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Vol. 44, No. 3
(Founded in 1972—Our 510th Consecutive Issue)
F E AT U R E S
MARCH 2015 A Hatton-Brown Publication
Phone: 334-834-1170 Fax: 334-834-4525 www.southernloggintimes.com
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Forrest Logging, LLC Tight Knit Family
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Chad Nimmer Forester, Businessman, Legislator
Co-Publisher Co-Publisher Chief Operating Officer Executive Editor Editor-in-Chief Western Editor Managing Editor Associate Editor Associate Editor Production Manager Ad Production Coordinator Circulation Director
David H. Ramsey David (DK) Knight Dianne C. Sullivan David (DK) Knight Rich Donnell Dan Shell David Abbott Jessica Johnson Jay Donnell Cindy Segrest Patti Campbell Rhonda Thomas
ADVERTISING CONTACTS DISPLAY SALES
out front:
Eastern U.S.
Tennessee’s Master Logger of the Year for 2014, Wade Norris continues to build on his already strong reputation. Story begins on PAGE 8. (Jay Donnell photo)
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Historic Series Appalachian Logging 1880-1920
Kathy Sternenberg Tel: 251-928-4962 • Fax: 334-834-4525 219 Royal Lane Fairhope, AL 36532 E-mail: ksternenberg@bellsouth.net Midwest USA, Eastern Canada John Simmons Tel: 905-666-0258 • Fax: 905-666-0778 32 Foster Cres. Whitby, Ontario, Canada L1R 1W1 E-mail: jsimmons@idirect.com Western Canada, Western USA
D E PA RT M E N T S Southern Stumpin’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Industry News Roundup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Machines-Supplies-Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 At The Margins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 IronWorks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Safety Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Coming Events/Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Tim Shaddick Tel: 604-910-1826 • Fax: 604-264-1367 4056 West 10th Ave. Vancouver, BC V6L 1Z1 E-mail: tootall1@shaw.ca International Murray Brett Tel: +34 96 640 4165 Fax: +34 96 640 4022 Aldea de las Cuevas 66 Buzon 60 • 03759 Benidoleig (Alicante), Spain E-mail: murray.brett@abasol.net CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
Bridget DeVane
Tel: 1-800-669-5613 • Tel 334-699-7837 Email: bdevane7@hotmail.com
Southern Loggin’ Times (ISSN 0744-2106) is published monthly by Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc., 225 Hanrick St., Montgomery, AL 36104. Subscription Information—SLT is sent free to logging, pulpwood and chipping contractors and their supervisors; managers and supervisors of corporate-owned harvesting operations; wood suppliers; timber buyers; wood procurement and land management officials; industrial forestry purchasing agents; wholesale and retail forest equipment representatives and forest/logging association personnel in the U.S. South. See form elsewhere in this issue. All nonqualified U.S. subscriptions are $65 annually; $75 in Canada; $120 (Airmail) in all other countries (U.S. funds). Single copies, $5 each; special issues, $20 (U.S. funds). Subscription Inquiries—TOLLFREE 800-669-5613; Fax 888-611-4525. Go to www.southernloggintimes.com and click on the subscribe button to subscribe/renew via the web. All advertisements for Southern Loggin’ Times magazine are accepted and published by Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. with the understanding that the advertiser and/or advertising agency are authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The advertiser and/or advertising agency will defend, indemnify and hold Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. harmless from and against any loss, expenses, or other liability resulting from any claims or lawsuits for libel violations or right of privacy or publicity, plagiarism, copyright or trademark infringement and any other claims or lawsuits that may arise out of publication of such advertisement. Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. neither endorses nor makes any representation or guarantee as to the quality of goods and services advertised in Southern Loggin’ Times. Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to reject any advertisement which it deems inappropriate. Copyright ® 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Ala. and at additional mailing offices.Printed In USA.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:Southern Loggin’ Times, P.O. Box 5613, Montgomery, AL 36103-5613 Member Verified Audit Circulation
Other Hatton-Brown publications: ★ Timber Processing ★ Timber Harvesting ★Panel World ★ Power Equipment Trade ★ Wood Bioenergy
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SOUTHERN STUMPIN’ By DK Knight • Executive Editor • Ph. 334-834-1170 • Fax: 334-834-4525 • E-mail: dk@hattonbrown.com
“They Can Carve Anything” hose attending the fourth InWoodsExpo (IWE) June 18-20 near Hot Springs, Ark. will have an opportunity to observe world class chain saw sculptor artists at work and to purchase some of their splendid carvings or place an order. Artistry In Wood, a highly acclaimed family team that performs at various events and competitions in North America and Europe, will be the first chain saw wood carving artists to perform at the live forestry equipment venue. The team will amaze the crowd in turning out impressive replicas of wildlife, including eagles, bears, fish, raccoons, deer, turkeys, etc. The intricate work of Dayton Scoggins and his son, Kenny, is not limited to wildlife, according to Michelle Scoggins, their wife and mother and the third member of the standout team. “They can carve anything!” she declares, “whatever the customer may have in mind.” ‘Stump Conversions’ are one of their specialties. “These trees are still in the ground and have been cut to the owners’ desired height; we come in and turn them into beautiful sculpture,” Michelle explains. One example of this is found along U.S. highway 90 on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where Dayton turned numerous live oak stumps and snags left by Hurricane Katrina into masterpieces. The organization also does log home interior work such as columns, mantels and stairs; and creates custom furniture such as benches, beds, chairs, and coffee and end tables. Dayton is recognized internationally as a master chain saw sculptor artist, competing and placing in worldwide events. His took first place at the World Cup Championship in Mulda, Germany in 2013. Carving for 10 years, Kenny is regarded as an exceptional artist in his own right. They are on the six-member USA Speedcarving Team, which will compete against a German team at the Huskycup in Mulda, Germany this spring. “Growing up in a rural area surrounded by nature and beauty, I feel I have been blessed with a talent, and it feels really nice when my work touches people,” says Dayton. “I have realized that in my work the end result is the art, and it is for the people, while the process itself is my art and gives me a great feeling of contentment.” Formed in 2002, Artistry In Wood is based in Sandersville, Miss. Visit artistryinwood.com, 601-3429830. Larry Boccarossa, IWE Manager, points out that bringing Artistry In Wood to the show is another effort by sponsors to attract a larger crowd and to help make it more family-friendly. “In addition to Artistry In Wood we’ll also feature special activities for children, and are working to secure a sponsor so we can bring back the popular DLW Timberworks Lumberjack Show from Wisconsin,” he says. Boccarossa also notes that many choice exhibit sites are still available, as are sponsorship opportunities. Advanced registration is now open for the event. For more details and to register visit www.arkloggers.com/ expo. To exhibit contact Kathy Sternenberg: ksternen SLT berg@bellsouth.net, 251-929-4962.
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Some examples of the talent of Dayton and Kenny include a bald eagle, left, and a stump conversion, right. Kenny took the English Open with this impressive group of otters, above. The Artistry In Wood family below, from left: Leclair (the dog); Kenny with his son Landon; Kacie, his wife; Michelle; and Dayton. Izabelle, Kenny’s daughter is not shown.
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Stepping Up ■ Wade Norris continues to build a strong reputation in west Tennessee. By Jay Donnell JACKSON, Tenn. or 22 years ★ Wade Norris Logging LLC has been making a name for itself in west Tennessee because of its professional work and a core group of dedicated employees. Tennessee Forestry Assn. (TFA) recognized the company’s diligence and skills by naming Wade Norris the 2014 Tennessee Master Logger of the Year. Norris’s hands on approach correlates with his company’s continued growth and success. From the way he treats his employees to the way he treats
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his customers, Norris is everything you could want in a boss and a business partner.
Land Management The company can harvest 60 loads a week on hilly terrain in the winter, but they produce up to 100 loads in the summer when they’re working on mostly flat land. “I prefer the flat, bottomland because it’s easier on equipment and it burns less fuel,” Norris says. “The yield per acre is about twice as much and trees are bigger. We love working in the bottom.” But Norris cautions that while a bottom can be your best friend, it can
also turn into your worst nightmare. “If you get it too early, you’re going to make tracks in it,” he says. “It’s going to fill up with rain and you’ve got a nightmare. You have to wait until your bottom gets good and dry.” They usually start working bottomland in late June and continue toward the end of October. “We’ll probably do more in those months than we do the rest of the year,” Norris says. When Southern Loggin’ Times visited early this year, they were harvesting a marked select-cut 81-acre tract. They had been on the tract for a week and a half and expected to be on it for another week. The tract was primarily a quality hardwood sale
heavy to poplar and white oak. Unlike last year, January was a good month for logging weather. “January for the west Tennessee logger has been really good,” Norris says. “In recent years we’ve only been out in the woods maybe five days in January.” The majority of Norris’s tracts are purchased from private landowners with the remainder sealed bids. Average tract size is 50 acres, but they’ve worked 200 acres. Most of the landowners who contact Norris request a conservative, improvement-type timber harvest where mature trees are removed, but great care is also given to select low value, dying and diseased trees too. Although most of his
All staff timber cutters are trained with the "hinge cutting technique" by a certified representative from Forestry Mutual Insurance Company.
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landowner clients do not seek a larger stand clear-cut harvest, Norris supports this technique, especially with pine, and as a tool for regenerating poor quality stands. When evaluating a tract of timber, Norris often advises that the landowner postpones a timber sale if the timber is healthy and still a good investment. One of the reasons Norris has done so well with private landowners is because of his ability to merchandise the wood. Last year, Wade Norris Logging hauled to roughly 20 different mills. “We probably have over 50% repeat business because of that,” explains Wade’s nephew and business manager, Drew Shaub. Norris hauls to a number of mills in Tennessee including C&M Sawmill, Greg’s Sawmill and Tony Hooper Sawmill in Toone, Shomaker Lumber in McKenzie, Hanafee Brothers and Storey Sawmill in Troy, Middleton Lumber in Puryear, Hooper Hardwoods in Brownsville, Rose’s Sawmill in Savannah, White Oak Stave Mill in Medon, Brown Foreman Cooperage in Clifton, Graham Lumber in Selmer, Packaging Corp. of America in Counce, American Woodland Trading in Somerville, Hood Container in Waverly, Out of the Woods Sawmill and Johnson Sawmill in Jackson, Howell and Sons in Bolivar and Verso Corp. in Wickliffe, Ky. Another reason for the success of the company is the vast amounts of big hardwoods in west Tennessee. Purchasing their own timber also helps. “Big hardwoods have been bringing in good money the last few years,” Norris says. “We log for other people maybe 10% of the time but when you’re cutting your own timber you’re going to make more money.” Norris winning TFA’s Master Logger of the Year award has helped build the company’s reputation even more. “That gives us a lot of word of mouth advertising because it shows people that you do a good job,” Shaub says. “Wade has worked so hard to keep a good reputation by doing good work, and it’s definitely a reputation-based business, especially when you’re mainly dealing with private landowners.” While prices have recovered nicely since the recession, Norris knows that things can change very quickly. “I’m not as concerned about white oak going down because the stave market is so good and everything we’ve been reading says that the stave market’s going to be good for several years,” Norris explains. “What can hurt us now is the red oak pricing because it seems to be weakening and we have more red oak in this area than we do white oak.” On a typical job, the loader operator sorts cherry, walnut, white oak,
Wade Norris Logging recently purchased a 2014 John Deere 648H grapple skidder.
Wade Norris enjoys being able to work with his nephew, Andrew Shaub.
A 2012 437 John Deere knuckleboom loader gets the job done for Wade Norris Logging.
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red oak, poplar, hickory (when it’s bringing in enough), while gum, sycamore, elm and beech fall into the mixed wood category. In order to develop an effective harvest plan Norris carefully evaluates both the forest site and forest stand condition. When possible, he uses existing roadways. If road construction is necessary, he installs them on the ridges. Norris looks for alternative routes rather than crossing creeks or waterways, but if it’s unavoidable, all effort is made to create crossings that prevent soil and debris from getting into the water. This includes a crossing at right angles, using culverts, and avoiding steep approaches. “We use maps to make a plan with the skidder drivers so they know where to stay on the ridges and where to drag the wood to,” Norris explains. “At the end of the job we write all that down, draw a map and put it in the certification file; we’re checked on that.” When closing a tract, Norris knows that proper closure is extremely important. The post-harvest cleanup includes smoothing loading areas and skid trails. Norris uses a 700 J John Deere dozer to make water diversions to prevent erosion and checks to ensure that no treetops have fallen across boundaries. Crossings are cleaned out and they put wheat straw down and sow the areas close to the crossing to get the grass back right. On the job Southern Loggin’ Times visited, they had one major crossing. “Once we get done we pull the wood products out and put the wheat straw in and sow it,” Norris explains. “Dad puts the water diversions on it.” The company is checked on every single job it does. They call the area forester in the area and they grade the job. Norris then records that grade in the company’s certification folder.
Operations Employees usually arrive on site at 6:30 a.m. and leave at 4:30 p.m. The business employs 14, including owners Wade and Tammy Norris,
The majority of Norris's tracts are purchased from private landowners.
From left, David LittleJohn, Drew Shaub, Christopher Golden, Pedro Castro, Cirenio Garcia, Benjamin Norris, Joel Aleman, Wade Norris, Calvin Norris and Christopher Hosea
supported by business manager Drew Shaub. Equipment operators are Calvin Norris (Wade’s father), Christopher Hosea, Benjamin Norris (Wade’s uncle), Joel Aleman and Christopher Golden. Timber cutters are Teodoro Garcia, Pedro Castro and Cirenio Garcia. Truck drivers are Larry Adkisson, David LittleJohn and Greg Rainey. A strong core of employees has bene-
The business owns three International trucks and one Kenworth.
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fited the business greatly. “One good thing about the core is that you can take someone who doesn’t have a ton of logging experience and the core guys can help train them and let them slowly get adjusted to Wade’s style of logging.” Shaub explains. The company offers a retirement plan to all employees, matching contributed funds.
During 22 years of business, there have been no severe safety accidents. Safety equipment used on the job site includes hardhats, chaps, ear and eye protection and boots. Employees are First Aid and CPR trained and they attend monthly safety meetings. As noted in the nomination form for Norris’s TFA honor, timber cutters have been trained with the
The company maintains an impressive shop in Jackson.
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hinge cutting technique by a certified representative from Forestry Mutual Insurance. This safety technique eliminates kickback. The company runs mostly John Deere equipment, including 2008 and 2010 548G grapple skidders, 2011, 2012 and 2014 648H grapple skidders, and a 1982 518 Caterpillar cable skidder. They run a 2004 384 Prentice knuckleboom loader, 2012 437 John Deere knuckleboom loader, and a 2010 930H Cat wheel loader. Husqvarna and Stihl chain saws are used for felling and trimming.
The business owns three International trucks—’07 9400, ’07 9900i and ’09 9900i, and a 2006 Kenworth T800. A 2005 5500 Chevrolet service truck supports the job. They also have a 700 J John Deere Dozer, 2010 843 John Deere feller-buncher, 200 DLC John Deere excavator and 586-E Case forklift. The company purchased their new John Deere skidder and two of the International trucks in 2014. One reason they bought the skidder was because they were thinking about buying a new one in 2016,
but with the tier 4f emissions requirement they figured the prices will shoot higher. Stribling Equipment (Deere) and Thompson Machinery (Caterpillar) both have locations in Jackson, and Norris has enjoyed working with both companies. “Since I focus on select-cutting, it’s better for me to operate smaller skidders,” Norris says. “Donnie Kirk and Ashley Culpepper of Stribling Equipment have been good to work with.” The addition of the trucks means Norris Logging will self-haul 75%
of their loads, compared to 25% beforehand. They run Pitts and Savannah Machine Shop trailers. While owning trucks can be a headache at times, Norris likes the convenience and reliability of having his own. They run General Tire on their trucks and Goodyear on the skidders. Most maintenance is done at the company’s well-stocked and wellventilated shop. The company spends about 20% of its total revenue on repairs, parts and fuels. There is a designated two-week period every winter for special maintenance. Since Norris is a certified master logger, everything they do to a piece of machinery has to be noted and kept in a file. “If we put a water pump on a skidder it’s recorded and it goes in our certification file,” Norris explains. “You’re not going to find any leaking equipment on our job.”
Ahead One of the reasons Wade Norris Logging has been so successful is because Norris is very hands-on with his crew. He has thought about expanding to two crews, but he doesn’t think he would see enough difference in production to offset the additional overhead. “If Wade had to split time between two crews then quality might be affected.” Shaub says. “Right now we try spend our time trying to find good wood and making sure we do a good cleanup job.” The best thing going for the company is its solid reputation and relationships with landowners. “A lot of landowners are surprised by the profits we get.” Norris says. “They’re all satisfied and going forward I just want to keep doing good quality work.” Norris, 45, has been a member of TFA for most of his logging career and he is a certified master logger in Tennessee and Kentucky. His wife (and company co-owner) Tammy has been a key part of the business and has had an active role since the company was formed. Norris donates yearly to the Log A Load for Kids campaign while also supporting March of Dimes and other noteworthy causes. He also sponsors a Little League baseball team. Wade and Tammy are actively involved in West Jackson Baptist Church. One of Norris’s biggest passions, besides logging, is running. He has run numerous marathons, including the Boston Marathon twice as well as marathons in New York City, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Jackson and Little SLT Rock. 12
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True Family Affair ■ Vietnam vet sees success as longest contractor for Potlatch in southeast Arkansas.
Forrest Logging uses two loaders to maximize production: one to merchandize logs and one to load trucks.
By Jessica Johnson MONTICELLO, Ark. .H. Forrest, 65, is a tough man. The Vietnam vet does not mess ★ around when it comes to his business, and because of that he’s seen success throughout a 30-year career in the logging woods. Forrest started out with just one small crew, a single skidder, a single truck and a chain saw, and over time, as the industry changed, it grew to three crews. In that time, he’s been able to give three of his
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younger brothers, as well as his two daughters, jobs—making Forrest Logging LLC a true family business. A true family business would not be complete if not for a little family lore, and Forrest Logging is no exception. According to Forrest, his daughter ran one of the loaders for about six or eight months and was very good at it. “She says I fired her, but I don’t remember that. She’s sticking to her story though,” he says with a big laugh. While his daughter has hung up her boots, she still helps her sister and mother run the paperwork side of the business, something Forrest
D.H. Forrest
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is thankful for. “I’m what you might call semi-retired,” he says. A heart attack a few years ago has sidelined him and he enjoys being able to sit back every now and then. A needed break for the man who admits that if it wasn’t for his brothers and daughter, he would quit. “It’s not as fun as it used to be. I’m getting old, I’ve got so much stuff I can’t take care of it,” he explains. “I like outside. I tried to quit logging, but I never was satisfied. I always come back to it. It’s amazing how logging has changed,” the grandfather of nine says about his life’s work.
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Industry Changes Forrest has been in logging since 1972, between working on a crew and running his own, which means he’s seen a lot of changes. For example, Forrest says that the feller-buncher was the machine that changed logging forever, in the biggest, and best, way possible: it got guys off the ground. He shares that before Forrest Logging was mechanized, they had an accident. A saw hand was cutting in a dense thicket, where he wasn’t supposed to be, and got crushed by a skidder. “That day was the day Forrest Logging became fully mechanized. That was the last day we ever did any sawing,” he says somberly. “It was time to change.” Now Forrest takes safety very seriously, and conducts monthly safety meetings. Merchant and Planters in Warren, Ark. underwrites Forrest Logging’s workers’ comp insurance. One change he expects to see in the coming years is a slower pace due to the shrinking timber size and larger number of separations. For example, Forrest Logging has an average of about four separations, but it can be as many as seven. However, there is a constant the logger says spans his career: hard work. “Prepare to work long hours—I worked lots of all nights. You’ve got to hustle.”
Contract Cutting Forrest is one of the longest standing contract cutters for Potlatch Corp. in southeast Arkansas. He says he’s cut for other companies, but he consistently has kept a crew on Potlatch land since nearly the beginning of his own company in 1993. When asked why he hasn’t ventured into buying his own timber before, Forrest cites the stiff competition in his area for purchased tracts and the volume of timber his operation needs to stay afloat. Potlatch usually keeps the crews on clear-cuts of varying size from
Forrest calls the feller-buncher the machine that forever changed logging.
40 acres to 220. Timber is usually mixed, but mostly pine plantations. “Sometimes we will go into hardwood, but we really do whatever it takes, whatever they want,” Forrest says.
Potlatch markets all the wood, Forrest just has to make sure it gets hauled. His primary mills are GP at Crossett, Ark., Anthony Timberlands in Bearden, Ark., IP at Pine Bluff, Ark. and GP at Gurdon, Ark.
Iron Registry Forrest Logging runs a mix of both Tigercat and John Deere equipment, purchased from Midsouth Forestry Equipment in War-
Forrest contracts for Potlatch Corp. and usually finds himself on pine plantations.
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Forrest family, from left, D.H., Dianne, Jennifer Arrington, Rhonda Young, Jessica Jackson
From left, Steven Carrington, Diana Boykin, D.H. Forrest, Alvin Angle, Gary Forrest, Billy Carrington
ren, Ark. and Stribling Equipment in Monticello, Ark. respectively. Forrest likes both John Deere and Tigercat, but might give a slight edge to John Deere because of parts availability and overall quicker service. His pieces are a mix of a couple new items and ones with some age. Cutters are all John Deere. Skidders are a mix of John Deere and Tigercat. Loaders are John Deere with CSI delimbers. Processors are Tigercat. “I had a brand new skidder and had some trouble with it,” Forrest
cut-to-length. I like them but they are very expensive to run. You can buy a pull through delimber for what it takes to fix a processer,” he explains. Two loaders ensure the skidders stay busy, Forrest says, which is critical to him. He likes each crew to keep between five and seven trucks running consistently with about 20 loads a day, depending on the timber. “Timber makes everybody look good or everybody look bad,” he says with a smile. J and H Garage and Body Shop
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explains, so he sold it. He’s leery of making another equipment purchase in the next few years of a brand new machine, saying, “I want to see what these skidders can do once they have 5,000 hours on them.” Forrest has each job set up to be the same size, with a feller-buncher, skidder and two loaders, one loader to load trucks and one loader with either a processor or a pull through delimber—though Forrest is eager to move away from the processors. “They are good for cut-to-length logging, but we’re not doing much
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pull routine maintenance every 500 hours on in-woods equipment, while operators grease machines daily. Forrest has a shop, but lets it sit on unused on his property, choosing to have J and H work on his pieces for convenience. O&M oil in Monticello provides oil products and grease.
Trucking Arm Forrest Logging runs 15 of it’s own trucks, all Peterbilts, mainly because the drivers like them. Trail-
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From left, Mike Raybon, Frederick Gilbert, Tony Forrest, Clark Ply, Lloyd Chambers, Alvino Costello
From left, Jason Russell, Dennis Dees, Wayne Gullett, Don Bostian, Robert Forrest
ers are Viking and Pitts. Two extra trucks are kept at Forrest’s house to be used in the event of breakdowns or high production. Forrest runs both SI and Vulcan scales, because in his experience, the trucks hold up better if you are cognizant of how much weight you are actually putting on the truck and trailer. He explains that they want to be right at the legal load size. In his experience, loading, and hauling, legal makes more money than riding light or packing on too many logs. Forrest has made the conscious decision not to use contract truckers, due to the lack of accountability, which means managing a full trucking fleet on his own in addition to the woods crews. He says, simply, “I just don’t like contract trucks.” It is a lot of headache for Forrest, but he says the company is blessed with some really good drivers, and lots of long-term employees. “We all get along good. I don’t ask them to do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Looking Ahead Forrest says simply what every logger usually already knows— logging is hard work and he doesn’t know what he’s going to do when he quits. “I’ve stuck with it because I like it. I talk about quitting, and it sounds good, but I got my job where I can go and do what I want. They really don’t like to see me coming, afraid I’m coming to make a change,” he says. But like many, Forrest doesn’t really have a succession plan in place. “I don’t have a son, so I don’t know what to do with it. My oldest daughter wants to run the job, and I think as long as my brothers are working, she’ll be okay,” he believes. He explains, “It’s second nature to us, we grew up in it,” before adding with a small laugh, “If she did run the job, it would be cleaner and neater than a man. We just SLT slop around.” 18
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More Than A Job ■ Pierce Timber forester Chad Nimmer runs logging crews and serves in public office.
The Pierce Timber Co. management team—Josh Cave, Carlos Thrift, Randy Dixon, Hugh Thompson, Brian Peacock, Loran Tuten, and Chad Nimmer—gather around a portrait of company founder H.M. (Mac) Thompson, Sr.
By David Abbott BLACKSHEAR, Ga. ometimes there is more to a job than meets the ★ eye. Folks in the timber business often wear more than one hat, and Chad Nimmer, 38, is certainly no exception. In fact, his hat rack must be running out of pegs. First and foremost, Nimmer is a procurement forester for wood dealer Pierce Timber Co., which supplies fiber to mills all over southeast Georgia and northeast Florida. That’s his day job, but it’s far from his only job. Like many of his fellow foresters at Pierce, Nimmer also owns a logging company—Suwanee Forest Products, which fields three crews. In partnership with Pierce colleague Josh Cave, he is also halfowner of a second logging company, JCL (Josh/Chad Logging). And he owns Southern Freight Trucking, an equipment moving operation. Timber, he says, is probably one of the most honorable professions out there. “I tell people it’s more than a job, it’s a career. I love to instill that in people.” Pierce has a long history of provid-
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ing opportunity for its employees to make such investments. Company President Hugh Thompson encourages his team in this direction, and has often partnered with employees to buy logging companies to meet the company’s supply contracts. Sometimes, the employee gradually buys out Thompson’s interest and becomes sole owner, as Nimmer has done. In practice, these employee-owned crews—11 of them—function as
company crews for Pierce. “One thing this company believes in is giving opportunity,” Nimmer says. “I think you can see that from the ownerships that have come from the leadership of Pierce timber. Hugh’s dad was that way, a man who believed in giving other people opportunities, and Hugh is the exact same way, and each of us hope to be the same way when the time comes.” The situation at Pierce Timber is
rare enough on its own, but perhaps the most unique of Nimmer’s roles involves trading work boots for a necktie. He serves as a member of Georgia’s General Assembly, representing the state’s 178th district in the House of Representatives. Yes, the forester and logging businessman is also a politician. “I’m not embarrassed of it, believe it or not,” he laughs. “In fact, I’m kind of proud of it.” ➤ 22
John Deere 748 skidders are a standard fixture on most Pierce company crews, including Nimmer’s Suwanee Forest Products.
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Politics s part of a larger
very diverse as a state. Atlanta is arguably the ber, which will run in a most important comfuture issue of companmercial city in the ion periodical Timber Southeast, east of Harvesting, Southern Texas. Row crop agriLoggin’ Times caught up culture and the forest with Nimmer for a conindustry lead the state versation about his side in revenue. job as a state legislator. SLT: What about SLT: How did you your role as a repreget into politics? sentative of the timber Chad Nimmer in the Georgia General Assembly Our former state rep industry? from Wayne County Being able to go was Mark Williams. In 2010, Governor Nathan there and speak specifically to the (needs of) the Deal tapped him to be commissioner for the Dept. timber industry, I hope, is a help to both the mills of Natural Resources. He accepted, and that creatand the landowners. We seem in Georgia to tax ed a special election (to fill his seat). I had in inter- land at a higher rate than some of our neighborest in giving back to the community in southeast ing states. We have some neat programs to help Georgia. It was the first office I ever ran for. My incentivize people to keep growing timber. As grandfather, Steve Nimmer, was a state rep in the the needs grow for farming, we see a lot of timlate ’60s, and served in government relations till he berland get converted into row crop land. On the died in 1981. So there was some family heritage other hand we see tree seedling technology comthere, and some people remembered his service. ing to where we are growing a crop of timber We garnered some encouragement and support but faster, so I think the balance will work itself out. we only had three months to campaign. There were We may not have the same number of acres, but five other people running for the seat. We had to we are growing enough tons per acre per year to get a game plan together and be well organized meet the needs of a global economy that capitaland consistent. I was fortunate enough that the izes on what we grow in Georgia. people entrusted me and I won the race. SLT: What are your responsibilities in the I went into my first session on day 18 of 2011’s House? 40-day session. I came in late due to the special I serve on the Transportation Committee, Natuelection, and hit the ground running. The session ral Resource and Environment Committee, Induswas in full swing. Governor Deal and Speaker of try and Labor Committee, and Appropriations the House David Ralston opened their offices up to Committee. I have served on those four since I got me and helped me out tremendously, as did all the there. This year I asked to be added to the Game, other members of the General Assembly. Fish and Parks committee. We have more than 60 Georgia’s Constitution says the General Assemstate parks in Georgia. One of the things we want is bly starts its 40-day session on the second Monday to increase foot traffic in our state parks, getting of every year, in January. I came in on day 18, in people enjoying what Georgia has to offer and edumid-February. It was the year for reapportionment cating them at the same time on the timber industry so I immediately had to go to a special session that in Georgia, that logging is not bad. fall to redraw district lines. Originally district 178 Also the past three years I’ve had the pleasure encompassed three counties: Pierce, Brantley and a of serving as Governor Deal’s floor leader. The portion of Wayne. I gained a portion of Appling Governor cannot introduce legislation so he will County (with redistricting). I represent about choose a floor leader, or three in our case, to 54,000 people. We are in the rural part of the state, bring his agenda through us to the floor of the so it takes four counties for me to get my conHouse. His policy team meets us every morning stituent number where it needs to be. A lot of my at 7:30 during session to go over his agenda. metro colleagues come from places where they SLT: How much do you have to be in session? might have 20 or more reps in one county, due to This is my sixth session, my fifth year. We were greater population density. So I go four counties to only called back for one special session, for reapsee my constituents, and they go four blocks. portionment that first year. The Governor, the SLT: Most of us, I think, have a stereotype Speaker and the Lt. Governor try to get the busiimage in our minds of cut-throat, corrupt ness done in that 40-day session. The 40 days isn’t politicians and shady backroom deals. You may a running calendar. For instance, this week we only not want to answer, but has that been your had three session days, but I was there four days. experience at all? Thursday was a committee day all day so that I don’t mind answering that. I haven’t served doesn’t count as one of your 40 days. Typically we under any others so I have nothing to compare it wrap up by the end of March or first of April, then to, but I have found both Speaker Ralston and I’m back home the rest of the year, unless there is a Governor Deal to be patient and open-minded to special session. I may have to go back to Atlanta listen to my needs and concerns. It’s been a great once or twice a month to meet with departments, experience. I take a lot of pride in the fact that I and I meet with constituents all year long. represent an industry that is a financial driver of SLT: Obviously not every bill you vote on a natural resource state. I think that helps bring a directly relates to the timber business or even to common sense and level-headed approach to a your district. What do you do in those situations? lot of things that we face in the state. The My favorite example is MARTA—the Metro dynamics of Georgia is such that we have moun- Atlanta Rapid Transit Assn. When I have to vote tains, metro cities, flat woods, plains, coast—it is on it I ask the sponsor of the bill if it impacts my
A story on Pierce Tim-
district. Obviously, no, but yet he needs my vote. We have a state with 159 counties and roughly 10 million people. I’ve got a binding obligation under oath to do the right thing for all of them. There are 180 of us in the House, so 179 other people are bringing issues that impact something in Georgia. Much like in a business we get up there and we don’t all agree, and we’re not supposed to. We are supposed to find where that common ground is. SLT: How many times have you had to campaign now? The term is for two years, so I am in my third term now and I have run unopposed so far. I try to live and work my political side such that I’m always running a race. I don’t want to turn up the speed just because I have an opponent, if I ever get an opponent and I am sure I will at some point. I want to do it in such a way that I don’t have to change. The one question I got from a constituent, and it was a friendly question, a gentleman asked me, “Chad, when you were running in 2010 we saw you a bunch knocking on doors; we don’t see you doing that as much now.” I said, well, you gave me the job, now I have to go do the job. I try my best to be visible, approachable and accessible. Most people have my cell phone number. When I’m in town, I try to make it a practice three days a week to eat breakfast at a local restaurant to find out what’s going on—that’s one of the great things of living in a rural area. Church is also a pretty good segue for people to bring things up. Most folks are pretty respectful of church time being church time, but they will say “Hey call me later.” I serve as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Emmanuel Baptist church in Blackshear. SLT: Another job. How do you find the time for everything? I just don’t sleep. SLT: How do you balance your responsibilities in the House with those at Pierce and with the logging crews? It must be quite a juggling act. When we are in session, I am in Atlanta Monday-Thursday and back here on Fridays. Atlanta is four hours from here if traffic good. In Atlanta I rent an apartment for the first quarter of the year every year. During the drives up there and back, surprisingly enough with what we do in the timber business and the amount of communication it takes, it gives me a lot of time to make phone calls. Blue tooth is a great tool. When we are out of session I spend three days a week in the woods looking at timber and meeting with landowners, and one or two days a week in the office doing paperwork looking over bills and invoices. We meet every Monday morning for a procurement meeting and I try to use that day to go over all my paperwork here. SLT: At Pierce, you promote to your employees that logging is not just a job, it is a career. What about politics? Politics is not a career. It’s not in Georgia, I can promise you. Georgia is designed as a citizen-driven legislature, and I hope it stays this way. You cannot make a living on what you get paid as a state rep. We have to go back home and run a business and be a part of what is going on. The decisions we make will impact us in our work place or business. But it is definitely not a career. Georgia, with good sound fiscal leadership, has balanced the budget every year, we’ve maintained AAA bond ratings, we have achieved and are sustaining the status as the #1 state to do business in the nation, and those are things that I take a lot of pride in. Outside of my faith and family, this is probably one of the most rewardSLT ing things I’ve ever done.
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Pierce Priorities Pierce Timber remains top priority for Nimmer and all the other forester/loggers. “When we all got into logging, Hugh told us: ‘Your number one purpose is Pierce Timber. That is what you are here for. If the logging takes away from Pierce Timber, then it will have to go,’” Nimmer recalls. Thompson explains, “We are a procurement company first. Logging is a necessity to keep production numbers up to support everybody.” Teamwork is the hallmark of the Pierce Timber family. “Whether it’s the timber business or the House of Representatives, I am a firm believer that…healthy, moral compromise is how anything moves forward,” Nimmer says. “Hugh has allowed us to have individual ownerships, but we look to him as the head. He wants us to be thinkers and come in and put our ideas out there. Sometimes we butt heads. But we all have the understanding that we are a family.”
Logging Side Nimmer did not grow up in logging—his dad was a banker. Still,
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Nimmer and partner Josh Cave use a John Deere 437 loader on their JCL crew, as do several other Pierce crews.
he says, “Forestry is where my heart is, where it’s always been. I like working in the outdoors and being a part of what I think is the greatest resource we have.” After getting his forestry degree from Okefenokee Technical Insti-
tute (now Coastal Pines Technical College) and a brief stint working for Georgia Pacific, Nimmer joined Pierce in 2000. “It’s a family-run business, a well-respected business, something you’d want to be a part of.”
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In 2005, the owner of Fargo-based Suwanee Timber Co., which had supplied wood for Pierce, retired. He offered to sell his company to Thompson and Nimmer. They partnered together to acquire the assets and renamed it Suwanee Forest
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Products (SFP). Eventually, Nimmer bought out Thompson’s half. Today, SFP has three crews—one in the swamps, two in pine plantations. Nimmer preaches the importance of matching equipment to its application. The swamp crew, designated Suwannee 1, uses a Hitachi shovel machine, a Tigercat 635D bogie axle skidder and a John Deere 748 dual arch skidder with SWEDA (Super-Wide Extreme-Duty Axles). The skidders ride on dual tires— 35.5s outside, 24s inside. Suwanee 2 and 3 use a mix of equipment that
is fairly standard among Pierce company crews: Cat 559 loaders, Tigercat 720 cutters on hill crews, Deere 643 or Tigercat 718 cutters in plantation pine. JCL, the other logging outfit Nimmer co-owns with partner Josh Cave, uses a Cat 521 track cutter, John Deere 848 skidder, and John Deere 437 loader. Main dealers are Yancey Bros. in Waycross for Caterpillar machines and Flint Equipment for John Deere and Tidewater Equipment for Tigercat, both located in Brunswick. Pierce Timber has a standing
arrangement with Tidewater to service all of the equipment on company crews at 500-hour intervals. All Pierce company crews make use of JDLink and Cat VisionLink telematics. With the foresters busy buying timber, Pierce team member Carlos Thrift helps supervise all logging operations. “I may go all week and never go by my crew,” Nimmer says. “That’s where Carlos comes in.” Nimmer’s crews use military trucks to set out trailers, while another Pierce-affiliated company, Mac 44, handles trucking for all
company crews. Local insurer Management South in Blackshear handles general liability and equipment insurance for all Pierce company crews, while workers’ comp is with Forestry Mutual carrier Swamp Fox agency. Risk management assessors from the insurance companies make safety recommendations, and the Pierce owners enlist Safety On Site for training. In addition, Nimmer says, Thrift and the owners are on the job sites frequently, and use group texts to send reminders about safety. “We try to instill it in even the most seasoned operators that they have been given the right skill sets and the right equipment; if they make the right personal choices, no one gets hurt,” Nimmer asserts. “You spend less time doing the right thing than explaining why you did the wrong thing.” Usually, the right thing is just what the operators do. “I can’t brag enough on our men,” Nimmer says. “You can buy all the equipment in the world, buy the best tracts of timber in the world, but if you don’t have men that are dedicated with good instinct and drive, none of it works.” Nimmer employs 20 in the woods plus a secretary for SFP. As the companies all share the same office space, she also helps out with Pierce Timber business as needed. “We all work together and it all works out,” Nimmer says.
Future Nimmer and his wife Amy have been married 18 years and have three small kids: 8-year-old daughter Gracie, 6-year-old son J.C., and 3-year-old daughter Ava. The logger/legislator isn’t the only civic minded member of the Pierce team. Several of his colleagues work to mentor young people, and the company is involved in efforts to promote the industry to the next generation. Nimmer explains: “We are trying to get forestry courses set up in some of the local technical colleges for kids who want a future—a career, not just a job—with a logging operation, so that the work force is sustainable. We want to promote to young people that logging is not just a job, but a career. We try to promote that with our guys running a piece of equipment now. You can make a good living at this. We encourage them to get an education, learn personal economics and budgeting skills, maintenance and safety. We are trying to promote that this is a good industry to work in. It’s a $30 billion indusSLT try in Georgia alone.” Contact Chad Nimmer by e-mail: chad@piercetimber.com
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Historic Logging/Lumbering Series...
Mountain Boom ■ Early forest exploitation impacted the economic and social structure of the Southern Appalachians.
First Of Three Parts Sourced From U.S. Forest Service Archives
ture failed, others were not deterred. H.N. Saxton, an Englishman, organized the Sevierville Lumber Co. in the late 1880s and later started Saxton and Co., a firm exporting hardwoods to Europe. As the forests of the Northeast and the upper Midwest were depleted, more and more northern lumber companies came to
the Southern Appalachians. Speculators came also to take advantage of the rich resources and low land costs. Businesses were organized for the explicit purpose of buying land and timber. In the 1890s timber speculators began in earnest, and an astonishing number of timber companies moved
into the southern mountains. In North Carolina, Unaka Timber Co. of Knoxville, Tenn. was active in eginning during the 1880s, the Buncombe, Mitchell, Madison and Southern Appalachian mounYancey Counties, while Crosby tains became the scene of a Lumber Co. from Michigan operatmajor logging boom that continued ed in Graham County. In 1894 Foruntil the 1920s. It was begun and eign Hardwood Log Co. of New sponsored almost wholly with capiYork and the Dickson-Mason Lumtal from outside the region. ber Co. of Illinois made extenWithin four decades, the logsive purchases in Swain Counging boom dramatically altered ty. Tuckaseigie Lumber Co. the land ownership pattern and purchased 75,000 acres of land influenced the economic and in Macon, Jackson, and Swain social structure of the Southern Counties. mountains. Other firms included ToxIn addition, large-scale logaway Tanning Co., Gloucester ging caused extensive damage Lumber Co., Brevard Tanning to the mountain environment, Co., Asheville Lumber and and drew the attention of conManufacturing Co., and servationists in the region and Asheville French Broad Lumin Washington, DC. A moveber Co. After 1900 Montvale ment to secure the protection Lumber Co., Bemis Lumber of the Southern Appalachian Co., and Kitchen Lumber Co. forests in National Parks or bought large tracts in the North National Forests helped lead to Carolina Great Smokies. The the passage of the Weeks Act largest NC firms were Chamin 1911, and with that, the fedpion Fibre Co., which came eral government came to the from Ohio to Canton, NC, in region as a major holder and 1905, and William Ritter Lummanager of land. ber Co. from West Virginia. The Ritter firm, the largest lumber company in the SouthThe Growth Of Logging ern Appalachians, owned The logging industry started almost 200,000 acres of land in gradually, with scattered North Carolina alone. investments. In the early 1880s New timber companies also Alexander A. Arthur arrived in acquired land and timber rights Newport, Tenn., and purchased in eastern Kentucky, eastern 10 square miles of forestland Tennessee, and northern Georfor the Scottish Carolina Timgia. The Burt-Brabb and ber and Land Co. With funds Swann-Day lumber compasupplied by backers in Glasnies, early developers in eastgow and in Cape Town, South ern Kentucky, were followed Africa, he constructed a by Kentucky River Hardwood sawmill at Newport and built a Lumber Co., which at one huge boom across the Pigeon point owned over 30,000 acres. River above the town. French Watson G. Caudill operated a Canadian loggers and rivermen lumber company that was came to eastern Tennessee for active in several counties. this enterprise. However, it was not until For three years the operation William Ritter Co. moved in was successful; however, in that truly extensive and long1886 a storm flooded the Pigeon term operations began in the River, broke the boom, and eastern counties of the state. swept away hundreds of ash, The Ritter companies were so cherry, oak and yellow poplar large and enterprising that they logs, and the company closed built their own railroads after for lack of additional capital. the Norfolk and Western RailLogging crew and fit team of oxen take a rest on uphill skid trail in the heavily timbered mountains Though this first major ven- near Tallulah Falls, Ga. in the early 20th century. (Photo courtesy Forest History Society, Durham, NC) road refused to construct lines
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In east Tennessee, Little River Lumber Co. had settlements at Townsend, Elkmont and Tremont.
needed for their business. Ritter also purchased acreage in the mountains of eastern Tennessee. The Little River Lumber Co. became a major landowner in the Great Smoky Mountains, with over 86,000 acres near Clingman’s Dome. Norwood Lumber Co., Vestal Lumber and Manufacturing Co., and Pennsylvania-based Babcock Lumber Co. also bought land in eastern Tennessee. Gennett Lumber Co., organized in Nashville in 1901, speculated in land and timber in Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina for most of the 20th century. Gennett was one of the most prominent in northern Georgia, along with
Pfister-Vogel Land and Leather Co. of Milwaukee, which actively purchased land there after 1903, for about $2 an acre.
Cheap Timberlands Prices paid by the timber companies for land in the southern mountains were astonishingly low. The agents of northern and foreign firms found a people unaccustomed to dealing in cash and unfamiliar with timber and mineral rights and deeds. The companies bought up huge tracts of land for small sums. When local opposition to such purchases began to develop, they
W.M. Ritter Headed Large Lumber Entity William McClellan Ritter (February 19 1864May 21 1952) born in Lycoming County, Pa., was one of West Virginia’s most prominent lumbermen. Having learned the lumber business on his father’s farm, he began a logging operation in Mercer County in 1890. He was successful and, in addition to harvesting timber for others, soon set up his own mills. His operations included Mercer, McDowell, and Mingo counties, as well as Buchanan County, Va. and Pike County, Ky. W.M. Ritter Ritter incorporated the W.M. Ritter Lumber Co. in 1901 and expanded his operations into Tennessee and the Carolinas. During World War I Ritter moved his primary residence from Welch to Washington, where he served on the War Industries Board as an adviser to Chairman Bernard Baruch. In addition to his lumber interests, Ritter owned and operated coal companies and railroads in Virginia and West Virginia. In 1907, the W. M. Ritter Lumber Co. was indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of peonage. Ritter, on behalf of his company, entered a guilty plea and paid a fine. Ritter’s later life was spent in Washington, from where he directed his many business interests. In 1924, he made national headlines by sharing $3 million in Ritter company stock with his employees. William M. Ritter was a cousin of lumberman Charles L. Ritter of Huntington, for SLT whom Ritter Park is named. 28
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switched to buying only timber or coal rights. Some lumber companies even purchased selected trees. The mountaineer, offered more cash than he had seen before in one transaction, found it difficult to refuse an offer, especially since he usually had no idea of the fair value of the land or timber. Enormous yellow poplars and stands of white and red oak and black cherry were sold for 40 to 75 cents a tree. Ronald D. Eller told how much Appalachian mountain land was acquired: “The first timber and mineral buyers who rode into the mountains were commonly greeted with hospitality by local residents. Strangers were few in the remote hollows, and a traveler offered the opportunity for conversation and a change from the rhythms of daily life. The land agent’s routine was simple. Riding horseback into the countryside he would search the coves and creek banks for valuable timber stands or coal outcroppings, and having found his objective, he would approach the cabin of the unsuspecting farmer. The farmer’s cordial greeting was usually followed by an invitation to share the family’s meal and rude accommodations for the night. “After dinner, while entertaining the family with news of the outside world, the traveler would casually produce a bag of coins and offer to purchase a tract of “unused ridgeland” which he had noticed while journeying through the area. Such an offer was hard to refuse in most rural areas, where hard money was scarce, life was difficult, and opportunities few.” Thus the money often provided a welcome opportunity for a family to
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leave a farm that had been worn out for years. In northern Georgia especially, the farm population was greater than the land could reasonably support, and people sold willingly. In other areas, people were more reluctant to sell to outsiders. Some unscrupulous firms enlisted the aid of local merchants, who would make purchases for ‘dummy’ corporations. Sometimes land with inexact or missing titles was simply taken from the mountaineers, who often had failed to obtain formal title to their land. This ‘unclaimed’ land could be taken by anyone willing to stake a claim, survey the land, and pay a fee to the state. Other claims were clouded, or not properly surveyed. In some counties, courthouse records had been destroyed by fire, creating uncertainty about ownership. Thus, a timber company could move into an area, conduct its own surveys, and file claim for lands that the mountaineer had long used and thought were his. Litigation was expensive and time-consuming; most residents had neither the sophistication nor the resources to carry a case through court proceedings. In Kentucky, the state legislature passed an act in 1906 that permitted speculators who had held claims and had paid property taxes for five years to take such property from previous claimants who had not paid taxes. Thus, rising property taxes created by speculation worked to the advantage of the corporation and against the original claimant, who probably paid low taxes to start with and could not afford an increase. These processes were gradual, but they marked the begin-
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ning of the disestablishment of the mountaineer, and further alteration of the mountain economy.
Timber Cutting Delayed Once the land was acquired, timber companies often did not cut the timber immediately. Most of the Pfister-Vogel lands of northern Georgia were never harvested by the firm. The Gennett brothers bought and sold land for decades, cutting over parts, and waiting for good or better lumber prices on others. Cataloochia Lumber Co. lands in Tennessee were sold to Pigeon River Lumber Co. and in turn were bought by Champion Lumber Co. The firm of William Whitmer and Sons purchased tracts in North Carolina that it deeded to Whitmer-Parsons Pulp and Lumber Co., which later sold them to Suncrest Lumber Co., a Whitmer-backed operation. Other outside firms bought land, timber, or mineral rights for speculation, or for possible use. For example, the Gennetts bought an 11,000-acre tract from the Tennessee Iron and Coal Co.; the Consolidation Coal Co. owned vast tracts in Kentucky, and employed a forester to manage those lands. At one point, Fordson Coal Co., a subsidiary of the Ford Motor Co. owned about half of Leslie County, Ky. and several land development companies purchased extensively in the mountains of northern Georgia. Such speculation was to inflate the value of all land in the region, as illustrated in the following comments by a Forest Service purchasing agent who came to the Southern Appalachians in 1912: “This is a virgin timber county (the Nantahala purchase area) and about three years ago the big lumber companies, seeing their present supplies in other regions running low, came in here and quietly bought up large ‘key’ areas of timberland. They are now holding
these at prices which are more nearly compared with lands in regions where railroad development is more favorable . The withdrawal of these large bodies has enhanced the value of the smaller tracts.” Between 1890 and World War I, a great deal of timber was cut on purchased lands, and the economic impact was felt throughout the southern mountains. The years 1907 to 1910 were the years of peak activity. Throughout the region, lumber production rose from 800 MMBF in 1899 to over 900 MMBF in 1907. In 1910, the number of lumber mills in Georgia reached almost 2,000; a decade later it had fallen to under 700. Individual tracts yielded vast quantities of lumber. For example, in 1909 a 20,000-acre tract in the Big Sandy Basin produced 40MMBF of yellow poplar, while in 1912, the mountains around Looking Glass Rock in North Carolina yielded 40MBF of yellow poplar per acre.
Farming Upended The social and economic impact of the logging boom on the people of the Southern Appalachians was lasting. For decades small firms and individuals had engaged in selective cutting throughout the region without appreciably changing the economy, structure of the labor force, or size of the forests. Now, within a decade or two, the land ownership pattern of the southern mountains changed drastically. As mountain lands were sold to the timber interests, farms and settlements were abandoned. Ron Eller wrote: “Whereas mountain society in the 1880s had been characterized by a diffuse pattern of open-country agricultural settlements located primarily in the fertile valleys and plateaus, by the turn of the century the population had begun to shift into non-agricultural areas and to concentrate around centers of industrial growth.” By 1910, vast tracts of ➤ 34
Splash dams were commonly erected on waterways in the mountains to facilitate the movement of logs to downstream sawmills. Typically made of log cribs filled with stones and fitted with wide gates, the dams held stored logs in ponds. This dam was located on Big Creek in Pisgah Forest near George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC. (Photo courtesy Forest History Society, Durham, NC)
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30 ➤ mountain land, which had previously been held by privately scattered farmers, had fallen into the hands of absentee landowners, and towns were becoming important centers of population. Although some mountaineers remained on the land as tenants, sharecroppers, caretakers, or squatters, many were displaced. The changing pattern of land ownership was reflected in changes in population and acreage devoted to farming. The population growth of some counties slowed considerably—a few actually lost
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population. For example, Macon and Graham Counties in North Carolina, which had grown at a rate faster than the state between 1880 and 1900, experienced almost no growth between 1900 and 1910. Over the same decade, Georgia’s Rabun and Union Counties lost 11.5% and 18.4% of their populations, respectively. Similarly, both the number of farms and farm acreage declined in areas where heavy outside investment had occurred. Between 1900 and 1910, in the counties of extreme northern
Georgia, southwestern North Carolina and southeastern Tennessee, the number of acres in farms dropped roughly 20%. As the timber companies moved into the region, numerous logging camps and mill towns were established, absorbing the mountain people who had sold their lands and attracting outsiders eager to benefit from the logging boom. In 1910 alone hundreds of company towns were established in the region. Most of theses became permanent parts of the landscape.
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Logging settlements and mill towns circled the Great Smokies and included Fontana, Bryson City, and Ravensford, NC; and Rittertown, Gatlinburg, Elkmont, and Townsend, Tenn. By 1911 Tellico Plains, Tenn., with a population of about 2,000, discovered itself a busy little city, boosted by the heavy demand for the area’s timber. Perhaps the most famous mill town was Canton, NC, created by Champion Fibre Co. Having bought timberlands along the Pigeon River, the company in 1905 built a large flume from the site to the town, about 15 miles away. Carl Schenck wrote about the operation some years later: “At the upper inlet of the flume a snug village with a church and a school was planned. The whole scheme was the most gigantic enterprise which western North Carolina had seen.” Numerous temporary logging camps were established to shelter thousands of timber company employees and many of these flourished for several years before being abandoned. Although the lumber companies employed local men, they also imported crews from the North and overseas, sometimes hundreds of laborers at one time from their camps in Pennsylvania, New York, or Michigan. A logistical network of support personnel was needed to maintain a lumber camp; thus, building and servicing the camps provided labor for many mountain families. Local men also lived in the logging camps for a few weeks or months at a time while maintaining the family farm. For several years, lumbering provided steady, dependable employment for thousands of mountaineers. For this reason, although logging helped to disestablish the mountaineer, its social impact was not nearly so destructive as that of coal mining. The southern mountaineer could work in lumbering without relinquishing his life to the company employing him; many of the lumber camps were never intended to be permanent and did not demand that a laborer give up his home for work. Thus, the immediate effects of lumbering were not especially destructive. In many respects the operations suited already established work habits. Nor were wasteful methods likely to disturb a people who traditionally viewed the forests as a barrier to be destroyed whenever the need for farmland demanded. Nevertheless, in bringing industrial capitalism and absentee landownership to the Southern Appalachians, the lumber boom altered the region’s economy, and made a lasting mark upon its landSLT scape.
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Church Bulletin Bloopers
All In A Day’s Work
Due to the Rector’s illness, Wednesday’s healing services will be discontinued until further notice. Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa. The Rev. Merriwether spoke briefly, much to the delight of the audience. Applications are now being accepted for 2 year-old nursery workers. If you would like to make a donation, fill out a form, enclose a check, and drip in the collection basket. Next Sunday Mable Vinson will be soloist for the morning service. The pastor will then speak on “It’s a Terrible Experience.” Don’t miss this Saturday’s exhibit by Christian Martian Arts. Barbara Smith remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Nelson’s sermons. During the absence of our pastor, we enjoyed the rare privilege of hearing a good sermon when J.F. Stubbs supplied our pulpit. Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married February 14 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days. The rosebud on the altar this morning is to announce the birth of David Alan Belzer, the sin of Rev. and Mrs. Julius Belzer. The eighth graders will be presenting Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the church basement on Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy. Don’t let worry kill you off; let the church help. Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person(s) you want remembered. Let us join David and Lisa in the celebration of their wedding and bring their happiness to a conclusion. The concert held in the Fellowship Hall was a great success. Special thanks are due to the minister’s daughter, who labored the whole evening at the piano, which as usual fell upon her. The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church.
Financial Planning Fred was a single guy living at home with his father and working in the family business. When he found out he was going to inherit a fortune upon the death of his father, he decided he needed to find a wife with whom to share his bounty. One evening at an investment meeting, he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her natural beauty took his breath away. “I may look like just an ordinary guy,” he said, “but in just a few years, my father will die and I will inherit over $200 million.” Impressed, the woman asked for his business card. Three months later, she became his stepmother. The moral: women are much better at financial planning than men.
You Might Be An ER Doctor If… Your favorite hallucinogen is exhaustion. Discussing dismemberment over a gourmet meal seems perfectly normal to you. You think that caffeine should be available in IV form. You get an almost irresistible urge to stand and wolf your food even in the nicest restaurants. You believe the waiting room should be equipped with a Valium fountain. You say to yourself “great veins” when looking at complete strangers. You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says, “Boy, it is quiet around here.” You have ever referred to someone’s death as a transfer to the “Eternal 36
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Skidder operator J.W. (Jaybyrd) Irons, Jr. sent SLT pictures of these machines in distress at different times on the job of Freeny and McMurry Logging, based in Edinburg, Miss. Jaybyrd reports his skidder went down deep some three years back in a soft spot near Carthage. Two broken cables and 90 minutes later, his boss, Dewite McMurry, freed the skidder with another cable and bulldozer. About a year ago the cutter operated by Johnny (Runt) McMurry, Dewite’s brother and job foreman, caught fire not far out of DeKalb. Only the head was spared. No one was hurt in either incident. Subscribers are encouraged to send photos of upended or stuck equipment or unusual scenes or incidents tied to the job. E-mail high quality images to dk@hat tonbrown.com.
Care Unit.” You ever had a patient say, “But I’m not pregnant, I can’t be pregnant. How can I be having a baby?” You have ever had a patient look you straight in the eye and say, “I have no idea how that got stuck in there.” Your most common assessment question is, “What changed tonight to make it an emergency after 6 (hours, days, weeks, months, years)?”
Things I Owe My Parents My parents taught me to appreciate a job well done. “If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside; I just finished cleaning.” 2. My parents taught me religion: “You better pray that will come out of the carpet.” 3. My parents taught me about time tavel: “If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!” 4. My parents taught me logic: “Because I said so, that’s why.” 5. My parents taught me more logic: “If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.” 6. My parents taught me foresight: “Make sure you wear clean underwear—in case you’re in an accident.” 7. My parents taught me irony: “Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.” 8. My parents taught me about the science of osmosis: “Shut your mouth and eat your supper.” 9. My parents taught me about contortion: “Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”
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INDUSTRY NEWS ROUNDUP As We See It—Let’s Give Them Inspiration By Mike Albrecht
scores this more than a quick review of some facts. t is a distinct privilege to America leads the world in address all of you great logfood production. Today, U.S. gers through this column. I’d farmers export 45% of their like to start my comments wheat, 34% of their soywith an abbreviated version beans and 71% of their Albrecht of a speech I’ve written for almonds. In 2011 U.S. farmPresident Obama, or Forest ers produced $388 billion of Service Chief Tom Tidwell, or anygoods, with approximately one third one in a high-ranking office who can of that being exported. America muster an audience. It goes sometruly helps feed the world. thing like this: In the 1970s America decided it “America is truly a country of was time to shed its reliance on forgreat achievement. Nothing undereign oil. The American people
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said,“Enough is enough,” and Washington was listening. Today America is undergoing a revolution in energy production, a revolution so dynamic that the International Energy Agency predicts that the U.S. will surpass Russia and Saudi Arabia as the world’s top oil producer by the end of this year. America’s pride of achievement is showcased in so many other fields, including space exploration, medicine, and athletic prowess. Today I’d like to issue a challenge to an industry that helped build this country, an industry that produced the railroad ties that linked our country together, and provides the raw
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material that builds our homes, schools, and offices. Today this great industry, the timber industry, is languishing. America leads in exporting so many goods and services to the world, and yet is now the second leading importer of lumber in the world. We were number one until 2012, when China became the leading importer. California, the Golden State, blessed with over 33 million acres of forestland, imports over 75% of its wood products. How can this be? One third of our nation is covered in forestland. We have arguably the best growing climate for timber production in the world. Our timber industry is second to none when it comes to technological know-how and work ethic. When the American people put their heart and soul into something, they achieve it. It’s time to bring homegrown timber products back to our hardware stores and lumber yards. If we all work together, America can become a leading exporter of timber-related goods and services. We should not accept anything less.” If that speech was given, could we rise to the challenge of retooling and expanding our industry? Does the U.S. have access to enough homegrown timber to feed our annual lumber appetite of 40 to 65 billion BF a year? The answer is, yes we do, in spades. According to data from the Western Wood Products Assn. and the Forest Service Inventory and Analysis Group, the standing net volume in America’s forests is approaching 2.25 trillion BF. Annual growth on this inventory is approximately 150
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billion BF. This easily meets our nation’s lumber demand. The truth is, the U.S. has 750 million acres of forestland growing enough timber to meet our own lumber needs, and export billions of board feet to other countries, while continually adding inventory to our forests. In addition to prodigious timber growth, two-thirds of our nation’s drinking water comes from our forests. On average, once acre of trees annually consumes the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent to that produced by driving an average car
for 26,000 miles. That same acre of trees also produces enough oxygen for 18 people to breathe for a year. Economically, there is no better investment than forestry. Every $1 million invested in forestry creates approximately 40 jobs. That is almost double the next highest investment sector of mass transit and freight rail construction where $1 million invested creates approximately 22 jobs. Unfortunately, these facts are not what I hear talked about at the landing, at coffee shops, or at conventions and meetings. Instead, it’s usually
acres burned, mills closed, government regulations, environmental lawsuits, and jobs lost. The Associated California Loggers just finished its annual meeting. At an evening banquet, my wife, Vicki, looked around the room of 250 plus folks and said, “Wow, there are a lot of young people here.” There were indeed young loggers and their wives, many sitting with their moms and dads. These young people are hungry for inspiration, and our association, the American Loggers Council, must remain the prime source of that inspi-
ration. We need to talk more about acres harvested, mills reopened, new laws to support our industry, and environmental groups that support our goal of healthy forests. For the older generation, our charge is to inspire this new generation of loggers to continue not only to work hard and smart, but also to understand and promote the proud and positive facts about our forests and our industry. Let’s face it. If we are going to rejuvenate America’s timber industry, it will be on their watch. With their help, America can trade the stigma of being a leading lumber importer, with her overgrown forests burning to the ground, for the pride of supplying lumber to the world. Albrecht is co-owner of Sierra Resource Management, Inc., located in Jamestown, Calif. He was selected as the American Loggers Council’s National Logger Activist of the Year in 2014. For more information, please contact the ALC office at 409-625-0206 or visit americanlogger@aol.com.
Al Lassiter Had Long Equipment Career Allen G. (Al) Lassiter, Jr., who spent 43 years in the logging equipment retail business and who founded and owned AG Lassiter Al Lassiter Equipment Corp., Chocowinity, NC, was remembered at a memorial service in Greenville, NC on January 28. Lassiter, 72, died January 25 following several years of declining health. A native of Halifax County, NC, Lassiter attended East Carolina University before joining the Air Force. In 1969, after completing his military duty, he joined Tidewater Equipment Co. in Washington, NC as sales manager. In the early ’70s he became general manager of Tidewater’s Florida operations and subsequently relocated to Brunswick, Ga. to manage the company’s multiple Georgia outlets. Lassiter returned to North Carolina (Greenville) in late 1982, joining S&M Equipment Corp. as sales manager. He was promoted to General Manager in 1984. In 1998 he was hired by Franklin Equipment Co. to manage its retail division, based in Chocowinity. Three years later he purchased the Chocowinity real estate and founded his own business as a Tigercat dealer. Those associated with Lassiter over the years recalled the respect he earned and described him as “a very good businessman” and as “a 42
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man of his word.” Well liked, kind, and compassionate, he had a very loyal following of customers and loyal employees. In his younger years Lassiter liked to race boats and later spon-
sored other racers. He also appreciated music and loved to play the guitar and trumpet. According to his daughter, Leah Lassiter King, “AG Lassiter Equipment was his dream and he made
many personal sacrifices to keep the business going during lean times.” She notes that he supported many charitable organizations, “most of which he did silently and we learned of his donations only after his pass-
ing.” Despite his ailments, Lassiter continued working until his death. In keeping with Lassiter’s wishes, Leah King and her husband, Ken, have assumed control of the business, which will continue operating with the same name, principles and practices implemented by Lassiter. Todd Sauls will continue to handle dayto-day affairs as product support and service manager; Brian Johnson will continue as parts manager; and Sandy McLawhorn will continue as business manager. McLawhorn and Lassiter were married on December 12, 2014. In addition to her, survivors include two daughters, one stepdaughter and two grandchildren.
New VLA Leader Is Ronald Jenkins Ronald Jenkins has been hired as the new executive director of the Virginia Loggers Assn. (VLA), Ronald Jenkins effective April 1. He assumes the role filled by the late Jim Mooney. Jenkins recently retired from the Virginia Dept. of Forestry, where he served for 37 years in various positions, the most recent being Assistant State Forester for Budgeting, Legislation, Planning and Administration. After serving in the Air Force four years he earned a BS in Forestry at Virginia Tech and a Masters in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. “It will be a privilege for me to follow Jim Mooney as executive director and represent Virginia’s logging business leaders in all areas, helping them to speak in a unified voice,” says Jenkins. “I am excited about the opportunity of building on VLA’s strong foundation.” Jenkins will work from his hometown of Goochland. He can be contacted as follows: jenkins gzj@aol.com, 804-677-4290.
Martco To Build OSB Facility In Corrigan Martco L.L.C. announced the selection of Corrigan, Tex. as the location for a new, state-of-the-art oriented strandboard (OSB) facility. The facility is expected to employ 165. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer, with startup anticipated by fall 2017. Corrigan OSB, L.L.C. will complement Martco L.L.C.’s existing wood products manufacturing plants in Oakdale, La. (OSB); Chopin, La. 44
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(plywood); and Mexia, Ala. (lumber and timbers). According to Martin Companies, L.L.C. Chairman and CEO Jonathan Martin, “Ever since my grandfather started out in the wood
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product industry more than 90 years ago, our family has taken pride in utilizing raw materials to the fullest extent possible. This business model has led to Martco’s growth as a leading supplier in the wood prod-
ucts industry. The timing is right for us to position ourselves to more effectively meet the increasing demand for building products into the foreseeable future.” “We believe that East Texans have a tremendous amount of community passion, experience and knowledge, and we look forward to becoming a proactive community partner,” adds Roy O. Martin III, President. “Martco will extend its philosophy of being ‘employer of choice’ and ‘vendor of choice’ to this region, while maintaining the stability of a well-established, family-owned, professionally managed company committed to its stakeholders.” Martco’s commitment to this region reaches beyond its future workforce. Senior Vice President and COO Scott Poole explains, “We look forward to extending our pride and dedication to sustainable forestry practices through additional foresters and loggers. With this expansion, we will continue to be good stewards of our forests, while delivering a full line of wood products across the country and world.” Based in Alexandria, La., Martco L.L.C.’s existing manufacturing facilities employ 1,100. The business owns 570,000 acres of highly
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productive and well-managed timberland in Louisiana.
P&G Makes Official Albany Biomass Project With a goal to one day operate all of its manufacturing facilities on renewable energy, Procter & Gamble announced an agreement to develop a 50 MW biomass power plant that will help run its Bounty paper towel and Charmin toilet tissue plant in Albany, Ga. The plant will turn scrap wood into steam and electricity, providing 100% of the steam required to operate the paper facilities. The incoming biomass will provide up to 60-70% of the site’s overall energy needs. When it opens for commercial operation in summer 2017, the biomass plant will move P&G closer to its goal of obtaining 30% of its total energy from renewable sources by 2020 and 100% in the future. Scrap wood and forest residue will be fed into a new boiler system. The company says it currently gets 8% of its energy from renewable sources including wind, solar, geothermal and biomass. “As this project enables us to oper-
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ate one of our largest global plants with a renewable energy source, it will reduce the environmental footprint of two leading brands, Bounty and Charmin. We see this as a win for our business, consumers, partners and the environment,” says Martin Riant, P&G Executive Sponsor of Sustainability and Group President, Global Baby and Feminine & Family Care. The project has been in the works for nearly two years. The $200 million plant will be built, owned and operated by Constellation, a retail supplier of power, natural gas and energy products and services, and a subsidiary of the Exelon Corp. In addition to steam for P&G, the plant will create electricity that Constellation will sell to local utility Georgia Power, who will then share it with residents across the state. Several local, state and federal officials and other companies also supported the project. The new plant will replace an aging biomass boiler that has been providing about 30% of the total energy needed to run the Albany site for the last 34 years.
Pellet Mills Planned For North Florida Two ventures have announced they plan to build wood pellet mills in similar areas of north central Florida, west of Jacksonville. PHI Group, Inc., a company focused on energy and natural resources, announced it has signed an agreement with AG Materials, LLC, an Alabama company, to jointly set up a 200,000 metric tons annual production wood pellet mill in Live Oak, Suwannee County; and Enerpellets Group, a Portugal-based producer of
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wood pellets, announced it will build a 250,000 tons per year pellet mill in Hamilton County. PHI Group, which plans to exports the pellets, reports it has been able to secure approximately 400,000 metric tons of southern yellow pine feedstock per year from a nearby industrial source. Henry Fahman, Chairman and CEO of PHI Group, comments, “We are delighted to cooperate with AG Materials to set up the new wood pellet plant in Live Oak and believe the conditions are very favorable for our joint venture, thanks to the reliable source of feedstock, logistics, and foreseeable growing market demand.” Meanwhile Enerpellets states it is investing $60 million to build its pellet plant. “The decision was preceded by a period of analysis and evaluation of this opportunity, which was supported by the vast know-how acquired with the two plants in operation that Enerpellets Group holds in Portugal and overlooking the fast growing global pellets market,” according to an Enerpellets statement. “The investment will be carried out in Hamilton County, northern Florida, where the Group felt a huge support from the local community and from the State of Florida. This support was decisive for the economic viability of the investment.”
Potlatch Purchases 200,000 Acres Potlatch Corp. completed the previously announced purchase of 201,000 acres of timberlands in Alabama and Mississippi from affiliates of Resource Management Service, LLC for $384 million.
Potlatch is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) with 1.6 million acres of timberland in Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Minnesota and Mississippi.
New SFI Standards And Rules Released The new Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) 2015-2019 Standards and Rules marks an important advancement to support better decision making all along the supply chain and to promote sustainable forest management, according to officials. A major change to the structure of the SFI 2015-2019 Standards and Rules is the establishment of three stand-alone standards: —The Forest Management Standard promotes sustainable forestry practices based on 13 Principles, 15 Objectives, 37 Performance Measures and 101 Indicators. These requirements include measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk and forests with exceptional conservation value. —The Fiber Sourcing Standard promotes responsible forestry practices based on 14 Principles, 13 Objectives, 21 Performance Measures and 55 Indicators that address the 90% of the world’s forests that are not certified. —The Chain of Custody Standard tracks the percentage of fiber from certified forests, certified sourcing and recycled content through production and manufacturing to the end product. Forests certified to the SFI Forest Management Standard cover more than a quarter billion acres/100 million hectares, stretching from Cana-
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da’s boreal forest to the U.S. South. The SFI standards are updated every five years to incorporate the latest scientific information and to respond to emerging issues. As part of this update, comments were received during two 60-day public comment periods and input was gathered from 12 public workshops across the U.S. and Canada.
Plywood Mill Project Begins In Louisville Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and officials from Winston Plywood and Veneer held a groundbreaking ceremony January 30 at the site of the company’s future plywood facility in Louisville, Miss. The project represents an investment of approximately $50 million and will create 400 jobs. In April 2014, a tornado destroyed the facility in Louisville. Since that time, Winston Plywood and Veneer has remained committed to rebuilding and expanding its operations in Louisville. In addition to the investment made by the company, disaster recovery funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be used to build the facility. The Mississippi Development Authority provided assistance in support of the project for preparation, relocation expenses, infrastructure needs and workforce training. It’s anticipated that by early 2016, Winston Plywood & Veneer will produce and distribute a full-range of specialty and commodity plywood products. Over time, the mill’s annual capacity could reach 400MMSF. Winston Plywood and Veneer is an operating company of New Wood Resources LLC, which is owned by Atlas Holdings LLC.
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MACHINES-SUPPLIES-TECHNOLOGY damaging lead sulfate crystals and increases battery life cycle up to five times. Call 800-5807554; visit pulsetech.net.
Multiple Battery Charger
Track Feller-Buncher
The QuadLink works with any 6- or 12-volt battery maintenance charger up to 8 amps using the standard 2-prong output connector. The QuadLink does not change the capabilities of the battery charger it is connected to, but simply increases the number of batteries that can be charged. Once connected via extension leads (included), to up to 4 batteries, the station or battery that is currently being charged is indicated by a blinking LED light on the QuadLink. Every 10 minutes, the QuadLink switches to the next battery in line. If there is no battery connected to any given channel, the channel will be skipped after a short qualification process. Cycle rotation will continue indefinitely, maintaining the charge of all 4 batteries automatically. PulseTech recommends its PulseTech Xtreme Charge Charger, which utilizes the company’s patented “pulse” conditioning that minimizes the size of
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Komatsu America offers its next generation XT-3 Series track feller-bunchers and harvesters which provide improvements in operator comfort, ease of operation, productivity and reliability. Models include the XT430-3 (non-leveling), XT430L-3, XT445L-3 and the larger new XT460L-3 ranging in operating weight from 61,300 lbs. to 72,000 lbs., and each model features a powerful 300 HP Cummins 8.3 liter engine and 58,400 lb.-ft. of swing torque. The XT-3 has a new cab. Changes include a sloped roofline that increases headroom above and forward of the seat, and reduces debris
buildup. A 10% larger floor-to-ceiling front window, larger side windows with up to 90% greater viewing depth, and a 60% larger skylight window provide a widescreen field of view. The XT-3 Series features the new IQAN-MD4 programmable digital control system. All former analog gauges and warning lights are now prominently displayed on the highly visible and durable 7” LED color touchscreen monitor. Machines include the latest Komatsu undercarriage and hydraulic improvements for greater reliability and durability, including 1-2 additional bottom rollers to improve track chain support and load distribution; upgraded chain guide (rock guard) material extends service life; continuous straight-line chain guide profile; removable track roller guards for easier access on XT445L & XT460L models; upgraded implement pump bearings. The series can be equipped to meet a range of customer applications. There are up to nine hydraulic system arrangements, two heavy duty boom and four heavy duty arm options that accept a broad range of disc saw, bar saw and processing head cutting attachments. Three swing-out service doors, featuring triple-hinged and positive dove-tailed lever latch designs, provide easy service access to all service and maintenance points. Visit komatsuforest.us.
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AT THE MARGINS
It’s A Career, Not Just A Job ■ The smart approach to human resources can help you attract and retain talented employees. By Tom Trone John Deere Forestry s I noted in last month’s column, fewer young people are choosing logging as a career. At the same time, competition and the demand for more timber at lower costs is putting increased pressure on loggers. It’s no longer good enough to be good at cutting timber. Loggers have to be more productive and more efficient. They need to be able to spend time on running their businesses, looking for new opportunities, and taking advantage of them. That starts with having good people. Jack McFarland of McFarland Timber in Winnfield, La., understands this very well. He has worked very hard to ensure his employees know that logging is more than just a job. It’s a career. “We have to help young people see that logging is not the stereotypical job you see on TV,” he says. “It’s a career, with benefits and opportunities like any other career.” It sounds simple enough, but finding, developing and retaining good people is no easy task. Human resources is an advanced business function. Ideally, it should be handled by a trained specialist who can help you create and implement the right policies and programs. But the reality is most loggers simply cannot support a full-time HR manager. Finding a part-time HR manager, training a current front-office employee on HR basics, or retaining a human resources contracting firm are all viable alternatives, at least in the short-term. There are also online resources that can get you started and help you do it on your own. Whatever your approach, doing nothing is not an effective strategy. You have to start. Here are a few things you can do right away:
A
Set Expectations The foundation of all human resources is the employee handbook. It provides important information like drug policies, vacation and holiday schedules, sick leave, and benefits packages. It also makes clear your expectations of 52
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Jack McFarland, in black shirt, with his crew in 2013
employees, and is the guiding document in the case of any dispute or question. If you don’t have a handbook and don’t know where to start, there are templates available online. Just be sure to get some input from a specialist to help you customize it to meet your exact needs. Of course, the best handbook in the world is useless if your employees don’t read it, so it’s best to meet with your employees to be sure they understand it. At McFarland Timber, this meeting happens before an employee’s first day. “We discuss the job and go through the rules and policies for drug screening, cell phone use, and all other aspects of the job,” relates McFarland.
Lay Out A Career Path One of the biggest motivations for employees is knowing they are on a path toward advancing their careers. As a business owner, it is your responsibility to help employees determine their career goals, and give them the support they need to achieve them. This may mean exposing them to other parts of the business, giving them more responsibility, or getting their input about certain business decisions. Every employee’s career goals are different, so it’s important to have these conversations with them. This is something McFarland takes very seriously. “We give our
employees the opportunity to learn multiple machines and learn the industry,” he points out, adding that his employees know they have an opportunity to grow and are not restricted to just one job. “That gives them an incentive to stay with us.”
Provide Feedback Employee performance reviews are also crucial to their growth. Providing ongoing feedback helps your employees to grow and improve their work. To satisfy employees’ need for growth, you may also need to offer training. This will help them expand their skills, gain a greater grasp of the overall business, and become more effective employees. By offering ongoing on-the-job training and even allowing employees to attend off-site courses, you can ensure that your employees will stay motivated and help your company succeed. At McFarland Timber employees are trained on different pieces of equipment, and also have the opportunity to take courses to become a Certified Logging Professional.
Offer Full Compensation While competitive wages are important, there is much more to compensation than hourly pay. Benefits like vacation, insurance, retirement plans and guaranteed income are all big parts of a total compensa-
MARCH 2015 ● Southern Loggin’ Times
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tion package. The key is to explore these options to find what works best for you and your employees. In addition to health insurance and vacation, McFarland Timber offers production and safety bonuses, so employees have the opportunity to increase their income. This approach has enabled McFarland to attract more young employees and virtually eliminate turnover. “We have to let young people know that there are financial rewards to logging, and that they have opportunities to grow and thrive,” says McFarland. I understand that taking this approach to human resources is difficult. But it is absolutely necessary for survival in the coming years. Too many loggers opt for the easy way and hire under-qualified employees. That’s a tempting approach, because it’s much easier and less expensive. But in the long run, committing the time and resources to make sure the people you employ are the best they can be will help ensure that your business is nimble, smart and efficient well SLT into the future. Tom Trone is Director of John Deere’s North American forestry business, and is responsible for all sales and marketing activities as well as product development. Over his career, he has owned and operated several businesses. He is also a lecturer at the University of Illinois where he has taught the subjects of entrepreneurship, business strategy, organizational development and leadership.
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IRONWORKS
TOLL FREE: 1-800-669-5613
2010 CAT 535C D/A Grapple, 8400 hrs., winch, 44x73x32 tires ....$87,500
1996 CAT D5 III w/6-way blade, 3226 2001 John Deere 648GIII Single arch 2013 Tigercat 724E w/5702 saw; hrs., new tracks, rails & sprockets, with winch, heat & A/C, tires: 30.5x32 Cummins Tier 4 engine, 1850 hours, hang on root rake...................$33,500 ..............................................$39,500 climate control cab, 30.5x32 tires, 4/3/2/1 warranty .......$Call for details
2014 Tigercat 724E w/5702 saw; Tigercat FPT Tier 4f N76 engine, 750 hours; Widerange drive, 67x34x25 tires; Tigercat 4/3/2/1 warranty, extended 3 year or6000 hrs. on engine................$Call for details
2013 Tigercat 234 w/CSI264 delimber, Set of Firestone 76x50.00B32, Flotation mounted on Big John Kodial delimber trailer; 23 degrees, 48.6” tires, 44” rim width, rim Cummins Tier 4 engine, no DEF fluid, 4053 log grapple, saw hookup, in service 1/2014; patterw ith 18 lug wheels, set at warranty .............................$Call for details ....................................................$14,500
Call or email: Charles Woolard
RECONDITIONED DELIMBINATORS!!
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1999 Tigercat 726B Feller Buncher w/ SW5701 Sawhead .....................................$52,500
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2003 Tigercat 822 Track Feller Buncher w/ SW5401 Sawhead .................................. $125,000
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2010 Barko 495ML Loader w/ CSI 264 Delimber .........$87,500
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1998 Timberjack 4300 Delimber.........................$3,500
In addition to new machines, CHAMBERS DELIMBINATOR, INC. now has factory reconditioned DeLimbinators. These units have been inspected, repaired, and updated as needed. Call us and we will help you select a DeLimbinator for your need. WE ALSO BUY USED DELIMBINATORS
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1975 Hyster H-60C Forklift .......................................$3,500
Call: 662-285-2777 day, 662-285-6832 eves Email: info@chambersdelimbinator.com 1123
Prattville, AL (334) 365-5192 Tommy Moore: (334) 850-9582
562
Washington, NC Email: easterneq@earthlink.net Complete listings of equipment at www.eebinc.com
FOR SALE
3723
252-946-9264 office • 252-945-0942 cell
IRONWORKS RATES; Space available by column inch only, one inch minimum. Rate is $50 per inch, special typesetting, borders, photo inclusion, blind ads, $10 extra each. Deadlines: By mail, 15th of month prior to publication. Place your ad toll-free 24 hours a day from anywhere in the USA (except Alaska and Hawaii) 1-800-669-5613 ask for Classifieds 8:30-5 pm CST. After business hours our automatic ad taker will take your ads.
676 4247
CHIPPER
PRENTICE 410E (PR60851), 2005, Cat 525B (03KZ01170), 2003, 4400 Hrs, Cab, Evans Trailer, Grap- 11253 Hrs, Cab, 30.5-32, Single PETERSON 5000G (2G-214-661), ple, Delimber, Double V Heel Arch Grapple, Blade, Winch...CALL 2001, 12981 Hrs, Cab, AC, Whole ........................................$22,500 Tree Chipper ..................$139,000 Cat 525C (052500251), 2006, 9122 Hrs, Cab, AC, 30.5-32, Dual DOPPSTADT SM720 (W09621179 Arch Grapple, Blade, Winch...CALL A1D07448), 2010, 248 Hrs, TromCat 525C (052501555), 2012, mel Screen, 435/50R19 ..$323,000 5680 Hrs, Cab, AC, 30.5-32, S Cat 559B (00PR65341), 2012, DOPPSTADT SM720 (W09621217 5890 Hrs, Cab, AC, Pitts Trailer, Blade, Grapple ...............$173,000 81D07286), 2009, 2457 Hrs, 7’ CTR Delimber, Grapple..........CALL 20’’ Drum w/ 3/4 ‘’ Punch Plate Cat 545C (054500304), 2006, Cat 573C (0RJT00256), 2012, ......................................$250,000 9481 Hrs, Cab, AC, 35.5-32, Dual 2679 Hrs, Cab, AC, 30.5L-32, Arch Grapple, Winch ......$122,500 SH56B Saw ...................$208,500 Cat 579B (00PR65175), 2011, Cat 517 (05WW00419), 2004, FRANKLIN LOGGER 170 (16544), 1995, 2500 Hrs, Cpy, Single Arch 3259 Hrs, Cab, AC, Kodiak Trailer, 7877 Hrs, Cab, AC, Esco Grapple Grapple, Delimber ..........$215,000 ..........................MAKE AN OFFER Grapple............................$15,000
KNUCKLEBOOM LOADERS
SCREENS
SKIDDERS
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WHEEL FELLER BUNCHERS Cat 563 (00HA19937), 2011, 2969 Hrs, Cab, AC, 24.5-32, SH50 Saw.. ......................................$186,000 HYDRO-AX 321 (7121), 1998, 10000 Hrs, Cab, AC, 24.5-32 Tires w/chains, 20’’Sawhead ....$33,500 TIGERCAT 726 (7260852), 1997, 10000 Hrs, Cab, AC, 30.5-32, 22’’ Sawhead .........................$39,000
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FINAN C AVAILA ING BLE
www.equipmentandparts.com
5569
Office : 903-238-8700 • Shane Fuller : 903-235-1147 Jason Bruner: 903-452-5290
SKIDDERS
MULCHERS
2012 John Deere 648H Dual Arch Skidder – 5,200 hours, 2 New, 2 very good – 30.5 x tires, Cab with air, Winch, Ready to work!.........................$155,000
2014 Barko 930 Mulcher – 700 hours, still under full factory warranty, 305 HP Cummins engine, FAE 300U Mulching Head, 28L tires. Rent to own WAC .................................................$305,000
2012 Cat 535C Dual Arch Skidder – 5,500 hours, 2 New , 2 very good - 35.5 x 32 tires, Cab with air, Winch, Ready to work! .......................................$159,500
2012 Cat 535C Dual Arch Skidder – 5,800 hours, 3 New, 1 very good - 35.5 x 32 tires, Cab with air, Winch. Ready to work! ........................................$159,500
2011 Geo Boy Mulcher - 2,400 total machine hours, Less than 300 hours on Recon 220 HP Cummins engine, Fecon Mulching Head, Rear winch, Cab with air. This machine can be trailered and transported without any special permits .................................................$125,000
2011 Prentice 2470 Mulcher – “NEW” FAE smooth drum mulching head, “NEW” high pressure pump / hoses, Cab with air, 28L tires. 5,000 hours on machine, 0 hours since the conversion from a Feller Buncher. Rent to own W.A.C. ....................................................$CALL$
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2004 Timberking TK350 Mulcher 2,200 on rebuilt Cat engine, Fecon BH120 Mulching Head, New teeth, Rebalanced head, Good 28L tires, Cab with air........................................$89,500
NOT PICTURED
2009 Cat 525C - 7,000 hours, 30.5 x 32 tires, Cab with air, Winch. Ready to work! ..........................................$89,500
2290
2012 John Deere 748H Dual Arch Skidder – 4,400 hours, good 44 x 32 flotation tires, Cab with air, Winch, Ready to work!.........................$169,500
2008 Barko 930 Mulcher - 3,900 hours, FAE 300U Smooth Drum Mulching Head, 305 hp cummins engine, 28L tires, Cab with air. Ready to work! Rent to own with approved credit....$169,500
Visa and Mastercard accepted
2011 Deere 648H Skidder STK# LU633154; 7,988 hrs $115,000
2011 Timberjack 648H Skidder STK# LU634487; 8,268 hrs $104,000
2010 Prentice 2864 Mulcher STK# LU119808; 4,545 hrs $185,000
2013 Deere 753J Track Feller Buncher STK# LU233050; 2,762 hrs $298,000
2011 Deere 643K Feller Buncher STK# LU635166; 4,718 hrs $145,000
2011 Deere 748H Skidder STK# LV637711; 5,510 hrs $139,000
2011 Deere 437D Knuckleboom Loader STK# LU193409; 8,410 hrs $115,000
2010 Deere 643K Feller Buncher STK# LU630321; 6,248 hrs $105,000
2012 Deere 843K Feller Buncher STK# LU641270; 6,554 hrs $110,000
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FOR SALE
FOR SALE • Timber king T 350 sawhead,
Call Casey Jackson Ford 706-245-9241 with questions
TIGERCAT: 3232B Blade Extension Set ......................$750
HOSE, FITTINGS & CRIMPERS SERVING THE LOGGING INDUSTRY FOR 20 YEARS. WE CAN SAVE YOU MONEY.
EUREKA! EUREKA! EUREKA! OWNERS HAVE OVER 30 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE!
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EUREKA SAW TOOTH CO., INC.
7180
We can save you money on Saw Teeth. Hundreds of satisfied ACC OW EP customers. Rebuilt Exchange or New. We specialize in rebuild- CRE TING DIT ing Koehring 2000, Hurricana, Hydro Ax split teeth and all CARDS other brands. Call Jimmy or Niel Mitchell. Quantity Discounts!
email: tim.cavalierhose@yahoo.com
FOR SALE • 98 660 Timberjack, good condition............................$22,500 • 94 775 Barko cutter, 20" sawhead, good condition ........$24,000 • (2) 30.5 x 32 tires ................$2,500 • Used parts for 660 Timberjack
919-820-2424
4433
4275 Moores Ferry Rd. • Skippers, Virginia 23879 PH./FAX (day) 1-434-634-9836 or Night/Weekends • 1-434-634-9185
Tim Alligood Days or Nights: 1-252-341-9891
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8309
FORESTRYPARTSRESOURCE.COM
498
CONTACT: 478.550.2330 - Keith 478.256.4063 - Gary
13065
1991 BMY Military cargo 6x6; 16,502 miles; automatic; diesel....$10,987
TIGERCAT 620C: NEW 203831 Charge Air Cooler.............$1,000
7393
Jason 903-824-18873407
MORE GREEN FOR YOU!
249
34" tires, 22 CP saw, 7847 hrs. ......................................$49,999 • D6C Cat dozer. Straight blade, V blade, KG blade. Power shift ......................................$34,999 • 544 JD loader. Root/ brush rake • 1- 210 Prentice on trailer ......................................$11,450 • 1- 210D on truck. For parts ........................................$5,000 • Big Tex Pintle hitch trailer. Tandem dual 10k. Electric brakes • Homemade lowboy .......$6,500
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TIDEWATER EQUIPMENT CO. MAC • 910-610-7029
Call or visit our website: www.tidewaterequip.com SKIDDERS 2005 CAT 525B....................................$44,805 2001 Deere 648GIII .............................$40,625 2008 Deere 648H.................................$85,500 2009 Deere 648H.................................$89,500 2010 Deere 648H.................................$84,000 2011 Deere 648H...............................$130,000 2005 Deere 748GIII .............................$57,000 2008 Deere 748H.................................$82,500 2004 Tigercat 620C.............................$67,500 2005 Tigercat 620C.............................$66,000 2012 Tigercat 620D...........................$180,000 2004 Tigercat 630C...........................$100,000 2005 Tigercat 630C.............................$65,000 2011 Tigercat 630D...........................$160,000 2012 Tigercat 630D...........................$210,170 2013 Tigercat 630D...........................$245,000
FELLER BUNCHERS 2011 CAT 563 ....................................$119,900 2009 Deere 643J .................................$85,000 2011 Deere 643K...............................$168,300 2007 Prentice 2384 .............................$75,000
2007 Prentice 2470 .............................$54,000 2008 Prentice 2470 .............................$81,250 2008 Prentice 2570 .............................$95,000 2006 Tigercat 718 ...............................$65,000 2011 Tigercat 718E ...........................$152,335 1998 Tigercat 720B .............................$22,500 1998 Tigercat 720B .............................$30,900 2010 Tigercat 720E ...........................$145,690 2005 Tigercat 724D.............................$85,200 1995 Tigercat 726 ...............................$25,000 2004 Timberking TK360......................$58,000
LOG LOADERS 2008 Barko 495ML..............................$70,000 2006 Prentice 280 ...............................$40,000 2002 Tigercat 230B .............................$50,000 2008 Tigercat 234 ...............................$87,500 2011 Tigercat 234 .............................$132,500 2010 Tigercat 234CS ........................$125,000 2007 Tigercat 244 ...............................$79,900 2005 Tigercat 250 ...............................$60,000 2003 Timberjack 430B ........................$24,500
INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT
1997 MORBARK 22.............................$60,000 2009 MORBARK 40/36 NCL DRUM CHIPPER ........................................$243,750 2010 MORBARK 40/36 NCL DRUM CHIPPER ........................................$232,000 2010 MORBARK 4600XL ..................$349,500 2011 MORBARK 40/36 NCL DRUM CHIPPER ........................................$225,000
MISCELLANEOUS
Assortment of tires and rims for Deere/Tigercat CTR 314 and 400 Delimbers .........................................$1,000 to $18,000 Tigercat Shears and Saws .........................................$2,500 to $20,000 Please come see us at our new parts locations: – Waycross, GA (912) 282-9284 – Statesboro, GA (912) 601-9924 – Elizabethtown, NC (910) 876-7058
View our web site for over 200 listings with newly reduced prices and pictures 2687
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WANTED TO BUY
DOZER
Cat 518 & Cat 518C skidders in TX, LA area Call Kent 936-699-4700 r_kentjones@yahoo.com
Day 334-312-4136 Night 334-271-1475 or Email: johnwpynes@knology.net
770
TRUCKS
To buy or sell forestry, construction, utility or truck equipment, or if you just need an appraisal, contact me, Johnny Pynes with JM Wood Auction. Over 25 years experience.
280
IF YOU NEED
Visit us online: southernloggintimes.com 2007 KENWORTH W900—SX15 Cummins Engine; 565 hp; 8LL; 4.30 Ratio; 24.5 Tires; Aluminum Wheels; Double Frame; Half Fenders; 46K Hendrickson Suspension; Double Locking Rears; Wet Kit; 684,872 mi; VIN: 1XKWD40X07J172217.............$59,500
2005 KENWORTH W900L—C-15 Acert Cat Engine; 3:35 Ratio; 13 Speed Fuller; 60 inch Stand Up Aeromax sleeper ......................................................$45,900
2008 KOMATSU D61EX-15—6 Way Blade; Hours: 4511; S/N: KMTOD 102K51B45215 ......$109,500 $99,500
LOG SKIDDERS
2012 DEERE 648H— Direct Drive; SWEDA Axles; Dual Arch; 30.5x32 Tires; 7072 Hours ...............................$139,500
3664
1999 KENWORTH T800—3406E Cat 475 hp; Fuller 10 Speed; Chamblers Walking Beam Suspension; New Paint ..................................................$25,900
KNUCKLEBOOM
2010 DEERE 437D—CSI 264 Delimber; Bucksaw Ready; Pitts Trailer; New Turn Table—Dealer Installed; 7860 hours ....................................................$115,000
FELLER BUNCHERS
2009 PRENTICE 2670—With Quadco CP22 Sawhead; 67 x 34 x 25 Tires; Hours: 8,186; S/N: PB19763 ..$109,500
2005 TIGERCAT 620C—30.5 x 32 Tires; Hours: 9,744; S/N: 6200610........$74,500
2006 CAT 525C—Single Arch, with 67 x 34 x 25 Tires; Hours: 9,910; S/N: 00192 ..................................................$64,500
2013 TIGERCAT 620D—Dual Arch; 30.5x32 tires; Turn around seat; Tight, s/n: 620616; Hours: 3,065 .........$219,500
3191
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FOR SALE EQUIPMENT FINANCING
7195
• Preferred Good Credit Plans • Rough Credit Plans (turned down, tax liens, bankruptcies)
• Purchases • Refinance • Start-up Business • Loans Against Your Existing Equipment for QUICK CASH! 2-Hour Approvals! Low Monthly Payments Little or No Down Payments
15 Years In Business CALL NOW
(4) Stay on top of the ground 76x50x32 / 50” wide tires. Fits John Deere or Tigercat with 14 lug bolt pattern. $2,500 each Contact Eddie
985-875-7373 Fax: 985-867-1188
Email: coastalcapital@bellsouth.net Personal Service
Ask For L.T. DEALERS WELCOME
601-946-2184
1447
363
Equipment Operator Drops Tree Onto Power Line BACKGROUND: On a summer morning in the southcentral U.S., an equipment operator was felling a natural pine stand with a fellerbuncher. The terrain was level, and weather conditions were dry and sunny, with a light wind. There was a moderate level of underbrush in the timber stand.
INJURY: Fortunately, no one was injured, and no one touched the broken line. The logging company immediately called the power company; power was restored within a few hours.
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: The 45-year-old equipment operator had been employed in the logging business for approximately ten years. He was considered fully trained and had no known accident history.
cussed the power line along private roads on this tract—the equipment operator lost his sense of direction while harvesting. He had been felling trees and laying them down, turning frequently as he worked. He approached close to the road with a power line as he worked.
UNSAFE ACT & CONDITION: Although this logging crew had conducted a safety meeting prior to the start of the harvest on this tract two days before—and they had dis-
ACCIDENT: The operator felled a 12-inch-diameter pine and laid it down. The top of this tree contacted and broke one wire on a nearby 3-wire power line.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CORRECTION: Whenever possible, maintain a safe operating distance of at least 50 feet (more for tall trees) from a power line for all harvesting activities. When unsure about the exact location or safety of harvesting trees near a power line, leave all trees near the power line standing or contact the power company for assistance prior to felling. Know how to contact the power line company in case of an accident. Provide the identification number of the power line poles to help identify the line location.
Treat all power lines as if they are live. Do not approach downed power lines, and do not attempt to cut or move trees that touch power lines. If equipment contacts and remains in contact with a live power line, the operator should remain in the machine until electricity is cut off. If the electricity cannot be cut off, or the threat of fire is extreme, the operator should jump clear of the equipment before contacting the ground. Logging operations should conduct a safety meeting with all employees to discuss power line hazards and safety procedures before initial work begins on a tract when power lines are present. Supplied by Forest Resources Assn.
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COMING EVENTS March
July
25-27—Hardwood Manufacturers Assn. National Conference & Expo, The Omni Nashville Hotel, Nashville, Tenn. Call 412-2440440; visit hmamembers.org.
19-22—Council on Forest Engineering annual meeting, Lexington, Ky. Call 304-206-1884; visit cofe.org.
25-27—Kentucky Forest Industries Assn. annual meeting, Embassy Suites, Lexington, Ky. Call 502695-3979; visit kfia.org.
April 15-17—Virginia Forestry Assn. Summit, Boar’s Head Inn, Charlottesville, Va. Call 804-278-8733; visit vaforestry.org.
26-28—Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Summer Conference, Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Va. Call 336-885-8315; visit appalachianwood.org. 31-August 2—Georgia Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Jekyll Island Convention Center, Jekyll Island, Ga. Call 478-992-8110; visit gfagrow.org.
August
27-29—Forest Resources Assn. annual meeting, Sheraton Nashville Downtown, Nashville, Tenn. Call 202-296-3937; visit forestresources.org.
25-27—Florida Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Wyndham Bay Point Golf Resort & Spa, Panama City Beach, Fla. Call 850-2225646; visit floridaforest.org.
June
September
5-6—Southeastern Wood Producers Assn. annual meeting, Renaissance at the World Golf Village, St. Augustine, Fla. Call 800-468-3571; visit swpa.ag.
13-15—Alabama Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach, Ala. Call 334-265-8733; visit alaforestry.org.
10-12—Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Expo, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga. Call 504-443-4464; visit sfpaexpo.com.
18-19—Kentucky Wood Expo, Masterson Station Park, Lexington, Ky. Call 502-695-3979; visit kfia.org.
18-20—InWoodsExpo 2015, Hot Springs, Ark. Call 501-224-2232; visit arkloggers.com.
18-19—Mid-Atlantic Logging & Biomass Expo, Selma/Smithfield, NC. Call 919-271-9050; visit midatlantic-logging-biomassexpo.com. 24-26—American Loggers Council annual meeting, Red Lion Hotel, Eureka, Calif. Call 409-625-0206; visit americanloggers.org.
October 6-8—Arkansas Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Arlington Hotel, Hot Springs, Ark. Call 501-3742441; visit arkforests.org. 7-9—North Carolina Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Marriot Resort Spa at Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, SC. Call 800-231-7723; visit ncforestry.org. 7-9—National Hardwood Lumber Assn. Annual Convention & Exhibit Showcase, Omni Hotel, Nashville, Tenn. Call 901-377-1818; visit nhla.com. Listings are submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with contacts prior to making plans to attend.
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MARCH 2015 ● Southern Loggin’ Times
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