Lumberjacks Welcome Visitors to Woodruff

No matter how good a log roller is, he or she will end up in the water eventually. It’s a cold swim before those first few shows of the season.

WOODRUFF - Weeks before the official start of summer, Scheer’s Lumberjack Shows begins preparing for the upcoming season. 2023 will mark the 42nd year that Fred Scheer’s Lumberjack Shows have been entertaining area visitors on Woodland Lake in downtown Woodruff.

A spin-off of the famous Scheer’s Lumberjack Shows that began in Hayward, the Woodruff show features the same world-class athletes in a performance that is identical in entertaining value to the Hayward venue. Preparing the site for the summer performances involves maintenance to guarantee the safety of performers, as well as guests. The climbing poles that rise 60 to 90 feet into the air are inspected and the pads are secured in place.

“When you are climbing that pole at record speed, the last thing you want on your mind is its stability,” says Cassidy Scheer, world champion pole climber.

The log dogs on which the lumberjacks stand and swing razor sharp axes in the event called the underhand chop are checked for structural safety. The specially turned cedar logs used for the logrolling and boom-run events are pulled out of storage and replaced if necessary.

The gear and equipment used by the lumberjacks are also checked for safety. Steel-toed boots, leather leg chaps, climbing belts and gaffs (the spikes on the side of a climber’s shoes) must be in tip- top shape to protect the performers. They inspect and repair the special leather guards that are placed over a portion of saw blades to protect children as they cross-cut saw with the lumberjacks during the kids matinees.

In addition to the lumberjack gear, the show site is prepared for the throng of summer guests who arrive with the warm weather. Bleachers, walkways and the handicap ramp are checked and the landscaping is refreshed.

How about all the logs the lumberjacks saw and chop? Over 20 tons of aspen logs are hauled to the site throughout the summer. Logs need to be uniform in diameter and stripped of bark – the same guidelines adhered to in the Lumberjack World Championships.

The season starts Memorial Day weekend and runs through Labor Day weekend. The Lumberjacks are eager to entertain and display the athleticism they’ve worked hard to keep tuned during the winter months.

With everything checked out, cleaned up, and the staff eager to get another season underway, there is one element of the shows that cannot be controlled. That is the temperature of the water in Woodland Lake or Lake Hayward. Plan your trip to Sheer’s Lumberjack Show! For more information about Sheer’s Lumberjack shows go to sheerslumberjackshow.com.