• Industry Guests “Takeover” A School Wood Program for MFG Day
• AWFS^®Fair 2021 Student Competition Winners
• AWFS^®Fair Visionary Winners2021
• AWFS^®Fair Live Events2021
• AWFS^®Fair Reveals Its 2021 Inaugural Tool Tour Commemorative T-shirt
• AWFS^®Fair Visionary Finalists Announced
• AWFS-WCA-2021-Silent-Auction
• Industry Economist to Speak at AWFS^®Fair
• AWFS^® Announces 2021 Fresh Wood Judges
• Industry Associations Partner to Produce Career Awareness Video
• AWFS^® Fair Live and In-Person July 2021
• AWFS^® Fair seeks judges for Visionary New Product Awards
• SkillsUSA California Woodworking Students Compete Remotely
• AWFS^® Fair Announces the Great Closets Challenge
• AWFS^® Fair Opens CWWK: Focus on Workforce and Technology
• AWFS^® Concludes First Virtual DC Fly-in: Submits Nomination for National Apprenticeship Committee
• AWFS^® Announces Call for Entries for Visionary Showcase and Awards
• AWFS^® Announces Inaugural Tool Tour for AWFS^®Fair 2021
• AWFS Supports National Apprenticeship Act of 2021
• Wood Industry Career Awareness Campaign Now Live
• AWFS^®Fair Announces Opening of Registration & Housing for July 2021 Show

2020

• AWFS®Fair Education Program:  Submit Speaking Proposals Now
• Industry Rallies to Support Woodworking Teachers and Students During Pandemic
• AWFS® Chapter Produces Video for MFG Day; Hosts Live Q&A sessions
• AWFS® Hosts 2021 Fresh Wood Student Competition; Call for Entries Now Open
• Design It Digital 2020 Competition Award Winners Announced
• AWFS Fair Welcomes Safety Exhibitors to Show Floor
• AWFS Launches Job Board
• AWFS Announces New Board Members; Executive Committee
• Woodworking Students Compete in SkillsUSA CA Contests
• “Design it Digital” to highlight CAD in Woodworking – Call for Entries

2019

• AWFS Supports Career Counseling Legislation
• Students Win Honors and Prizes in 2019 AWFS Fair Student Competition
• Visionary New Products Award Winners at AWFS Fair 2019
• Special Guests at AWFS Fair 2019
• AWFS Fair Auction Supports WCA Workforce Development
• Finalists Announced for 2019 Visionary New Product Awards
• AWFS®Fair Welcomes the USO Las Vegas
• New “AWFS Fair Live” Features Learning and Connection
• AWFS Announces 2019 Fresh Wood Judges
• Woodworking Industry Supports SkillsUSA California
• AWFS®Fair College of Woodworking Knowledge Opens
• AWFS® Seeks Judges for “Visionary” New Product Entries
• AWFS®Fair Calls for Visionary New Product Award Entries
• AWFS® Backs PARTNERS Act

2018

• AWFS® Participates in U.S.-China CTE Summit
• Fresh Wood 2019 Student Competition Call for Entries Now Open
• Wood Industry Resource Collaborative to Spark Workforce Growth
• AWFS Announces Design It Digital Student Competition Winners at IWF
• Woodworking Industry Supports SkillsUSA California Contests
• Submit Proposals Now for the 2019 AWFS Fair Education Program

2017

• AWFS Announces New Online Student Competition
• AWFS Member Companies Participating in MFG Day 2017
• New “Make & Take” Booth Supported by AWFS Fair 2017 Exhibitors
• 2017 AWFS®Fair Experiences 17% Growth in Attendance
• Visionary New Product Awards: 12 Winners Announced at AWFS Fair 2017
• Fresh Wood Students Receive Awards at AWFS Fair Awards Ceremony
• Finalists Announced for 2017 Visionary New Product Awards
• AWFS Seeks Additional Judges for Visionary New Product Entrees
• Woodwork Career Alliance to Highlight Workforce Development in Vegas
• CMA to Host Activities During AWFS Fair 2017
• Carla Aguiar Joins AWFS® Board of Directors
• 2017 Fresh Wood Student Competition Gets Second Highest Number of Entries Yet
• AWFS®Fair Education Program Opens: New Tracks and Topics Addressed
• AWFS®Fair Introduces Features to Highlight Educational Programs
• Woodworking Industry Rallies to Support SkillsUSA California Contests
• WEIMA and AWFS® Announce the Return of “Destroy Responsibly™”
• Industry 4.0 Product and Technology Showcase to Debut at 2017 AWFS®Fair
• Call for Visionary New Product Award Entries
• AWFS® Announces 2017 Fresh Wood Best of Show Trophy Maker
• Film and Television Legend John Ratzenberger to Keynote AWFS®Fair
• AWFS®Fair Announces Closets and Organized Storage Pavilion, Co-Sponsored by Closets & Organized Storage Magazine
• AWFS^®Fair to Feature Plastics and Plastic Fabrication at the 2017 Fair
• AWFS® Announces Opening of Attendee Registration and Hotel Room Availability for 2017 AWFS®Fair
• 2017 Fresh Wood Student Competitions Call for Entries (August 2016, PDF)

2016

• Let your company shine on MFGDay!
• Meet your Next-Gen Employee: Middle-Schoolers!
• SkillsUSA California Woodworking Contests Garner Industry Support
• New Member Board Release
  

2015

• RIKON Power Tools Supports Woodworking Education at the AWFS^®Fair With Over $16,000 in Tool Donations
• Software Powers Up on The STAGE at AWFS Fair
• Two New Members Added to AWFS Board of Directors
• AWFS Announces New Look for Fresh Wood Trophy
• AWFS Members Support SkillsUSA Students
• “Tanked” Stars to be Featured at 2015 AWFS®Fair
• AWFS® Fair Education Program Opens: Get the Knowledge You Need
• WEIMA Returning as Official Recycling Partner of AWFS Fair 2015
• AWFS® Seeks Judges for “Visionary” New Product Entrees 
• Calls for New Product Awards Entrees
• Furniture Icon John Bassett, III to Speak at AWFS Fair
• Plastics Program Logo
• Fresh Wood Student Competition Judging Panel

2014

• New Student Woodturning Competition Featured at 2015 AWFS Fair
• Fresh Wood Competition Features New Categories; Woodcraft Donation Program
• AWFS Embarks on “Meet the New Face of Manufacturing” Campaign
• AWFS Fair to Highlight Plastics at the 2015 Event
  
• SkillsUSA California Woodworking Contests Well-Supported by Industry
• AWFS Calls for Proposals for 2015 Education Program
• AWFS and Cabinetmaker+FDM joint scholarship for WCA
• AWFS Releases Source Guide Directory
• Laguna Tools – AWFS Wounded Veterans Giveaway
• Woodcraft project raises over $6,000 for Fresh Wood

2013

• AWFS Mourns the Passing of Bruce Valentine
• AWFS Fair 2013 Shows Growth in Attendance and Exhibitor Participation
• Seven Companies Given 2013 AWFS Fair Visionary Awards
• Fresh Wood Student Competion Winners 2013
• AWFS Installs New Board at Woodworking Industry Conference (WIC)
• Companies Contribute over $4,000 to Successful SkillsUSA California Woodworking Contests
• AWFS Renames New Products Award
• Fresh Wood Student Woodworking Competition 2013 Judging Panel Taps Experts in  Production, Fine Furniture and Design
• AWFS Fair Education Program Opens
• AWFS to Offer Early Morning Technical Sessions (SMART Sessions)
• Well-Known Craftsmen Share Knowledge at AWFS Fair
• AWFS Fair to Offer Three Free Seminars

2012

• Fresh Wood Judge Panel Announced
• Fresh Wood Student Woodworking Competition 2013 Call for Entries
• AWFS Education Director Named Industry Person of the Year
• Woodcraft Launches Fresh Wood Donation Program
• AWFS Members Contribute to Successful SkillsUSA California State Conference
• AWFS Fair Unveils New Floor Plan for 2013, Announces Exhibitor Space Draw Deadline

2011

• AWFS Fair 2011 Post Show Release – Attendance Quality Up
• AWFS Fair OSHA and SBA at show Apr 2011
• AWFS Fair CWWK Handcrafted Furniture track March 2011
• AWFS Fair CWWK Business Mgmt Track Mar 2011
• AWFS Fair CWWK Ed Program Feb 2011
• AWFS Fair Buzz Feb 2011
• AWFS Fair Industry to Reunite Jan 2011
• AWFS Fair Fresh Wood Competition Judges Jan 2011

2010

• AWFS Fair CWWK Small Shops Track Nov 2010
• AWFS Fair Fresh Wood Student Competition Aug 2010
• AWFSFair.org Website Aug 2010
• AWFS Fair 2011 Fact Sheet Aug 2010