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SHOW IN REVIEW

RRLC Diamond Jubilee

By Mary Bulwinkle

State of the art logging equipment and examples of logging techniques from days gone by were featured at the 75th Annual Redwood Region Logging Conference (RRLC) held this past spring in Eureka, Calif.

The theme, “Celebrating Our Families and Forests that Cultivate Our Communities,” was selected by RRLC Diamond Jubilee President Dave Carter, and change was a predominant topic of discussion.

“There have been a lot of changes in our industry,” Carter says, “and we are stronger because of that. We need to welcome and embrace change. Ours is still a viable industry and well worth being involved in.”

Competition

New and exciting this year…the log loading and wrapper throwing competitions.

It’s not often you get to compete using a state-of-the art John Deere D-series swing machine. Made possible by the Pape Machinery store of Medford, Ore., competitors climbed into a 3754D log loader and were judged on both time and accuracy. The John Deere D-series log loader featured a Tier-3 compliant 271 HP engine, 105,000 pounds of operating weight, a 43-foot maximum reach, and dual swing motors.

Log loading was judged on time and accuracy. First place was awarded to Bryan Chips, who works for Bundy & Sons Logging, with a time of 3:15. Second place went to Danny Paul, an employee of Steve Wills Logging & Trucking, with a time of 4:06 seconds.

There was not a lot of time separating the winners in the wrapper throw. Greg Parmeter of Parmeter Logging was first with a time of 1:32, second place was Michael Maciel of Maciel Trucking with a time of 1:35, and third place went to Bob MacMullin of MacMullin Forestry & Logging (a past president of RRLC) with a time of 1:44. Competitors in this category were judged on time and tightness of the wrapper.

Both competitions were sponsored by John Deere, Redwood Coast Fuels, Fleetpride, Acme Rigging, and Sierra Pacific Industries.

Displays

Equipment displays and vendors are an important part of the Redwood Region Logging Conference.

“One of the signature things about the Redwood Region Logging Conference is the detail we pay to vendors,” RRLC Executive Director Katherine Ziemer says. “When they arrive, our board works to help them unload, find their space, and set up…we want to make sure they have a positive experience.”

This year, more than 100 vendors got a chance to promote their company and share their messages with more than 20,000 attendees at the conference.

Auction & More

The annual auction raised more than $100,000 for educational projects, such as Education Day at the conference (attended by 1,600 students) and Career Day, where high school students can talk to resource professionals about jobs in the logging industry. RRLC also awarded $10,000 in college scholarships.

About the commitment to education, President Carter says, “One of the things I love about RRLC is seeing those young faces and giving them the opportunity to pursue their careers in forestry.”

Another fun way to involve local schools in the conference is the mural contest. One of the winners this year was Mrs. Jamie Lommori’s Kindergarten class from Stanwood A. Murphy Elementary School in Scotia, Calif. Her class won a $150 first prize in the K–3rd Grade category. Mrs. Lommori’s husband Mike is on the RRLC Board of Directors and has taken an active role for many years in the educational scholarships that are given out every year. (Note: He is not a judge in the mural contest.)

Ladies of the logging industry honored one of their own at the conference, presenting the Shining Star Award to Rosina Lewis, who operates Lewis Logging in Humboldt County, Calif., with her husband and family. The couple also owns a vineyard, producing wine under the Rosina Vineyards label.

The RRLC is held every other year in Eureka. Next year, the 76th annual gathering will take place March 13-15, 2014, in Ukiah, Calif.