Table of Contents

August 2009 Classifieds

Download the Southern Loggin' Times August 2009 IronWorks classifieds here!

Thoughts On America by President Allen Ribelin

Having recently celebrated the birth of this great nation, my thoughts turn to what it means to be an American:

“When an American says that he loves his country, he means not only that he loves the New England hills, the prairies glistening in the sun, the wide and rising plains, the great mountains and the sea. He means that he loves an inner air, an inner light in which freedom lives and in which a man can draw the breath of self-respect.”—Adlai Stevenson

“And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.”—Lee Greenwood

The Lighter Side of Logging

I never owned (a mule) nor never mean to, ’less there is a United Staits law passed requiring it. . . . Enny man who is willing tu drive a mule ought to be exempt by law from running for the legislatur. Tha are the strongest creeturs on earth, and heaviest, ackording tu their sise. I herd tell ov one who fell oph from the tow path, on the Eri Kanawl, and sunk as soon as he touched bottom, but he kept rite on towing the boat tu the nex stashun, breathing thru his ears, which stuck out ov the water about 2 feet 6 inches. I did’nt see this did, but an auctuneer told me ov it, and I never knew an auctuneer tu lie unless it was absolutely convenient.

Coaching Strategies by Jennifer McCary

Every once in a while you come across a guy whose enthusiasm for his work is almost contagious. Watching him one can imagine gears engaging inside his head as he tackles the problem of the moment. Keith Bunch, owner of Bunch Logging, Inc., is such a man. A third generation woodsman, Bunch left a teaching career 21 years ago to help out after his dad’s logging accident and never looked back.

“Some say I wasted all that time working to become a teacher, but no, it really has helped,” the 48-year-old businessman states. “I used to coach, too, and really that’s what I am doing right now in these woods. You’ve got to motivate a team to get them to work together. It’s the same out here.”

Nameless Texas Towns

TL.L. Temple, who had founded Diboll in 1894, strongly disapproved of drinking, fist-fighting, and other bad behavior, and had constructed a church and school at company expense 40 years before to help civilize his mill town. Temple, John Martin Thompson, R.A. Long, and other mill owners were strongly moral men concerned that their towns had such educational and uplifting institutions to encourage Sabbath observances, piety and sobriety. Temple and Martin often inspected their towns, but even when owners resided in far-away Chicago or Kansas City and rarely visited, they usually provided full or partial support for community churches and schools.

Positive Outlook by David Abbott

Jeffrey Bartley, 38, owner of Forest Hills Logging, Inc., has an optimistic view, despite being well aware of the facts. Looking around, he sees the paper business and housing markets are both bad. He worries because so many loggers have been forced out of business, and those who remain are told simply to find ways to be more efficient. Logging rates are so bad, he says, that he’s making no more money now than he did when fuel was at $4 a gallon. Competition for stumpage is fierce. “It’s never been this tough on us,” he says. Still, Bartley is upbeat. His forecast is that things will pick up and turn around, but not this year. “Hopefully those who stick to it out will benefit in the end. We’ll get over the hurdle. We always do somehow.”

Bartley says he’s known all his life what he wanted to do: follow in the footsteps of his father and uncle, logging and farming. He grew up in logging with his father, Jeff. Jeff and his brother cut shortwood in the mid-1960s and hauled ply lo

Timber Firm Implements Scanners, Streamlines Business With Loggers

Scofield Timber was founded almost 40 years ago out of the realization that some harvesting techniques available at the time possessed drawbacks not suited for sensitive properties, often leaving land diminished of its value. The Atlanta metropolitan area company quickly grew as a leader helping to open up new markets for landowners, while also preserving the land value.

Today, the company is one of the largest timber dealers in the Southeast and has evolved into a full service timber enterprise, reporting the harvest of more than 1 million trees per year year. For a company like Scofield, which manages more than 20 projects at any time, proper documentation is the cornerstone of its successful business operation.

Whatever It Takes by David Abbott

Forestry 21 is an independent equipment dealer handling both forestry and construction. On the forestry side Forestry 21 carries Tigercat and also represents Stihl, Cummins, Hyundai and Terex on the construction side. The dealer serves much of south central to north Alabama and the west central edge of Georgia.

Logger Ricky McConnell started the company in late 1998. Frustrated with the increasing complexities of logging, McConnell decided he could serve the industry better from the position of equipment sales.

Current Industry News

Michael J. Mack, Jr., is the new president of John Deere’s Worldwide Construction & Forestry Div. Mack had been senior vice president and chief financial officer of Deere & Company since January 2006. He served previously in the finance division as vice president & treasurer, and in the company’s Worldwide Commercial & Consumer Div. as senior vice president, marketing and administration. His career began as a summer intern engineer at Deere’s Des Moines Works.

Mack replaces Samuel Allen, who is the first president of Deere’s Construction & Forestry Div. to be elected to CEO at Deere & Company in the company’s 172-year history.

Fuel Tips by Liz Quinn

While fuel-efficient equipment is an important first step toward reducing fuel costs, you can do more to haul the most timber on the least amount of fuel. Just abiding by a few common sense tips can make the most of your fuel dollar. Here are a few suggestions:

Turn off the machine. If a machine is not in use, don’t let it idle. It sounds like common sense, but a surprising number of operators leave their machines running needlessly.

New Products & Technologies

FAE USA introduces the PT-300 unit, a smaller version of the PT-400. Its 275 HP engine and track options allow the PT-300 to traverse the most difficult terrain from steep slopes to swampy areas that demand excellent traction and low ground pressure. Outfitting the PT-300 with an FAE mulching attachment allows the unit to grind, shred and mulch wood material up to 14" in diameter which makes it an excellent tool for removing unwanted undergrowth, invasive species of vegetation or even thinning and clear-cut applications. Call 877-FAEUSA-1

Skidded Treetop Strikes Timber Cutter

Background: A timber cutter and skidder operator were clear-cutting and skidding hardwood timber on a clear, sunny, summer morning in the Appalachians.

Personal Characteristics: The 47-year-old timber cutter had worked in the woods for the past 10 years. He was fully trained in timber felling techniques, and he was wearing all appropriate personal protective equipment. The timber cutter had worked all morning felling and trimming timber, and lunchtime was approaching.

SWPA Annual Meeting: It’s Crews, NeeSmith, Nathe by DK Knight | photos by Ashley Adams

Supporters of the Southeastern Wood Producers Assn. (SWPA) joined members of the Florida-Georgia organization and their families at Lake Blackshear Resort near here June 26-27 for recreation, education, recognition, encouragement, fund raising and networking. Despite a tough market, participation was good across the board, according to SWPA Executive Director Tommy Carroll. Just under 200 attended.

Activities included a silent auction; vendor exhibits; golf, fishing and sporting clays competition; picnic and games; business conference; signature ice cream social and awards banquet.