December 2023 Issue <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Vol. 8 Issue 6

In this issue: Highlighting a few of the upcoming OLC seminars, the 2023 Operators of the Year and Merit award winners have been announced, and Oregon Logging Conference Foundation scholarship applications are now available for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Quick links are listed at the end of this newsletter.

THANK YOU

TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS

Seminar Topics Planned for the 86th Annual OLC

One of the Business seminars scheduled to take place at the 86th Annual Oregon Logging Conference will be on the topic of advanced driver training, cameras in vehicles/telematics. Senior Fleet Compliance Manager for the Papé Group of Companies David Gaffney will present this seminar of advanced driver training for experienced drivers.

This is a collision avoidance course with real world examples to provide useful

information for drivers to make appropriate, educated decisions on the roadways.

This seminar is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the SW meeting room of the exhibit hall.

One of the Hands-On seminars at the OLC, sponsored by General Trailer, will be a walk around truck and brake inspection. This seminar will be presented by Sean Gilhousen, Compliance Specialist II with the Oregon Department of Transportation CCD Motor Carrier Safety Enforcement.

This seminar will take place in the General Trailer outside exhibit area on Friday, Feb. 23 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Another seminar topic is updates on the Private Forest Accord. Making presentations at this seminar will be Greg Erb, Oregon Department of Forestry, Seth Barnes, Oregon Forest Industries Council, Joe Schaefer, Cascade Timber Consulting, and Thomas Whittington, Oregon Department of Forestry.

This seminar is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 23 in the Wheeler Pavilion, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Register now to attend the 86th Annual Oregon Logging Conference, Feb 22, 23 & 24, 2024. Online registration is available through OLC’s newly designed website Oregon Logging Conference or call 541.686.9191

Oregon Operators of the Year and Merit Award Winners Announced by Oregon Department of Forestry

Two loggers and a forestry consultant have been selected as Operators of the Year in their respective regions by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). In addition, five Oregon companies will receive Merit Awards from ODF.

In Eastern Oregon, the 2023 Operator of the Year is Leigh Ann Vrandenberg, a forestry consultant with the Klamath watershed Partnership.

In Northwest Oregon, the 2023 Operator of the Year is Ron Staley Enterprises in Lebanon, OR.

In Southwest Oregon, the 2023 Operator of the Year is Plikat Logging, Inc. in Roseburg, OR.

The five Merit Award winners are Rude Logging, LLC, Big O Logging, Pellham Cutting, Inc., Don Hamann, Inc., and Weber Logging and Construction.

Leigh Ann Vrandenberg, forestry consultant,

Klamath Watershed Partnership

Eastern Oregon 2023 Operator of the Year

Vrandenberg brings together landowners, agencies, and other partners to conserve, enhance, and restore natural resources of the Klamath River basin, while ensuring the economic vitality for the community. She is a trusted partner for both landowners and loggers in the area.

Because of Vrandenberg’s work, large swaths of overcrowded forest stands have been thinned and had brush cut back, reducing drought stress on remaining trees, improving their health and resistance to pests, and making it safer for landowners.

ODF Stewardship Forester Jason Pettigrew, who works with Vrandenberg, said she works closely with landowners, including helping obtain federal grants for the work that is done. “By assembling many small jobs into larger projects, she makes it economically viable for local logging firms to do the work,” Pettigrew said.

Ron Staley of Ron Staley Enterprises

Northwest Oregon 2023 Operator of the Year

Ron Staley has been recognized for working with conservation-minded landowners to

protect forested buffers around fish-bearing streams, while minimalizing soil compaction

and disturbance. He is also being recognized for using new tools and technologies, such as high-end custom drones to fly rigging lines over buffers, which is a safer and more efficient method.

Staley and his crew were also commended for excellence in logging road construction

and clean up, and for shutting down operations during heavy rainfall to prevent possible runoff of sediment into streams. “Of all the operators I have worked with, this company consistently does by far, the best job of post-harvest cleanup of the road system,” ODF Stewardship Forester Jerrin Robbins said. “Examples include shaping the roads to minimize runoff, clearing ditches

and catch basins, and pulling any temporary crossings,” Robbins added.

Jeff Plikat of Plikat Logging Inc.

Southwest Oregon 2023 Operator of the Year

This is at least the third Operator of the Year award for Plikat Logging. Landowner Roseburg Resources nominated Plikat Logging Inc. for the Operator of the Year Award, citing the logging company’s willingness to shut down winter operations during heavy rainfall and how they carefully log on steep hillsides while protecting

buffers around fish-bearing streams by careful placement of rigging corridors where logs

were passed over the buffer or through existing gaps in the trees.

ODF Stewardship Forester Donnie Widener said Plikat Logging Inc. also maintained access to a popular tourist attraction during operations. The Doerner Fir, also known as the Brummit fir is a 327-foot-tall tree and is one of the tallest Douglas fir trees in the world. “The only road to the fir passed right through Plikat’s logging operation, which they would halt to let visitors pass through safely,” Widener said.

Tim Rude, Rude Logging, LLC - 2023 Eastern Oregon Merit Award

Tim Rude of Rude Logging LLC, based in John Day, was recognized for protecting waters of a fish-bearing stream while harvesting in steep forests that needed thinning to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire.

Olav "Ole" Berg, Big O Logging - 2023 Northwest Oregon Merit Award

Big O Logging, Inc., based in Birkenfeld in Columbia County, was recognized for helping thin overcrowded forestland during ongoing road repair work.

Greg Pellham, Pellham Cutting, Inc. - 2023 Northwest Oregon Merit Award

Pellham Cutting, Inc., based in St. Helens, was recognized for consistently high performance in harvesting and reforestation, with care to avoid high landslide-risk areas.

Don Hamann, Don Hamann, Inc. - 2023 Southwest Oregon Merit Award

Butte Falls-based Don Hamann, Inc. in Jackson County, was recognized for assisting small landowners in urban-adjacent, high visibility areas with thinning to reduce wildfire risk.

Austin Weber, Weber Logging and Construction - Southwest Oregon Merit Award

This is at least the third Merit award for Weber Logging and Construction. Roseburg-based Weber Logging and Construction, Inc. was recognized for consistent employment of innovative logging technology in steep slope areas to protect fish-bearing streams and minimize soil disturbance and erosion.

Giving praise to both Operators of the Year and Merit awards winners, ODF Forest Resources Division Chief Josh Barnard said, “This year’s honorees harnessed innovative technology and techniques to protect water quality, and helped small landowners improve the health of their forests and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire through careful planning and coordination. In challenging harvesting sites,” he added, “they have shown extraordinary care and diligence to protect resources and meet landowner objectives. We’re proud to recognize the community spirit and leadership these operators have shown,” Barnard said.

These operators were recognized by the Associated Oregon Loggers in January and will be recognized at the Oregon Logging Conference on Fri. Feb. 23 at 10:45 a.m. in the Wheeler Pavilion. ODF FPA Enforcement Coordinator from John Day, OR Kirk Ausland will make the presentation at the OLC.

Oregon Logging Conference Foundation

Scholarship Applications Now Available

Students currently studying and those planning to study logging, forestry, diesel mechanics, welding and other natural resource-related careers may be eligible for

financial assistance in the form of a scholarship from the Oregon Logging Conference Foundation (OLCF).

Applications are now available for the 2024-2025 academic year and can easily be downloaded by clicking here.

The deadline for returning completed applications is April 1, 2024.

OLCF scholarship guidelines include that students must be studying Forest

Management, Forest Engineering, Forest Operations Management, Resource

Management, Heavy Equipment Maintenance and Welding, Diesel Mechanics, or other forest/logging areas of study.

OLCF awards 10 or more scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 every year. Since the scholarship program was established in 1968, nearly 550 students have received more than $1 million in financial assistance.

For more information on the scholarship program, call 541-686-9191 or visit

oregonloggingconferencefoundation.org