What better way to honor National Forest Products Week in the U.S. (this week) than to do it celebrating the forest products that excite you the most. And for me, that go-to is mass timber.

There’s something special about seeing a mass timber structure in person, especially when its architects set out to create a piece of art that does more than stand tall. Who among us doesn’t love a building that tells a story, inspires wonder, and connects us to the natural beauty and possibilities of wood?

My business partners (Craig and Tom) and I have a tradition of visiting mass timber buildings whenever our travels allow and wherever we might find ourselves on this beautiful planet. I had the pleasure of continuing that custom with my wife Debbie just the other day on a trip through North Dakota.

We made a point to route through Medora to see the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. And wow, and I do mean wow. This wasn’t just any building tour… it was truly an experience. The legacy it honors is remarkable, and the structure itself is spectacular. I left feeling inspired by this historic leader — creator of the U.S. Forest Service, among so many other achievements — and incredibly proud of the many forest industry and International Mass Timber Conference partners whose work helped bring this project to life.