A Look At The 2025 Oregon Logging Conference
Loggers from across the Pacific Northwest enjoyed a several day break from wintry weather with dry skies at the 2025 Oregon Logging Conference. According to 2025 Oregon Logging Conference President Jayme Dumford, “The show continues to grow and has become the place to be for industry professionals.” He expressed his appreciation to everyone who did their part to make such a huge event so successful.
Keynote speaker Chris Evans, President of Timberlab, based on Portland, Ore., talked about the environmental advantages of using mass timber building materials and also gave some details on his company’s new cross-laminated timber plant in Millersburg, Ore., scheduled for startup in third quarter 2026.
The investment keeps Oregon on the leading edge of engineered wood technology and sustainable building materials, Evans said, and also creates more demands for lumber in a variety of grades, he added.
Future Workers
During the OLC, more than 700 students, educators and industry professionals participated in the 7th Annual Future Forestry Workers Career Day. The event drew high school students from more than 32 Oregon schools attended this hands-on career day to learn about logging, forestry, reforestation, sawmills, wildland firefighting, diesel mechanics, and operating heavy equipment.
Some of the students had an opportunity to operate a small excavator, with one student saying, “That’s the most fun I’ve ever had,” and adding, “that was so cool.” One of the educators accompanying her students described the event as a “one-stop shop” for learning about current job opportunities and careers in natural resource-related industries, and she and her students look forward to coming to this event every year.
Loader Contest
Sponsored by Triad Machinery and Link-Belt, the 15th Annual Oregon Logging Conference Log Loader Competition featured loggers from across the Pacific Northwest demonstrating their skills at log and block handling.
This year contestants operated a 4040-B Link-Belt with “Timber Builds Dreams” logo. According to contest officials, this year the top three winners were within 20 seconds of each other: First place was Jeremy Staats of Bryant Logging with a time of 3:24:44. Second place was a familiar name in this annual contest, Bryan Chipps of Green Diamond Resource Co., with a time of 3:35:91, and third place was Layne Walker with a time 3:43.16.
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