Article by Dan Shell
Western Editor
EDITOR’S NOTE: As we begin the new year of 2019, let’s pause for a moment to look back at some of the voices and quotable quotes from the pages of Timber Harvesting in the year just past—2018.
“We believe the (ALC) Master Loggers Certification program provides an opportunity to bridge the gap between certified timberland and certified wood.”—Richard Schwab, M.A. Rigoni, Inc., Perry, Fla.
“We are honored and fortunate to have a relationship with the logging and forestry associations across the United States.”—John Lauck, President and CEO, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
“Retirement to me is a dirty word. I don’t like to hunt, fish, or golf. I like to work. I like the people in the logging industry and like being around them.”—the legendary and late Pat Crawford, founder of Timbco and TimberPro
“You can always buy a truck, but you’ve got to have a qualified driver sitting in the seat to operate it who can meet insurance stipulations and doesn’t have multiple safety violations. That is what we see from an industry standpoint as the big puzzle to solve.”—Tim Williams, Log Creek Timber, Johnston, SC, 2018 TH Logging Business of the Year
“The limiting factor for increased lumber production is not going to be the mills—I believe it’s going to be logging capacity. The sawmills need to remember we’re all in this together. We have to understand each other’s needs and objectives.”—Gerry Ikola, Ikola Logging, McCall, Id.
“I like for our guys to be able to rotate between machines so all of them can run their own machine plus one of the others,”—Kevin Daniels, Daniels Forestry, Belle Fourche, SD
“It will be fun to watch our crew take it to the next level.”—Mike Morey, a founder of Bandit Industries, after company owners sold Bandit to their employees under an ESOP plan.
“For as long as I’ve been in the business, we have these groups that hate the idea of industrial forestry. I never understood their campaign of lies and hatred for the industry, as the alternative to forestry is what?”—Dean McCraw, CEO of Phloem App
“One thing I don’t mess around with is issues with our road equipment. I think it is extremely important to keep maintenance done on trucks and trailers. It’s more important than the stuff in the woods. If you a blow a tire on a skidder, it’s not as likely to get someone killed.”— Tim Mayhan, Southern Forestry Inc.
“Before these boys came along I was interested in getting out, but they gave me a new lease on life. I want to see the logging business treat them as well as it’s treated me.”—Tom Johnson, Johnson Forest Management, Red Creek, NY, on working with his son and nephew.
“I understand a dealer has to make a profit but I don’t feel they should double the price by just ordering a part from an outside vendor. Also, they capture parts that are made by different companies but can only be sold by dealers. The prices become ridiculous.”—Logger responding to TH’s 2018 Equipment Survey
“There is a positive relationship between rates of forest harvests on the one hand, and forest regrowth on the other. Landowners respond to strong markets for forest products by planting more trees.”—Jennifer Jenkins, Enviva VP, Chief Sustainability Officer
“Let’s all really begin to work together. Volunteering a little bit of time to educate and train ourselves to create a safer environment just might get us what we need: the ability to haul state legal weights on safer Interstates.”—Danny Dructor, Executive Vice President, American Loggers Council
“We have played bingo for safety, had quarterly safety drawings, and given out safety rewards such as jackets, hats, mugs and other items.”— Kathryn Thomas, Administrative Manager, Siletz Trucking, Independence, Ore.
“ALC Master Logger Certification is about achieving professional standards and third-party verification. It is a program built not on taking classes, attending workshops or training sessions, but by demonstrating high quality work in the woods every day.”—Ted Wright, Executive Director, Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands
“Good workmanship, providing a quality product, maintaining a good reputation and always being a man of your word.”— Kelly Kimball, Kimball Sawmill & Logging Park Rapids, Minn., whose family has a 300+ year background in the industry, on what it takes.
“Some of the CEOs of these timber companies might be surprised how hard their loggers will work for them if they were allowed to make enough profit to pay their employees what they deserve and live a decent life themselves.”—Mark Turner, Turner Logging, Banks, Ore., 2018 American Loggers Council President