FRA Announces Outstanding Logger Award Southwide Region Winners 

The Forest Resources Association (FRA), in partnership with John Deere, honored Ricky Summerford of Summerford Enterprises Inc. from Fulton, Miss., as the 2026 Southcentral Region Outstanding Logger and Tobey McDowell of C. McDowell Logging from Jackson, Ga., as the 2026 Southeastern Region Outstanding Logger.

FRA’s Outstanding Logger Award recognizes exceptional independent logging contractors who demonstrate professional excellence in logging safety, environmental stewardship, business management, and community involvement. The award program elevates industry leaders, encourages peers to model best practices, and promotes strong relationships between loggers, foresters, and landowners.

The honors were presented during FRA’s Southwide Region Spring Meeting on March 11 at the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center in Auburn, Ala. Clay Altizer, FRA’s Southwide Region Manager, introduced Berry Johnson of John Deere and welcomed him to the podium, where Johnson shared why Deere is proud to sponsor the Outstanding Logger Award. Johnson noted that both families exemplify the kind of logging operations the award was created to recognize. “Loggers are essential to proper forest management, and a strong, thriving wood supply chain depends on their hard work,” Johnson said.

Summerford was nominated by the Mississippi Forestry Assn. Johnson and Altizer joined Robby Toombs, FRA’s Southcentral Region Steering Committee Chair, to present Summerford with an engraved cherry and black walnut crosscut saw plaque and award check. He accepted the award on behalf of his family and the Summerford Enterprises team.

Summerford, President and owner of Summerford Enterprises, is a second-generation logger. His father, Carl, who started the family logging business in 1969, still works on-site almost every day. Ricky attended Itawamba Agricultural High School from 1981 to 1984 before studying forestry at Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Miss. Prior to working for Summerford Enterprises, he worked as a forestry technician for Drennen Forestry Services Inc., dealing with timber procurement and land and timber management. He began working for Summerford Enterprises in 1987.

Summerford regularly invites forestry students to observe and take part in silvicultural practices, helping them gain hands-on experience in sustainable forest management. His long-standing commitment to safety, best practices and mentorship has earned him respect across the industry. Summerford was previously named the Mississippi Forestry Assn. 2024 Logger of the Year.

“The FRA Outstanding Logger Award judging panel was extremely impressed during our visit to the Summerford Enterprises Inc. operation,” Altizer said. “Ricky and the entire team are truly deserving of this honor and recognition, and I am proud to celebrate their contributions to our industry and to have them represent the Southcentral Region as our 2026 award winner.”

McDowell was nominated by the Georgia Forestry Assn. and Southeastern Wood Producers Assn. Johnson and Altizer joined Michael Walker, FRA’s Southeastern Region Steering Committee Chair, to McDowell with an engraved cherry and black walnut crosscut saw plaque and award check.

While accepting the award, McDowell thanked those who have supported McDowell Logging through the years, giving special recognition to his family.

“Tobey McDowell has been a model for what a leader and an advocate looks like in the logging sector,” according to Dillon Hendrix, Georgia Forestry Assn. “There is no area of work that McDowell Logging glosses over or won’t treat with the utmost professionalism. Working with Tobey has been a true pleasure. Tobey’s devotion, faith, drive, perseverance, enthusiasm and humility make him not just a great logger, but a wonderful person to have as a representative of this industry.”

McDowell Logging is a family-owned and operated business renowned for its quality, safety and skilled workforce. All harvesting and transportation equipment is company-owned and maintained by employees, including an in-house mechanic, with routine greasing, oil changes and inspections. The company operates two six-person crews and five drivers, averaging 50 loads per week, and specializes in clear-cut harvesting, chipping and thinning operations using exclusively John Deere equipment. Safety is a top priority, managed in partnership with a professional logging safety contractor who oversees monthly OSHA-required meetings. McDowell ensures every job meets landowner expectations, often returning to perform additional cleanup before completion.

Beyond operations, McDowell is deeply engaged in his community and industry, sponsoring local recreational sports, participating in the Butts County Chamber of Commerce, advocating for Georgia forestry policy initiatives, including 2022’s Referendum A and 2023 log trucking weight limits, and serving CrossOver Ministries in Jackson, Ga., in multiple volunteer roles.

“FRA’s Southeastern Region is fortunate to have Tobey McDowell represent us as our 2026 Outstanding Logger Award winner,” Altizer said. “He is a consummate professional and a true asset to his community and the forest products value chain. I would like to commend Tobey and the entire C. McDowell Logging team on achieving this well-deserved honor and recognition.”