Mr. Ron Rathfon serves as Purdue University’s extension forester in southwest Indiana. His office is located at the Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center (SIPAC) in Dubois County. His time is split between conducting applied forestry research and forestry outreach (extension) activities directed to private landowners, professional foresters and other natural resource professionals, youth groups, educators, and the public. In addition, he manages over 600 acres of departmental forest at SIPAC where much of his research is conducted.

He has a Master of Science (MS 1990) in Forestry from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a Bachelor of Science (BS 1987) in Forest Management from University of Idaho, and an Associate of Science (AS 1984) in Forest Technology from The Pennsylvania State University. He has served as a Purdue extension forester since 1992.