Jeanne Tomascheski went above and beyond this year by providing poster paper and personal classroom visits to almost every school in attendance. These visits prepare both students and teachers for what to expect during their fieldtrip, what to wear, and how to be safe. I am confident that the classroom site visits have accounted for each and every school being on-time at the fairgrounds to begin their tour.

The weather for Education day was ominous in the morning as guides arrived to receive their tour assignments. It was raining heavily as two large group of resource guides were lead on a “dry run” through the stations they would be chaperoning students through. Even with the foul weather, every guide and every school showed up. Just as the busses arrived, the rain subsided and the students departed the bus to find their leaders in burgundy t-shirts with soaking wet hair. With roughly 100-guides, we were only out numbered 7 to 1, and everyone did their job flawlessly. The rain held off and by noon when the fieldtrip was concluding, the sun emerged.

Numerous schools came prepared and continued to enjoy the fairgrounds with a sack lunch in the sunshine.  Each bus was outfitted with the gift bags (royal blue drawstring backpacks) to
Teachers were very appreciative of the transportation funding (without which they would not be able to attend) and poster contest monies. Last year a class took their poster contest funds to enjoy a pizza party and pay for a fieldtrip to Whiskeytown falls. We had many outstanding posters this year, utilizing the large pulp paper, and the winners were displayed at the education auction event on Friday evening. be distributed to each student when they returned to the school. These contained pencils and bookmarks and seeds, as well as a tree seedling to plant now that they had learned the skills on their tour.

On Saturday, we were informed by a number of presenters that students had returned with their families to enjoy the conference after having a good experience on Education Day.

I will conclude with one teacher’s observations shared via email:

“Thank you, once again, for including us in the SCLC Education Day. It was awesome. I was sharing with my Principal that although there were a lot of kids there (Over 500??) we felt like we were always the focus when we were at a stop. You designed everything in such a manner, that we never felt hurried or at a station too long. Your presenters were fantastic. Our students commented on how much they learned about the timber industry. It truly connects all the learning opportunities I provide them with some real experiences! Some commented they were going to bring their parents there this weekend. I hope our students were polite and responded positively to everyone. We look forward to the woods tour this spring.” – Dennis Mitchell, Evergreen School

Respectfully submitted:
Ted James
February 20, 2013

Donated Volunteer Time:

• 48 Resource Professional Guides from – Sierra Pacific Industries, Crane Mills, W.M. Beaty & Associates, USFS, CA DFG, Cal Fire, Collins Pine, Soper-Wheeler, Applied Forest Management and Fruit Growers
• 22 Professional Presenters from – Sierra Pacific Industries, W.M. Beaty & Associates, Warner Enterprises, Red Tail Publishing, Croman Helicopters, Mark Colp Chainsaw Carving, Wood Mizer, Eddie Axner Excavating, Wild Things and Wildlife Safari
• 12 College Student Guides from Shasta College Heavy Equipment Operators Club and  Forestry Club (John Livingston)
• 34 High School Student Guides from Anderson High School – also bagged all seedlings, sorted items into 700 student backpacks, Tommy 2×4 actor & handlers (Carol Perea)

Education Day Attendance:

• Total of 24 Classes (Grant Elementary as a new school)
• Total over 700 Students with additional Teachers and Parents

(Shasta, Trinity and Tehama Counties)

Education Day Stations Included:

• Wild Things Wildlife Show
• Logging Sports Demonstration
• Bejac Equipment
• CAT Equipment
• Tigercat Equipment
• Log Loading Demonstration
• (2) Tree Planting Demonstrations
• Steam Donkey
• Log / Lumber Trucks with Tommy 2×4
• Croman Helicopter
• Saws Demonstration (Historic to Present)
• Safari Wildlife Trailer
• Hydrophobic Soils Demonstration
• Wood Mizer Sawmill
• Chainsaw Carver
• Backhoe Rodeo Demonstration

Education Day Committee:

Ted James, Jeanne Tomascheski, Shaney Emerson, Carol Perea and Kelly Fredrickson

2013 Golf Tournament Winners:

1^st  Place Team:                                Mike Wiirta, Mark McIntire, Mike Hudack & Randy Sprague
2^nd Place Team:                 John Mills, Stu Farber, Teresa Warshawer, Danielle Lindler

Closest to Pin #3:             John Mills
Closest to Pin #17:          Randy Sprague

Long Drive (Men):           Franco Flores
Long Drive (Women):    Danielle Lindler

Many thanks to our sponsors:

Columbia Forest Products
Crown Motors
Diversified Resources Inc
Matheny, Sears. Linkert & James, LLC
Pape Machinery Inc.
Rough & Ready Lumber Company
Shasta Green
Southern Oregon Log Scaling

Thirty contestants competed in two skills sets. The first skill consisted of stacking log rounds, the second required sliding log rounds onto a rack. Each contestant had a practice session prior to competing.  After the first round of through the skill sets, 15 finalists were selected based on the lowest time scores. Those 15 contestants repeated the skill sets to determine the winner.

A huge thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible

Pape Machinery –loader
Trinity River Lumber – logs
LeVey Transportation – low bed and loader
Shasta College – volunteers to set up the competitions
Campbell Forest Group – prize money and trophies
Warner Enterprises – transportation and event organization

2013 Competition Results

1^st Place               Ron Doelker       364 seconds       $1000 Prize

2^nd Place              Justin Myers      412 seconds       $  500 Prize

3^rd Place               Ed Gill                   416 seconds       $   250 Prize       

A trophy was presented to Kenneth H. Doelker, Sr. for his outstanding skill of operating backhoes and for his many years participation in the industry.

A heartfelt thanks goes out to our judges:
John Schmit – Ferguson Waterworks
Isreal Hernandez – United Rentals
Phil Watkins – Interwest Insurance
Gary George – Sonsray Machinery (formerly Case Equipment)

Use of machinery generously provided by:
Sonsray Machinery, Peterson Tractor and Pape Machinery

The Backhoe Rodeo Event Sponsors are appreciated for their support of this great event.

Shasta District Fairgrounds Anderson, California

Sunny skies and seasonal temperatures greeted the crowd attending the 64th edition of the Sierra-Cascade Logging Conference held at the Shasta District Fairgrounds in Anderson, California. Although smaller in scope from years prior, a reflection of the economics we live in, the enthusiasm and dedication of the board and officers keep the show humming.

Thursday morning’s Conference Kickoff Breakfast opening ceremonies (formerly known as the “Gin Fizz Breakfast”) began promptly at 8 a.m. with emcee Jed Gibson keeping the program on schedule. This year’s conference president was Joe Miller.

Three awards were presented during the ceremonies as well. The John Jarred Award recognized Frank Muse for his years of dedication to his community and our industry.

SCLC’s recognized Mike Albrecht as Logger of the Year who said, “…I value this higher than anything I’ve ever received, and I’m glad to be a part of this industry.”

The Roy Berridge Award recognized the many years of service to the industry to Bill Dennison, former Conference Exec. Director, and ‘84 conference president.

The keynote speaker was Barnie Gyant, Deputy Regional Forester, Region Five of the US Forest Service. It was clear from the beginning Gyant’s presentation was about progress, change and actual achievement in the near future rather than the typical boilerplate of targets, studies and good intentions we’ve heard time and again from the Forest Service. Those in the audience confirmed that what we were hearing is what actually happens when Gyant’s involved.

He set the stage noting, the key issue of infrastructure saying “…in a group this large, we only have a small group under 30. Who are we going to leave it to?”

He explained in a recent meeting, “I asked the group with all the budgets, policies, and handbooks, have we forgotten about the people we’re supposed to serve?”

The harsh reality, said Gyant, “…here’s the deal: without half the people in this room, we can’t manage the national forests. If the infrastructure disappears, that’s the mills, the loggers, equipment dealers,” how long would it take to bring that infrastructure back…Never?

A very different conversation, and shocking revelation from a current government employee indeed.
“Here’s what we can do: I signed up for the job I’m in,” Gyrant said. “I personally knew the job I’m currently in was challenging, the reason I did: I want to try and make a differenc. We keep showing up and we keep trying. I’m not planning on quitting. That’s what it’s going to take.”

His emphasis is based on having all parties come to the realization that we need to work together. “What I say to the environmental folks, ‘… if we don’t manage it: it burns.’ Let’s quit arguing about one tree here and one there… when we do that things burn,” and no one benefits.

“Everywhere there’s infrastructure (remaining), we have to be sure to get fiber to those mills… we have to be smart and strategic where we send our money,” Gyrant said. “IF IT BURNS, we lose habitat, infrastructure, do damage to ground, put sediment into streams, into reservoirs… we’ve got to get out of that loop.”

“Is there a way for us?” he then noted, “I’m challenging us on working together to be preventative and proactive. I think if we do that we can all win. What that means: we need to change our behavior. I’m willing to do that.”

He demands the staff perform to those expectations as well saying, “…what I tell my other staff: When you’re business becomes my business (because nothing is happening), it’s no longer your business. If that doesn’t become your priority then we’re down that discipline road. Eventually I wonder if I need you at all.”

And what we were hearing from those at the breakfast is they’re seeing this in action, with what’s actually occurring on the ground.

“What I really want to do, at the end of it, I want to leave it in better shape than what we found it. We owe that to our kids!”

Time, of course, will tell, but thus far Gyrant is delivering, walking the talk. There were a host of other classes, seminars, and presentation, in addition to the college logging competitions and a good display of current logging equipment at the show as well.
Perhaps the most significant occurance took place on Saturday when the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced a pending change in diesel powered logging equipment, with those rules applying only to the San Joaquin Valley Airshed. (See the entire news release on the page 22 of Loggers World Roundup).

CARB logging equipment regs will likely apply only to some counties Associated California Loggers has been working with the California Forestry Association(CFA) for a number of years in negotiating with the California Air Resources Board(CARB) on diesel issues. For over six years, the “California Forestry Association-Associated California Loggers Diesel Working Group” has focused continually on these issues. This Working Group includes ACL member logging companies who have met with CARB officials and taken them on woods tours in 2012 and previous years.

The CFA-ACL Working Group seems to have obtained a “win” for 2013 and beyond. On February 9, 2013 at the Sierra Cascade Logging Conference, Tim Hartigan from the Off-Road Ag/Forestry Diesel Rule staff, announced that the proposed Rule on agriculture and forestry(logging) equipment would apply only to the San Joaquin Valley Airshed(counties of San Joaquin,Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and the Valley portion of Kern County.) He also stated that there were no anticipated performance requirements likely for the forestry equipment within the San Joaquin Airshed but there would be made available incentives to upgrade the equipment. Workshops on the Rule will be announced any day and are likely to be in mid-March 2013. A draft Rule for a 45-day public comment period is likely in late September to the first of November. The final Rule is likely to be approved at the December 2013 Air Resources Board meeting.

In seeking this relief from the proposed logging equipment regulation, ACL logging companies reached out directly to the Air Board staff in a variety of ways. Nine CARB staff members took a small van to the top of the Sierras to visit a Robinson Enterprises job and personally see logging equipment in action far away from population centers. (Past ACL President Ed Walker and Board Members Joe Griggs, Jr. and Lowell Robinson hosted this tour.)

Board Member Robert D’Agostini’s J & R Logging lent its equipment to extensive filming for presentation to CARB so the CARB Chair and the entire staff could see what logging equipment looks like and how it works. Various other companies met personally with CARB staff to describe directly their equipment issues. Mike Anderson and Myles Anderson of Anderson Logging, new ACL President Tim Renner of Diamond “R” Ranch(working through his Assemblyman, Natural Resources Committee Chair Wes Chesbro, on certain issues) , Board Member Mike Albrecht of Sierra Resource Management, and member company John Wheeler Logging were among the participants in this recent effort.

Though logging companies were vitally important to this negotiation, ACL thanks Steve Brink, Vice President of the California Forestry Association, for his expertise and leadership of the CFA-ACL Working Group(and for drafting part of this article). The Working Group will continue to work on getting relief to our industry on diesel rules and will participate in the comment periods on the Rules that lie ahead to make sure things happen as CARB has said they would. – Assoc. California Loggers

Thursday February 7th 8:00 am Shasta District Fairgrounds, Fusaro Hall

Barnie Gyant

Deputy Regional Forester for Resources, Pacific Southwest Region

Barnie Gyant is the Deputy Regional Forester for Resources for the Pacific Southwest Region (Region 5), USDA Forest Service. He oversees the areas of Program Development and Budget, Ecosystems Management, Ecosystems Planning, Information Management, and Tribal Relations. Mr. Gyant was previously the Deputy Director of Ecosystem Management in Region 5 from September 2009 to June 2012. Barnie successfully completed a temporary promotion to Director, Ecosystem Management for four months in 2010 and for five months in 2011. He has an extensive background including work assignments as Forest Supervisor, Deputy Forest Supervisor, District Ranger, Deputy District Ranger, and Resources Program Manager.

Early in his career, he was a Fisheries Biologist. Barnie has extensive experience as a line officer and natural resources manager for the past 20 years working on eight different national forests and in four different regions. Barnie earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Biology from East Carolina University. Key strengths include a strong background in natural resources and ecological restoration and strong communication and collaboration skills.

Tom Partin has 40 years of experience in various Forestry and Forest Industry positions. As President, Mr. Partin is responsible for the preparation of a strategic and operating plan that reflects the needs and preferences of the membership. He is also in charge of reviewing AFRC’s staffing and work assignments of the fifteen employees of the organization. As President, Mr. Partin must also have a thorough knowledge and understanding of his members needs, and to ensure full sharing of important and needed information. Mr. Partin is also responsible for overseeing the AFRC budget.

Mr. Partin worked for 25 years in the timber industry in positions that included forester, logging manager, resident plant manager, regional manager overseeing multiple facilities, and vice-president.  He has also had experience in setting up an operation in Europe and helping to source raw materials for that business.

In Mr. Partin’s role as industry vice-president, he also been very involved in various positions in the communities he lived in. He  has served as county planning commission chairman, parks and  recreation district chairman, and one term as mayor.

As President of AFRC, Mr. Partin has also chaired the Forest Industry Association Council and the National Council of Forestry Association Executives.

Shasta District Fairgrounds

To all California Forestry School Alumni,

The time has arrived to determine which school is best for 2013. Berkeley took home the honors last year with some skilled late maneuvering at the closing bell. It’s time for Cal Poly and Humboldt State to show their colors and not let a Bears dynasty take hold. This last year must have been painful knowing you’re not the smartest or best looking in the forestry field.

These lumberjacks and jills live on pretty tight budgets and it is through your support that they are able to attend the conference and compete. The contacts the students make with each other and the natural resource professionals that attend is key to their future and our industry. Lodging, gas, and a lot of food is what is needed to make it happen.

The gauntlet has been dropped, lines in the sand drawn, the time is now to make your stand. If you would like to sponsor please send your checks to the address below.

Sierra Cascade Logging Conference
P.O. Box 993220
Redding, CA 96099-3220

Mark your checks:

Logging sports sponsor and the name of the best forestry school.

We look forward to seeing you in February at the conference.

On behalf of the board of directors, thank you for your support.
Joe E. Miller
President
Sierra Cascade Logging Conference

Forest Products And Equipment Exposition

“All For One, One For All” February 7-9, 2013

Greetings,

The board members and committees are hard at work putting together the 2013 Conference. It’s our commitment to put on the best conference we can this year, in keeping with the tradition of excellence from past years.

This year’s conference will once again be held at the Shasta District Fairgrounds in Anderson CA. This venue gives us the ability to keep all events and functions centrally located so all patrons can easily enjoy all we have to offer.

We plan to have all the same events as last year with the possibility of some new and exciting additions in the works. Stay tuned for more information. You can always visit our website www.sierracascadeexpo.com to see the latest additions and up dates to the program, itinerary and schedule.

Our program will be filled with timely issues that we think will be of great interest to our members, along with some history of our industry and how we got to where we are today.

Please take the time to fill out your registration forms, drop them in the mail and support us in whatever way you can. This enables us to continue our efforts in educating our youth and teachers about what a wonderful industry and renewable resource we are all a part of. Don’t forget to get your gun raffle tickets when you register.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Committee Chairs, Committee members, and all of our devoted volunteers, we invite you to the 64^th Annual Sierra Cascade Logging Conference. All of us are looking forward to seeing you in February. Until then be safe and well and pray for sunshine.

Respectfully,

Joe E. Miller

President, Sierra Cascade Logging Conference

Words just can’t do justice to the amount of thanks we send your way.  This year’s Conference was a tremendous success because of involvement from the entire industry and the community as a whole.  Whether it was a slightly improved economy or people just wanting to contribute, we are amazed and extremely happy with the end result. You came through for us!

Our Board, Committee Chairs, Committee Members and all the other people who plan and execute the Conference did an outstanding job in making the event a prosperous one.  The Education Auction nearly doubled what it has done the last few years, putting to work dollars for programs like Forestry Institute for Teachers, Talk-About-Trees and the Forestry Challenge.

When we needed sponsors for events, auction items donated or sponsored, support to offset expenses for the logging sports teams, we asked you and you responded with comments like: “sure”, “absolutely” and “we’d be happy to”.  When we asked for your time, or for you to attend an event you said: “certainly”, or “we’ll be there”.  The past few years have been very tough on all of us but if this year is any indication, the future is promising and things are getting better.

To the public who attended the Conference, we hope it was everything and more than you expected.  We go out of our way to make it fun for the whole family.  Entertaining while educational is what we strive for.  Thanks for coming out and supporting us.

On behalf of the Sierra-Cascade Logging Conference Board and all our volunteers, thank you sincerely, for you participation in helping us to educate the public and the next generation that what we do is a good thing and to encourage them to be a part of it.

Thank you and we’ll see you next year!

Mark Lathrop
President,
Sierra-Cascade Logging Conference