National Hardwood Magazine - July 2024

We Specialize in Walnut 

FROM TIMBER HARVESTING TO FINAL KILN DRIED INSPECTION, WE CONTROL EVERY STEP 

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P.O. Box 247 

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U.S.A. 

www.RealAmericanHardwood.com/industry 

SINCE 1904 

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www.pikelumber.com 

sales@pikelumber.com 

JUNE 2024 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 1

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JUNE 2024 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE A 

B JUNE 2024 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 

Graf Brothers Flooring 

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sales@pikelumber.com 

26 

30 

32 

Contents 

National Hardwood Magazine JULY 2024 Volume 98 No. 6 

Features & Industry Events 

Vetsch Hardwoods Grows The Family 

Tradition 

Safety Culture Blueprint: How To Keep 

Employees Safe And Reduce Your Risks 

Federation Fly-In Takes Off On Capitol 

Hill As Farm Bill Jumps Key Hurdle 

36 

38 

Penn-York Convenes Next At Ron Jones 

After Recent Gathering At Kane Hardwood 

Annual ALC Meeting In Myrtle Beach 

Includes Fun, Plus Industry Insights 

We Specialize in Walnut 

FROM TIMBER HARVESTING TO FINAL KILN DRIED INSPECTION, WE CONTROL EVERY STEP 

About The Cover 

Pike Lumber Company, Inc. 

Pike Lumber Company, is dedicated to 

producing the finest kiln-dried 4/4 through 

12/4 Walnut lumber. We control every step 

of the process. We grow and harvest the 

timber. We saw, steam, and dry the lumber. 

Our expert lumber inspectors grade 

every board to ensure you receive the raw 

material you desire. 

OF THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. 4/4 THROUGH 12/4 THICKNESSES ARE AVAILABLE 

FOR PROMPT SHIPMENT. 

Don’t have a need for full shipment of 

Walnut lumber? No problem! With one of 

the most diverse inventories in the industry, 

we can fill your Walnut order with: Basswood, 

Cherry, Hickory, Hard Maple, Soft Maple, Poplar, Red Oak 

and White Oak. We also offer Rift and Quartered White Oak and 

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Thank you for choosing PIKE BRAND hardwoods for your next 

order! 


Founded in 1927 by: O.L. Miller – 1894-1963 

Publisher: Paul J. Miller – 1963-2010 

• Forest Products Export Directory • Imported Wood Purchasing Guide 

• Import/Export Wood Purchasing News • Hardwood Purchasing Handbook 

• Green Books’s Hardwood Marketing Directory 

• Green Books’s Softwood Marketing Directory 

• The Softwood Forest Products Buyer 

Terry Miller – President 

Paul J. Miller Jr. – Co-owner 

Zach Miller – Sales Executive 

Chris Fehr – Sales Executive 

Sue Putnam – Editor 

Cadance Johnson – Associate Editor 

Jeremiah Hall – Multi-Media Coordinator 

Lara Stearsman – Staff Writer 

Felicia Phillips – Graphic Artist 

Camille Campbell – Graphic Artist 

Tammy Daugherty – Production Manager 

Jennifer Trentman – Green Book Market Sales 

Lisa Carpenter – Circulation Manager 

Lexi Hardin – Subscription & List Services 

Departments 

26 

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Controlled circulation postage paid at Memphis, TN 

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4 Hardwood Calendar 

6 U.S.A. Trends 

8 Canadian Trends 

10 Industry News 

16 HMA Update 

18 AHEC Report 

20 Haldwood Federation Info 

22 NAFF Bulletin 

24 NHLA: Why Knot... 

52 Who’s Who 

58 Classified Profit 

Opportunities 

60 Advertisers Index 

The NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE (ISSN 0194-0910) is published 

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2 JULY 2024 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE www.RealAmericanHardwood.com/industry 


JULY 2024 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 3

HARDWOOD CALENDAR 

Learn More 

Penn-York Lumbermen’s Club, Host: Ron Jones Hardwood 

Sales, Franklin, PA. www.pennyork.org. July 15. 

AHMI, Summer Conference, The Omni Grove Park Inn, 

Asheville, NC. www.appalachianhardwood.org. July 20-23. 

JULY 

Lake States Lumber Assoc., Golf Outing, Minocqua, WI. 

www.lsla.com. July 24-26. 

 

AUGUST 

International Woodworking Fair, Georgia World Congress 

Center, Atlanta, GA. www.iwfatlanta.com. Aug. 6-9. 

Penn-York Lumbermen’s Club, Host: Penn-Sylvan 

International, Titusville, PA. www.pennyork.org. Aug. 12. 

SEPTEMBER 

Penn-York Lumbermen’s Club, Host: Walker Lumber & Forcey 

Lumber, State College, PA. www.pennyork.org. Sept. 9. 

Western Hardwood Association, Annual Convention, Ilani 

Casino, Ridgefield, WA. www.westernhardwood.org. 

Sept. 23-25. n 

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U.S.A. TRENDS 

Supplier news about 

sales, labor, prices, trends, 

expansions and inventories 

LAKE STATES 

Throughout the Lake States region lumber sources 

that were contacted all agreed that their markets had its 

strong points and its weak ones, too. 

In Michigan a lumberman said, at the time of this writing, 

that while his sales are about where they were six 

months ago, they have been hit or miss. 

His company offers Red Oak, Maple, Aspen and Basswood 

in grades No. 1 Common and Better and some 

No. 2 Common and in 4/4 thickness primarily. “Maple 

and Red Oak are our best sellers and Aspen and Basswood 

have been slow,” he said. “We just got back into 

doing Hard Maple in No. 2 Common, but the Soft Maple 

price for green No. 2 Common isn’t very good, so we 

aren’t sorting it right now.” 

He noted that he sells mostly to concentration yards 

and to industrial manufacturers. “I had a customer tell 

me the other day that summer is never as good as the 

spring,” he said, adding that he doesn’t expect his sales 

to continue to go unabated. “Hopefully we continue to 

stay steady, but who knows what kind of drop off we are 

going to see.” 

In Indiana a representative said that his sales have 

been fair, and that they are doing about as well as they 

were six months ago. “We are making enough sales to 

keep our production where it needs to be.” 

He said that his company offers Poplar, Red Oak, 

Hickory and Hard and Soft Maple. “Poplar is our best 

seller and Red Oak is right behind it. Hickory isn’t moving 

at all,” he noted. His company offers these species in 

grades No. 2A and Better and in 4/4 thickness. 

“We sell to distribution yards and end-use manufacturers,” 

he stated. “Their sales seem to being doing 

well based on the fact that they are buying their regular 

amounts.” 

He added that his business continues to be impacted 

by the struggle that he has had to keep good employees 

on the payroll. 

A sawmill representative in Illinois said that he thinks 

his sales are doing better than they were six months 

ago, noting that this is mainly due to the appraisal of 

White Oak. 

His company offers Red and White Oak, Walnut, Hard 

and Soft Maple, Cherry, Ash and Poplar in grades Standard 

Face and Better and No. 2 Common and in thick- 

Please turn to page 41 

NORTHEAST 

Across the Northeast region, lumber sources provided 

varied responses but the majority, at the time of this 

writing, claim that there is an uptick in sales. 

In Pennsylvania, a concentration yard representative 

said that his sales have been mediocre but that “things 

are moving” and when asked to compare current sales 

to six months ago, he said, “I think it’s better.” 

His company handles Walnut in No. 2 Common and 

Select and Better, in addition to No. 1 Common Hard 

and Soft Maple with some upper grades. He also stated 

that “Red Oak always moves but it’s never a money 

maker,” and that they only work with 4/4 thickness. 

He mentioned that they sell “mostly to flooring 

companies, end users, furniture manufacturers and 

some retail yards.” 

In New York, a sawmill representative said that his 

sales are, “pretty good right now” and “better than six 

months ago.” 

His company handles Red and White Oak. Both are 

“selling but the White Oak is selling better than Red.” 

They work with thicknesses of 4/4, 5/4, 6/4 and 8/4. 

They sell to Hardwood distribution yards and furniture 

plants. 

In Maine, a lumber representative said that sales 

have been “decent since the beginning of the year, but 

I think we’re heading into the summer slowdown and 

people won’t need as much lumber going forward until 

possibly next fall.” He also noted that they were in a bit 

of a “transition phase” at the time of this writing and that 

their sales were better than they were six months ago. 

His company markets Hard and Soft White Maple, 

Yellow Birch, and Ash in 4/4 to 8/4. He also noted that 

the Hard White Maple in Select and Better and Soft 

Maple are selling the best. 

They sell to distribution yards, wholesalers, end users, 

flooring, pallet and railroad cross tie companies. n 

SOUTHEAST 

Throughout the Southeast region, the reviews were 

mixed as to how the market was faring. Some sources 

said that the market was very challenging, while others 

said that it was just slightly better. 

In Arkansas, a lumber salesperson said that his market 

seemed to be improving. “It’s fairly soft for Hardwood 

lumber. Your usual customers buy. However, there’s not 

many phone calls or selling to anybody that you haven’t 

sold to for years,” he claimed. He noted that his company 

is doing a “little better” than it was six months ago and 

that it is, “probably just a seasonal thing.” 

His company handles kiln-dried Red and White Oak 

in 4/4 thickness and that the Red Oak sells in grades of 

FAS, No. 1 Common and No. 2 Common. He said that 

“there’s not much of a demand for grade wood like Red 

Oak,” in addition to stating that, “White Oak is hot. Everybody 

knows White Oak is hot but that’s just because 

there’s a limited volume of it.” He also remarked that, 

“Red Oak is flat, and it doesn’t matter the grade.” 

His company sells to “distribution yards and end use 

manufacturers that make appearance grade products,” 

he stated. However, he reiterated that grade lumber demand 

is soft for his company. 

A lumber spokesperson in Tennessee claimed that 

“it’s definitely been better,” and that he would “put it as 

just slightly above poor.” When asked to compare the 

time of this interview to the market six months ago, he 

said that it’s “definitely worse.” 

His company handles Red and White Oak, Hard Maple, 

Poplar, and Ash. He explained that, “White Oak of 

course is probably the best-selling item with Hard Maple 

shortly behind it. Red Oak and Poplar seems to do pretty 

good, and Ash is moving fairly decently. The upper 

grades as well as FAS and Better are definitely moving 

better. Off species also seem to be moving better. The 

Common in the Hard Maple has picked up just recently.” 

He said that his company sells to end use manufacturers 

such as flooring and furniture companies as well 

as distribution centers and exporters. When asked if 

his customers had offered any of their own comments 

on the market, he said that “a lot of them seem to say 

the same thing. There’s not a ton of demand right now. 

Supply pretty much outweighs demand. Now, that has 

changed just a little bit recently. Seems like the demand 

has caught supply a bit, but still looking for this summer 

WEST COAST 

Lumber providers across the West Coast region all 

had similar sentiments as to the health of their sales at 

the time of this writing. 

One source in California said, “While our business 

isn’t necessarily slow, it seems that our customers aren’t 

wanting to commit to orders unless they have an 

order on hand.” He noted that his sales have continued 

this trend over the past six months and while he said he 

doesn’t have any complaints, his sales aren’t as great as 

they have been. 

He noted that his company offers White Oak, Walnut 

and Hickory in all grades and in 4/4 thickness. 

He mentioned that he sells to retail lumber yards, architectural 

and flooring companies. “They’ll have jobs in 

the process, but it’s a matter of when they close the contract 

before they commit to an order from us.” He also 

said that interest rates have continued to hurt his sales, 

especially when it comes to homes and housing starts. 

Another source in California agreed that while his market 

is slower, it isn’t all that bad. “We are doing just as 

well as we were six months ago,” he remarked. 

His company offers Cherry, Poplar, Hard and Soft 

Maple, Walnut, Red and White Oak, Hickory, Ash and 

Basswood, in a variety of thicknesses. “We serve an uppers 

market, so we don’t bring in much No. 1 Common 

anymore,” he added. 

He noted that White Oak and Walnut are selling well, 

but he would like to see the trends start to shift away 

from White Oak as it has become a difficult species to 

stock. 

“We sell mostly to lumber yards and end-use manufacturers,” 

he added. “I’m always asking my customers 

how they are doing and from what I have heard the lumber 

yards continue to be a bit off.” 

He mentioned that while he isn’t currently hiring, he 

has noticed that he struggles to hire for entry level positions. 

In Washington a lumber provider said, “We are a little 

slow frankly. The housing starts are anemic right now, 

and that is what our business is missing. It also doesn’t 

seem like a lot of Hardwood is going into the houses that 

are being built.” 

When asked if his sales are better or worse than they 

were six months ago, he stated that they are about the 

Please turn to page 41 Please turn to page 41 




CANADIAN TRENDS 

News from suppliers about prices, trends, sales and inventories 

ONTARIO 

Spring weather conditions were quite wet throughout 

most regions in late spring impacting log receipts and 

green production. However, according to published 

reports, logging activity during April was slightly better 

than compared to the same time last year. Demand for 

grade lumber and industrial products is down noted primary 

manufacturers. Many businesses in the Hardwood 

sector are still struggling with finding staff due to the 

pandemic. Also, operating costs have risen a great deal 

since COVID, as have labor costs, equipment, logging, 

and mostly all other operational items of a business. 

With these high costs, sadly, many sawmills and other 

shops have shut down, or stopped operation for a short 

period. With summer upon us, and the U.S. Fourth of 

July and Canada Day celebrations, the normal downtime 

will be felt at this time. 

Ash production is currently at a reduced rate, with 

some mills avoiding it, however, it is meeting market 

demand with steady prices. Demand is weak for Aspen. 

Supplies are higher than market needs for most grades 

and thicknesses, and as such prices are down. Kilndried 

supplies are also in a similar situation, with supplies 

exceeding demand. 

As reported for the past several months, Basswood 

demand is down due to loss of market share from competition 

of other species and products that are more 

readily available. This is having a downward effect on 

prices. 

Birch sales are mixed depending on areas contacted. 

The demand for No. 1 Common and Better with good 

color is steady. Inventories are low for premium color 

No. 1 Common and Better kiln-dried inventory. Supplies 

of green production are reported to be meeting buyers’ 

needs. 

Hard Maple continues to be selling well, noted contacts. 

Even though inventories were low, supplies were 

still sufficient to meet demand. There was a focus on 

Whitewoods during April and May, which eased supply 

pressures of these species, thus, improving Hard Maple 

availability for most areas. 

Sawmills are maintaining supplies of Soft Maple, 

therefore, secondary manufacturers and concentration 

yards are able to stock their inventories. Prices are reported 

as firm. It was noted that inventories for kiln-dried 

No. 1 Common and Better were thin during late spring. 

QUEBEC 

With summer upon us, and the construction break 

from July 21 to August 3, it will be a quieter time for the 

Hardwood industry at this time throughout the province. 

Ash supplies are low report sawmillers. The Emerald 

Ash Borer has caused this reduced availability and reportedly, 

the Chinese are also highly demanding Ash 

logs. Therefore, some contacts note that orders of green 

lumber are harder to be filled. On the domestic market, 

things are a bit slower due to lower demand from end 

users and distributors note contacts. 

Basswood sales have declined both on domestic and 

international fronts over the past year and a half. Most 

grades are slow sellers, but upper grades were attracting 

more interest than the common grades. Sales of kilndried 

Basswood are going to repeat customers, state 

contacts, with competition tough. 

The regionally important Hard Maple remains a bestselling 

item for upper grades, No. 1 Common and No. 

2A are of interest. For some, sales are obtained as a 

result of color specifications. 

Contacts note that conditions for Soft Maple are more 

positive now. Upper grades have been in demand for 

a while, but not the case for the No. 1 Common grade. 

However, sales have recently increased for this grade. 

Cherry sales have also declined, and purchases are 

based on color specifications, especially in the Appalachian 

region. Green lumber demand has eased, and 

so prices have softened slightly. Inventories of kiln-dried 

Cherry are moving up for certain suppliers due to slower 

exports to China. 

Residential flooring and truck trailer flooring manufacturers 

are buying less lumber and being more cautious 

in their purchases for Red and White Oak. According to 

areas contacted, sawmills experienced mixed conditions 

for green Red Oak. Buyers were also more cautious with 

the purchase of stocks of green Oak as temperatures 

increased and care was required for staining issues. 

Demand was slightly steadier for White Oak, however, 

supplies were lower than normal for this time of year, 

noted contacts. 

Supplies are adequate to meet demand for Poplar, as 

wholesalers, exporters and those in the moulding and 

millwork sectors steadily purchased this species. It was 

noted that conditions were better for kiln-dried than for 

green Poplar. Export markets improved this year with 

Please turn to page 42 Please turn to page 44 

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INDUSTRY NEWS 

AN UPDATE COVERING THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT 

HARDWOOD SUPPLIERS/VENDORS 

Abenaki Timber Corporation Promotes 

Parker Dukas To Sales Manager 

Abenaki Timber, located in Epping, NH, and Belington, WV, recently announced 

that Parker Dukas has been promoted to sales manager. 

Abenaki is a concentration yard that purchases 15 million board feet annually to 

Parker Dukas 

ship globally. They offer Northern Red 

and White Oak, Yellow Birch, Hard and 

Soft Maple, Northern and Appalachian 

Cherry, White Ash, Yellow Poplar and 

American and European Beech. 

Abenaki’s facility is equipped with a 

Newman high speed helical planer, on 

site Hardwood lumber inspection services, 

container loading, custom sorting 

and packaging, warehousing and 

storage options as well as package 

tallies with bar coding capabilities. 

Dukas has been with Abenaki for 

five years and spent three years as the 

sales coordinator and an export salesman 

for Europe and Asia before being 

promoted to sales manager. He also 

has experience as a lumber grader. 

While this is his first job in the forest 

products industry, he has a lifetime of 

experience in Maple syrup production 

in Northern Vermont. 

Dukas went to Bellows Free Academy 

in St. Albans, VT and the University 

of New Hampshire in Durham, 

NH, where he earned a degree in the 

studies of marketing and entrepreneurship. 

He also attended the National 

Hardwood Lumber Association ITSEF 

school. 

In his spare time, Dukas enjoys golf, 

water skiing, running and Maple syrup. 

He is engaged to Mariah Ouellette. 

Abenaki is a member of National 

Hardwood Lumber Association, Hardwood 

Manufacturers Association, 

Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers 

Inc., Penn-York Lumbermen’s Club, 

American Hardwood Export Council, 

Hardwood Federation, New England 

Lumbermen’s and Canadian Hardwood 

Bureau. 

For more information, call Dukas 

at 603-702-5004, email parker@ 

abenakitimber.com or visit www. 

abenakitimber.com. 

TS Manufacturing Installs 

New Dry Hardwood Sorting 

And Stacking Line 

TS Manufacturing, located in Lindsay, 

ON, announced that the Baillie Group recently 

started up a new Dry Hardwood 

Sorting and Stacking line at their Smyrna, 

NY, concentration yard. The line replaces 

a pull chain where packs were 

manually stacked. 

The project consists of a 60 Bin Sorter 

with TS AccuTally sorter controls, an Automated 

Course Makeup System, Servo 

Electric Package Maker, Auto Strapping 

and an in line Vision Tally system. The 

system automates the entire process of 

making up finished packs with a minimal 

amount of labor. 

The process begins after grading and 

trimming. The TS AccuTally software and 

controls take over from there, assigning 

boards to the proper bin. Auto Bin Haulout 

feature manages the discharge of lumber 

from the bins and the flow of lumber from 

the sorter to the stacker based on user 

assigned priorities. The lumber is singulated 

by a TS unscrambler and loaded on 

lugs via the Versa Cam Lug Loader. It is 

then scanned and based on that information 

is transferred to one of several trays 

where boards are dealt in order to maximize 

both the course width efficiency 

and the appearance of the finished pack. 

When a course is finished, it is released 

to the TS Electric Servo Package Maker 

with a Continuous Hoist to eliminate 

time lost waiting for a pack to discharge. 

When discharged from the stacker the pack is conveyed to an Auto Strapper with 

end bump and side squeeze functions and dunnage placement. Once strapped it 

conveys to a Vision Tally system. 

Working with the customer during the design phase TS was able to position the 

line so most of the machinery could be installed while the old line was running, 

Please turn the page 




INDUSTRY NEWS 

CONTINUED 

minimizing downtime for installation and commissioning. 

TS Manufacturing offers a complete line of machinery, controls and software 

to fit their customers’ mills. For more information on their complete line of sawmill 

and planer mill offerings, contact TS at sales@tsman.com or (705) 324-3762. 

Trevor Cleereman 

Cleereman Industries 

Welcomes Fourth Generation 

Cleereman Industries recently announced 

the newest member of their 

team, Trevor Cleereman. “As a family-run 

business, we take great pride 

in introducing Trevor, the fourth generation 

of Cleeremans to contribute 

to Cleereman Industries,” said Paul 

Cleereman, vice president of Cleereman 

Industries. Trevor’s lineage traces 

back to his great-grandfather, Francis 

Cleereman Sr., the visionary inventor 

of the Cleereman carriage. Now, Trevor 

joins his father, Paul, and his grandfather, 

Fran. 

Trevor recently transitioned to a fulltime 

role with the company. He was 

valedictorian of his high school class 

and graduating in the top 10 percent 

of his college class with a bachelor’s 

degree in engineering technology from 

the University of Wisconsin-Stout. 

Trevor is based at the company’s Crandon, 

WI, location where he specializes 

in edger design along with many other 

Cleereman engineering projects. 

Having immersed himself in Cleereman 

Industries shop environment from 

a young age, Trevor has long been a 

familiar presence at the company. Over 

the past eight years, he has worked 

part-time during his high school and 

college years. He has been involved 

in multiple installations and startups of 

mill projects over the last several years 

for both Cleereman Industries and 

Cleereman Controls. This hands-on 

experience has allowed Trevor to gain 

experience and understanding of the 

industry and the company. 

Trevor enjoys hunting and spending 

time with his girlfriend, Maddi, and their 

two-year-old son, Hudson. He also enjoys 

going to church and spending time 

with his grandfather Fran. 

Cleereman Industries is known for 

its production of carriages, carriage 

drives, track frames, debarkers, chop 

saws, stave mills, edgers, operator 

cabs, linear and proportional control 

systems, setting industry standards for 

innovation and quality. 

For more information, visit www. 

cleereman.com. 

Chase Chiles 

Cooper Machine Welcomes 

Chase Chiles 

Cooper Machine Co. Inc, located in 

Wadley, GA, recently announced that 

Chase Chiles has joined their team 

as a sales representative. Chiles is a 

native of Mississippi and he has spent 

most of his career in heavy equipment 

sales with Pioneer Machine where he 

became sales manager of the material 

handling division. In 2014, he returned 

to his home state of Mississippi 

to work for Midsouth Machinery selling 

construction equipment. Chiles then did a two-year stint in North Dakota at West 

River Equipment before coming back South and joining Cooper Machine. 

Cooper Machine is a third-generation sawmill equipment design and manufacturing 

company that was founded in 1965 by H.M. “Billy” Cooper and his wife, 


Lowery Anderson 

landerson@ralumber.com 

EXPORT 

14.4 

million 

board feet 

Warehouse & Shed Capactiy 

1.1 

million 

board feet 

Kiln Capacity 

More than 

70 Years 

of Producing Appalachian Hardwoods 

Ling Walker 

lwalker@ralumber.com 

50 

million 

board feet 

Annual Production 

14 

countries 

Lumber Shipped 

Anthony Hammond 

ahammond@ralumber.com 

“Our relationship with Roy Anderson Lumber has grown 

into a strong partnership. Because of their quality 

and pricing, we have certain categories we exclusively 

source from their operations. We always receive 

timely service and communication from their team.” 

Joe Alcathie, Branch Manager Hood Distribution – Mobile 

DOMESTIC 

Rusty Hawkins 

rhawkins@ralumber.com 

1.800.577.5576 | INFO@RALUMBER.COM 

FACEBOOK.COM/ROYANDERSONLUMBER 




INDUSTRY NEWS 

CONTINUED 

Mary Brown Cooper. The company sold its first Overhead Scragg mill in 1972, 

which today is run by Billy’s granddaughter, Frances Cooper, who has held the 

position of CEO since 2014. 

For more information, visit www.coopermachine.com. 

Joey Nelson 

JoeScan Inc. Patents A Sawmill 

Scanners Line 

JoeScan, a leading innovator in 

sawmill scanning technology, recently 

announced the United States Patent 

and Trademark Office (USPTO) has 

granted a patent (US11924530B2) for 

its revolutionary JS-50 line of Sawmill 

Scanners. The patent recognizes 

JoeScan’s groundbreaking advancements 

in creating a robust scanning 

solution tailored specifically for the 

demanding environment of sawmills. 

The newly patented technology addresses 

the inherent challenges faced 

by sawmill operators, including wide 

temperature ranges, moisture, vibration 

and dust. By ensuring thermal stability, 

JoeScan’s scanner offers precise 

and repeatable scanning capabilities, 

even in the harshest conditions, according 

to a company statement. The 

patent also covers features such as 

single-cable power over ethernet (PoE) 

connectors and global encoder timings 

to reduce the number of cables in a system. 

These innovations allow sawmills 

to maintain uninterrupted production 

without the need for frequent servicing 

of scanner systems. 

JS-50 Sawmill Scanners utilize advanced 

optical systems housed within a 

specially designed enclosure. This enclosure 

not only protects the delicate internal 

components from environmental 

factors, but also maintains the accuracy 

and reliability of the scanning process. 

By incorporating multiple laser 

line beam zones, the scanner provides 

comprehensive 3D log profiles, enabling 

sawmill operators to optimize 

the utilization of each log. 

“Reliability and simplicity through innovation 

has always been at the core 

of JoeScan’s mission. The issuance 

of this patent underscores our commitment 

to pushing the boundaries of 

sawmill scanning technology,” said 

Joey Nelson, founder and president 

of JoeScan. “Scanning systems play 

a critical role in sawmill efficiency and 

productivity, and our JS-50 family of 

scanners delivers a significant leap 

forward in addressing those requirements.” 

The patent serves as a testament 

to JoeScan’s dedication to research 

and development in the field of sawmill 

scanners. By integrating cutting-edge 

technology with practical solutions, 

JoeScan continues to empower sawmill 

operators with the tools they need 

to thrive in today’s competitive market. 

For more information about JoeScan 

and its range of scanning solutions, 

visit www.joescan.com. 

Vicky Quiñones 

Simms 

King City Forwarding USA 

Welcomes Vicky Quiñones 

Simms 

King City Forwarding USA Inc, based in Chesapeake, VA, is a freight forwarding 

company that recently welcomed Vicky Quiñones Simms. Simms, with her 

office based in Collierville, TN, is the business development manager and helps 

to promote King City within the U.S. forest products market. 





HMA UPDATE 

Our industry has 

stories to tell. 

STRONGER TOGETHER 

In late May, more than 60 representatives 

from our industry convened in 

Washington, DC, to let our collective 

voice be heard on Capitol Hill during 

the Hardwood Federation’s Fly-In. We 

joined together to tell our industry’s 

stories; share issues that are impacting 

thousands of businesses; and discuss 

legislation that could positively impact 

the entire supply chain, educational institutions, 

and communities across our nation. I personally 

had the opportunity to attend meetings with different 

groups that included multiple family-owned companies 

that are celebrating their 200th anniversary this year— 

and I must say the history behind our industry is inspiring. 

It was an excellent opportunity to get in front of lawmakers 

and I truly believe our collective voice was heard. 

Thank you to Dana Cole and the Hardwood Federation 

staff for their efforts in arranging another successful 

Fly-In and their continued work in DC. 

Last month, HMA held its Spring Regional Meeting 

in Tennessee. I’m proud to report that more than 60 

members, non-members, and industry suppliers gathered 

together to share knowledge and comradery, see 

new technologies and solutions in action, and experience 

one of HMA’s most valuable member benefits in person. 

I know that it’s difficult to take time away from your ev- 

eryday work and families, so it’s great to 

see such strong participation and some new 

faces. 

Thank you to our four tour hosts: Clark 

Hardwoods, Mayfield Lumber Company, 

Middle Tennessee Lumber Co., and 

Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods for 

opening their doors and taking us around 

their facilities. And I’d also like to give a 

shout out to our generous meeting sponsors, 

whose incredible support helped ensure our tour 

of the Volunteer State was a great experience for all of 

our attendees. Thank you to Farm Credit Mid-America, 

Frank Miller Lumber Co., Koppers, McGriff Insurance 

Services – National Forest Products Practice, Mayfield 

Lumber Company, Middle Tennessee Lumber 

Co., and New River Hardwoods. 

Now that spring is in the rearview mirror, we’re turning 

our attention to our Fall Regional Meeting, which will take 

place in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We have several tours lined 

up and details are being finalized, so keep a look out 

for registration details and hotel information in the near 

future. It’s been a while since HMA has been in that neck 

of the woods, so I hope to see you there! n 

BY IAN FAIGHT, 

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, 

HARDWOOD MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION 

WARRENDALE, PA 

412.244.0440 

www.HMAmembers.org 

We’re telling them. 

Contribute Now to Build Your World 



The Real American Hardwood Coalition has launched its Build Your World 

campaign The Real American in partnership Hardwood with Magnolia Coalition Network. has launched The ads its Build are inspiring Your World a national 

audience campaign The Real American 

by in partnership educating Hardwood 

them with on Magnolia Coalition 

the benefits Network. has 

of launched 

Real The American ads its Build are inspiring Hardwood® Your World a national products. 

audience campaign by in partnership educating them with on Magnolia the benefits Network. of Real The American ads are inspiring Hardwood® a national products. 

The audience campaign by educating was made them possible on the thanks benefits to of voluntary Real American contributions Hardwood® from the 

products. 

hardwood The campaign industry. was made Your continued possible thanks support to is voluntary critical to contributions advance the from initiative the and 

reclaim hardwood The campaign 

market industry. was 

share made Your for the continued possible 

benefit thanks support of all industry to is voluntary critical stakeholders. 

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reclaim hardwood market industry. share Your for the continued benefit support of all industry is critical stakeholders. 

to advance the initiative and 

Help reclaim Build market Your share World. for Learn the benefit more about of all industry the RAHC’s stakeholders. 

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see Help a Build list of Your supporters, World. Learn and make more a about voluntary, the RAHC’s tax-deductible promotion contribution efforts, at 

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or RAHC’s 

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QR code. contribution efforts, at 

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contribution at 

RealAmericanHardwood.com/industry or scan the QR code. 



JULY 2024 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 17 

Real American Hardwood is a registered trademark, and Build Your World is a trademark of the Real American Hardwood Coalition. 

Real American Hardwood is a registered trademark, and Build Your World is a trademark of the Real American Hardwood Coalition.

AHEC REPORT 

MASTER & APPRENTICE: AHEC AT 

CLERKENWELL DESIGN WEEK 

Showcasing underutilized American Red Oak and low-grade Cherry, AHEC hosted two 

projects at the leading edge Clerkenwell Design Week festival in the UK recently. 

FOREST PRODUCTS 

EXPORT DIRECTORY 

TARGETING BUYERS AROUND THE GLOBE! 

91% Renewal Rate in the 48th Forest Products Export Directory 

*Denotes advertisers that have renewed 

*Abenaki Timber Corporation *J.D. Irving Limited *Ram Forrest Products 

**Denotes new advertisers 

Dedicated to championing the sustainable 

use of timber in design and architecture, 

the American Hardwood Export Council 

(AHEC) has a track record not only of collaborating 

with the leading lights of the creative 

sector, but also of working with the emerging 

generation to explore the possibilities 

of underused woods. For Clerkenwell Design 

Week on 21–23 May, AHEC did both. 

Two events during the week demonstrated 

the creative and practical properties of two 

Hardwood varieties that are rarely used in 

conventional design production: American 

Red Oak and low-grade Cherry. The first 

project is a major collaboration with one of 

the UK’s most prestigious design studios – 

Foster + Partners Industrial Design – and one of its 

leading craft furniture makers – Benchmark – on the 

new ILE modular workspace system. The second is a 

showcase of creative experimentation from the country’s 

design talent of tomorrow – the students of Kingston 

University’s Product and Furniture Design course. 

Although very different in outcome, both projects 

demonstrated the potential role that often-overlooked 

materials might play in ensuring a sustainable 

future for the industry and make the 

case for looking beyond conventional timber 

varieties when it comes to making beautiful, 

functional and high-quality design. 

Previewing as part of the British Collection 

at St James’ Crypt, ILE by Foster + Partners 

Industrial Design and Benchmark is a flexible 

family of timber furniture comprising a range 

of interlocking elements. The collection was 

conceived as a way to maximize the use of 

underutilized spaces in the workplace – the 

‘in-between areas’ that can often be wasted 

or inefficient. ILE comprises benches, 

tables, lockers, shelves and planters, which 

can be connected via an innovative timber 

fixing strip both back to back and side to side, optimizing 

office space and facilitating different modes of working. 

The system is designed to accommodate lighting rails 

and power displays – as well as accessories such as 

shelves and book ends – at any position on the worktop. 

“Our ambition was to create a highly flexible, solid timber 

system that can be easily reconfigured – while simultaneously 

embodying the high level of craft and quality 


*Ally Global Logistics LLC *JYS Hardwoods *Ron Jones Hardwood Sales, Inc. 

*Almond Brothers Lumber Co. **Kamps Hardwoods *Rossi Group 

*Anderson-Tully Lumber Co. *King City / Northway Forwarding Ltd. *Roy Anderson Lumber Company, Inc. 

*Baillie Lumber Co. ** Lawerence Lumber Co. *Salamanca Lumber Company, Inc. 

*Banks Hardwoods, Inc. *Legacy Wood Products LLC *SFPA (Southern Forest Products Assoc.) 

*Bingaman & Son Lumber, Inc. *Matson Lumber Company *Softwood Export Council 

*Cardin Forest Products, LLC **Mayfield Lumber Co. *TMX Shipping Company, Inc. 

*Clark Lumber Co., Inc. *McClain Forest Products LLC *Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods 

*Cole Hardwood, Inc. *Merrick Hardwoods *Turman Forest Products 

*Crown Hardwood Co., Inc. *Midwest Hardwood Company *Two Rivers Timber Company, Inc. 

*Deer Park Lumber International *NELMA (Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Assoc.) *Vexo, Inc. 

*Devereaux Sawmill, Inc. *Nyle Dry Kilns *Wagner Lumber Company 

*East Ohio Lumber Co. *Parton Lumber Co., Inc. *Wheeland Lumber Co., Inc. 

*HHP, Inc. *Penn-Sylvan International, Inc. *WOODBOX 

*Harold White Lumber Co. 

*Prime Lumber Company 

*Hanafee Bros. Sawmill Co., Inc. 

*Primewood 

*Hermitage Hardwood Lumber Sales, Inc. 

*Quality Hardwoods Ltd. 

“...the Most Comprehensive Buyer’s Guide for the International Buyer...” 

Call NOW to reserve your 

space in the 49th EDITION! 

BY MICHAEL SNOW, 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 

AMERICAN HARDWOOD EXPORT COUNCIL, 

STERLING, VA 

703-435-2900 

WWW.AHEC.ORG 

Published in FALL 2024 

800-844-1280 

Full Page Rate: $2,950 

Half Page Rate: $2,500 

Color Additional 

forestproductsexport.com • exd@millerwoodtradepub.com 




HARDWOOD FEDERATION INFO 

The year—from a tax policy 

perspective—started out really 

well. In a rare show of bipartisanship, 

the House of Representatives 

overwhelmingly passed 

H.R. 7024-the Tax Relief for 

American Families and Workers 

Act. The vote was 357-70. To 

summarize, the bill features a number of positive 

provisions for small and medium sized businesses 

that populate our sector, including: 

• Retroactive extension of the 100 percent bonus depreciation 

tax benefit, otherwise known as “full expensing.” 

This benefit allows companies to fully write off 

the cost of machinery and equipment in the same year 

those costs are incurred. Full expensing began to phase 

down at the beginning of 2023 where it dropped to 80 

percent. At the beginning of 2024 it took another haircut 

to 60 percent and is slated to fully phase out in 2027. 

H.R. 7024 restores this benefit to full strength--100 percent—starting 

January 1, 2023, and extends the benefit 

though 2025. 

• Renewal of the research and development (R&D) tax 

credit which expired in 2022. Like bonus depreciation, 

this provision allows companies to write off the full cost 

of R&D expenses in the same year in which the investments 

are made. The House bill again retroactively restores 

this key benefit and extends it through 2025. 

• Reversion back to Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, 

Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) for calculating 

WAITING ON A TAX BILL 

interest expense deductibility. 

Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 

(TCJA), this standard was shortened 

to EBIT, which is not as 

generous a metric for calculating 

interest expenses and so the net 

effect has been increased costs 

on U.S. businesses. 

• Bump up in the Sec. 179 deduction limits. Right now, 

businesses may expense the cost of depreciable business 

assets up to $1.16 million. The bill raises that cap 

to $1.29 million. 

In order to stitch together a bipartisan agreement, 

these business provisions were paired with an increase 

in the Child Tax Credit and, for the most part Democrats 

and Republicans came on board. Things were looking 

very positive…and then came the Senate. 

Republican opposition in the upper chamber comes 

down to roughly one part substance, one part process 

and one part politics. On substance, there is concern 

around certain aspects of the Child Tax Credit provisions, 

namely the “look back” language which allows 

families to use a prior year’s income to calculate the 

credit if their current year’s income is reduced. There 

is also some concern around how the bill is “paid for.” 

In terms of process, Senate Finance Committee Ranking 

Member Mike Crapo (R-ID) has raised the legitimate 

point that the legislation should proceed through regular 

order and be marked up in the Senate Finance Committee. 

Senate Democrat leadership has avoided this step 

BY DANA LEE COLE, 


HARDWOOD FEDERATION, 

WASHINGTON, DC 

202-463-5186 

WWW.HARDWOODFEDERATION.WILDAPRICOT.ORG 


• Tigerton Lumber Co., providing 

quality hardwoods since 1887 

• 80-acre site; 95,000 sq. ft. under roof 

• 50,000 acres of our own forest lands 

in Wisconsin, USA 

• Sawing 18,400,000 board feet/year 

• 12 on-site KDS Kilns drying up to 

780,000 board feet/month 

• 1,500,000 board feet of inventory 

to meet your needs 

• We offer color, width & length sorts to 

your specifications behind our planer 

• Export prep capabilities 

Unparalleled in quality, rich consistent color and 

exceptionally tight grain make northern hardwoods the premier 

choice in wood flooring, kitchen cabinets, architectural millwork, 

moldings, door & stair parts. 

From the forests of northern Wisconsin and Michigan, where 

rich soil, cold winters and a short growing season combine 

to create the perfect atmosphere for producing hardwoods 

of unrivaled excellence and beauty … Tigerton Lumber brings 

you a full line of premium northern hardwoods. 

Available for export worldwide! 

Contact Mike Schulke today! 

715.535.2181 

mike@tigertonlumber.com 

www.tigertonlumber.com 




NAFF BULLETIN 

CONNECTING THE DOTS ON CLOSING THE SKILLS GAP 

Closing the skills gap is more than a popular media 

topic; it’s a daily concern for many of us in the forest 

products industry, especially as we think about what it 

will take to maintain sustainable business operations 

into the future. Some might say let the “professionals” 

deal with it–that is, the school systems and education 

programs “out there.” But schools can’t do it alone. 

The wood and forest products industry has a fundamental 

interest in cultivating and developing the talent 

needed to handle the jobs that are open, and knowledge 

that can help educators. We have a responsibility to 

continue planting seeds of career interest in the hearts 

and minds of current and future generations, the same 

way that we diligently plant billions of seedlings every 

year to ensure future growth for tomorrow. 

Sometimes we need examples to show us the possibilities 

that exist around us and open our minds to connecting 

the dots for our own businesses. 

NAFF Stays Focused On Educating The Next Generation 

In addition to our role as an industry advocate, we 

provide educational tools provided free of charge to 

classroom teachers of grades K-5. Teachers can use 

our signature Truth About Trees kits as springboards for 

discussion and deeper learning. Our next step is in the 

works–a gamified app directed toward junior high school 

students–that nudges them further along the path of understanding. 

We’re not the only ones helping to cultivate a healthier 

future. In fact, we’re inspired by the work of other organizations: 

UFP Business School, River Parishes Community 

College, and companies like Frank Miller Lumber 

are jumping in to change the trajectory of the industry by 

inspiring fresh interest in jobs and career paths that too 

easily are overlooked in the traditional school curriculum 

or daily conversation of the wider population. 

Two Years to a Bachelor of Business Administration 

+ a Rewarding Career – With Zero Debt 

The UFP Business School has created a new model 

for education and career success. With a cycle of courses 

year-round for two years, the program is accelerated, 

delivering hands-on experience that combines paid 

work with education. 

What’s more, the 25 students entering this program 


Green Book’s 

HARDWOOD 

MARKETING 

DIRECTORY 

“The World’s Leading Information Source on Hardwood Markets!” 

71st Edition/2023 

The HARDWOOD PRODUCTS SALES GUIDE that te ls you the species, grades, thicknesses and quantities of 

HARDWOOD LUMBER, IMPORTED WOODS, PLYWOOD, DIMENSION, ETC. purchased by woodworking 

plants in the United States and Canada. 

Hardwood marketIng dIrectory 

online will give you access to over 6,000 buyers! 

FEBRUARY COVERS 2023.in d 1 1/16/23 10:40 AM 

You can get your share of this market 

quicker when these buyers know who you are 

and where you’re located! 

Advertising Sparks Sales! 

These are high grade & low grade 

buyers listed with their buying 

specifications including distribution/ 

concentration yards that buy 100,000 

board feet or more throughout North 

America! 

LEASE ONLINE NOW 

FOR $2,100.00! 

Red Oak .........................2498 

White Oak .......................1696 

Poplar .............................1622 

Ash .................................773 

Hard Maple .....................1787 

Soft Maple ......................1439 

Walnut ............................1196 

Cherry .............................1645 

Imported Buyers 

BY ALLISON DEFORD, 


NORTH AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION, 

COLLIERVILLE, TN 

901-860-4131 

adeford@northamericanforestfoundation.org 

Mahogany .................... 730 

Sapele ......................... 220 

Teak ............................. 125 

These are the BIG THREE species in our Imported section 

of the Hardwood Marketing Directory online! 

The Hardwood Marketing Directory has 71 years of research helping firms discover new 

buying opportunities and contains all North American species and also Imported Woods. 

GREEN BOOK, INC. 

P.O. Box 34908 Memphis, TN 38184 


Phone: (901) 372-8280 FAX: (901) 373-6180 



www.millerwoodtradepub.com E-mail: greenbook@millerwoodtradepub.com

NHLA: Why Knot... 

WHY KNOT ADVOCATE TO SOLVE OUR BIOMASS CRISIS 

The Southern United States has long been a hub for 

wood-based biofuel, biomass export, 

pulp, and paper production. 

Hardwood mills play a significant 

role in the region’s rural economy 

and are one of the primary 

feedstocks for these applications. 

However, recent years have seen 

a troubling trend of biomass export 

terminals and paper plants 

shutting down, leaving Hardwood 

mills grappling with the inability to 

move their residuals and maximize their utilization. 

Hardwood mills, which generate significant quantities 

of wood residues such as sawdust, bark, pulpwood, and 

wood chips, rely on these plants for processing their byproducts, 

which are traditionally burned to create steam 

used to heat kilns, sold to biomass plants for energy generation, 

or sold to paper plants for pulp production. Many 

reasons cause the closure of these facilities, though the 

most significant factors are economic challenges and regulatory 

hurdles. Green subsidies are not consistently applied. 

Export terminals that have been large purchasers 

of bulk shipments to Europe have gone bankrupt. Paper 

production has shifted overseas due to lower production 

costs and changes in consumer demand. 

Consequently, Hardwood mills are left with surplus 

byproducts and limited avenues for disposal, leading to 

increased operational costs and 

decreased profitability. The results 

of lost residual markets also 

impact the ability to source saw 

logs, as the logger has no contract 

for the smaller pulp logs in 

the same forest stand. This has 

shifted the Hardwood industry’s 

focus to local power generation. 

There are several challenges 

preventing Hardwood sawmills 

from producing on-site electricity generation: 

First, the volumes of Hardwood mills are significantly 

smaller than softwood and would require bringing in additional 

biomass to ensure a consistent supply and achieve 

a large enough economy of scale to be profitable. 

Second, the electrical generation market is heavily regulated 

and very restricted from a utility purchase and environmental 

emissions perspective. 

Third, high capital costs pose significant challenges to 

Hardwood mills seeking to implement their own biomass 

power generation systems. 

Thus, despite the potential for wood biomass to serve 

as a renewable fuel source, Hardwood mills cannot overcome 

the numerous obstacles in harnessing this resource 

for power generation. 


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BY DALLIN BROOKS, 


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MEMPHIS, TN 

901-377-1082 

WWW.NHLA.COM 




dmsi.com

“When I was younger, I didn’t think about joining the company all that much. After high school, I just started 

working with dad more and it took off and went. In our particular case, I would work here in the shop doing the 

pallet lumber and my dad would be making deliveries. While I was here, people were coming in and saying, ‘Gee, 

if you had higher-quality lumber, we’d buy it.’” - Dave Vetsch, owner, Vetsch Hardwoods 

Based in Rochester, MN, AJ Vetsch Incorporated changed names to Vetsch Hardwoods in the 1990s as more members of the Vetsch 

family began joining the business. Pictured are original owner Allen Vetsch (center), Allen’s son and current owner Dave Vetsch (right) 

and Dave’s son Jacob Vetsch (left). 

Two Northfield planers, two Diehl rip saws, a 36-inch AEM sander and a five-head Leadermac moulder boost Vetsch Hardwoods’ 

ability to produce high-quality Hardwood. 

VETSCH HARDWOODS GROWS THE 

FAMILY TRADITION 

When Allen Vetsch decided to get into the lumber 

business in the mid-1970s, he chose pallet and crating 

lumber as his specialty. The focus served his company 

- AJ Vetsch Incorporated - well for the first 15 years of 

its existence. 

Despite the success, however, it was anything but 

certain that Allen’s son, Dave, would join him in the family 

business. 

“When I was younger I didn’t think about joining the 

company all that much. After high school, I just started 

working with dad more and it took off and went,” Dave 

BY SCOTT DALTON 

remembered. “In our particular case, I would work here 

in the shop doing the pallet lumber and my dad would be 

making deliveries. While I was here, people were coming 

in and saying, ‘Gee, if you had higher-quality lumber, 

we’d buy it.’” 

That prompted the Vetsch family to reconsider the direction 

of the company. 

Today, dealing primarily in 4/4, Vetsch Hardwoods, 

Inc., located in Rochester, MN, occasionally works with 

5/4, 6/4 and 8/4 in Select and Better and FAS. The company 

purchases more than half-a-million board feet of 

high-quality Hardwood annually. Oak represents about 

20 percent of their business. The company also sells a 

fair amount of Poplar, Birch, and Cherry. 

“Around 1990 or so, we switched from pallet lumber to 

high grade cabinet lumber. That’s when I started working 

with him full time,” he said. “A couple years later, my 

brother Peter joined us.” 

That was also when the Vetsch family decided to 

rebrand the company as Vetsch Hardwoods to better 

reflect what they were actually offering. Today, the 

company bears scant resemblance to the business 

that Allen once operated pretty much single handedly. 

When he started, he ran all of the operations out of a 

3,000-square-foot facility. By the 1980s, he expanded, 

adding another 3,000-square-foot facility to help house 

the growing business. 

“Then, in 2008 and 2009, we put up our big new warehouse,” 

Dave recalled. “Now we have a 12,000-squarefoot 

facility with insulation and heated floors.” 

The company’s staff has also grown. Instead of one 

man working alone, the company now employs five 

full-timers, including Allen, Dave, Peter and Dave’s sons 

Jacob and Nathan. 

Dave also noted that the warehouse was built in the 

midst of what at the time was the worst economic crisis 

since the Great Depression. The housing crash of 

2007/2008 tested the mettle of many businesses, and 

none more so than those in the building industry. Dave 

said the experience helped toughen the resolve of 

Vetsch Hardwoods. 

“It did make you wonder, but to be in this business, you 

have to be optimistic; you have to believe it will work out 

in the end,” he said. “We put a lot of money in here, and 

all the sales were going to pot. But we didn’t sit around 

crying about it. We were concerned, but we kept going. 

Ever since, we felt that if we could make it through that, 

we could make it through anything.” 

Dave mentioned that he has witnessed a number of 





VETSCH HARDWOODS Continued 

Purchasing half-a-million board feet of Oak, Poplar and other high-quality Hardwoods annually, Dave Vetsch said that Vetsch Hardwoods 

has grown from a 3,000-square-foot facility to a 12,000-square-foot warehouse. 

Owner Dave Vetsch and son Isiah survey the yard on Vetsch Hardwoods’ rough terrain forklift. 

changing trends during his time in the industry. He noted 

that through the 1990s, Oak dominated the market, 

accounting for about two-thirds of all the cabinet lumber 

Vetsch Hardwoods sold. 

Similarly, although paint grade lumber remains extremely 

popular when it comes to cabinets, that trend 

may be nearing a turning point. 

“It might be reaching its end,” Dave predicted. “It 

wouldn’t surprise me if paint grade has run its course.” 

One thing that has not changed is Vetsch Hardwoods’ 

client base. Dave said that although cabinet shops in 

the area are the main customers, there are also homeowners 

and hobbyists. 

“We are happy to sell to them too,” he said. “Other 

places might chase them out.” 

Dave added that because the company consists of a 

“small tight group,” it faced no difficulties staying open 

during the pandemic. What was less certain, however, 

was staying fully supplied. 

“It was close, but we were fine. Prices went up of 

course, and we were tight on a few things, but overall it 

was fine,” he said. “I think part of that we can attribute 

to the lumber mills we buy from. They are mostly mills 

we have bought from for a long time, so they take care 

of us, too.” 

The folks at Vetsch Hardwoods also worked hard to 

take care of their customers. They employ a small fleet 

of delivery vehicles, consisting of two flatbed trucks and 

a pickup. Dave added that a lot of people pick up their 

own deliveries at the warehouse. He noted that their 

warehouse is fully equipped and ready to meet customers’ 

needs. 

“We have three forklifts, two warehouse forklifts and 

a rough terrain forklift. We have two Northfield planers. 

We run one at a time and keep the other one sharpened 

and ready to go. We also have two Diehl rips saws and 

operate one at a time, keeping the other as a spare. We 

have a 36-inch AEM brand sander and a five-head Leadermac 

moulder,” he said. 

Dave said that despite its success, Vetsch Hardwoods 

has no immediate plans to grow or expand into 

new markets, saying “It’s too early to tell.” 

“We can handle what we’ve got here. We’ll do fine. 

We have no plans to open another facility or to expand 

greatly. We pay enough in property taxes the way it is,” 

he said with a chuckle. “Everything that has happened 

happened organically. We just started doing this because 

no one else in the area was doing it, and it went 

pretty well.” 

For more information about Vetsch Hardwoods, visit 

www.vetschhardwoods.com. n 

Vetsch Hardwoods employs a small fleet of delivery vehicles. Local delivery is one of the ways the company shows its customers 

appreciation. 




Almost every Hardwood business understands the 

importance of safety. Yet a company’s risk profile 

changes constantly, and it’s difficult for many business 

leaders to keep up with all the latest developments. 

One way to stay ever ready is to embrace a culture of safety. 

Let’s examine the core business risks impacting Hardwood 

suppliers and dealers today and explore how a 

safety-first mindset can help you address those risks effectively. 

How risks have evolved 

Over the past 12 months, we’ve seen significant changes 

across four of the most common risks: commercial auto, 

cybersecurity, weather and fire. 

In commercial auto, losses keep trending upward. This 

is creating a phenomenon known as “social inflation,” 

where the increase in claims cost is outpacing inflation 

across the general economy. Rearend accidents often lead 

to the most expensive commercial auto claims. Distracted 

driving is one potential cause for these types of crashes. 

Hardwood businesses with delivery operations are 

at major risk. These fleets often include heavy and extra-heavy 

vehicles that must share crowded urban roadways 

with multiple vehicles. Another contributing factor 

SAFETY 

CULTURE 

BLUEPRINT: 

HOW TO KEEP 

EMPLOYEES 

SAFE AND 

REDUCE YOUR 

RISKS 

BY MICHAEL CULBRETH 

is the ongoing shortage of well-qualified drivers, which 

sometimes leads companies to lower their standards 

during the hiring and screening process. 

While commercial auto risks keep rising, so too do cybersecurity-related 

exposures. We live in a digital world, 

and today, data breaches and ransomware attacks impact 

companies of all sizes. Hardwood businesses must continue 

to bolster their data security postures or run the risk 

of serious financial and reputational damage. 

When it comes to weather-related losses, we’re seeing 

an interesting pivot. Claims activity rose dramatically in 

2023, but the root cause of those claims was different. In 

most years, property damage from catastrophic storms 

like tornadoes and hurricanes made up the bulk of wind 

and weather losses. In 2023, roof damage ranked as the 

top claim, driven mostly by more powerful thunderstorms 

and straight-line winds. 

Amid all these emerging risks, there was encouraging 

news: major fire losses were down in 2023, according to 

data from Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance 

Company (PLM). However, this is one area where companies 

can never let their guard down, because it takes just 

one fire to devastate a Hardwood business. 

Why having a culture of safety matters 

A culture of safety can help companies reduce their loss 

frequency dramatically. Take, for example, a company 

with a high incidence of commercial auto-related claims. 

It may choose to reverse the trend by investing in safety-related 

technology, such as installing telematics and 

video cameras on their vehicles. The company can then 

capture data, use it to inform safety training sessions, and 

reduce their losses substantially. 

Five building blocks of an effective safety culture 

Creating a culture of safety that addresses the top Hardwood-related 

risks doesn’t have to be complicated. 

Five best practices to follow are: 

1. Start at the top. Everyone from the CEO on down must 

embrace a culture of safety. Having management buy-in 

will create a ripple effect throughout the entire business. 

2. Commit to ongoing safety training. Establish and 

fully implement written safety policies with the support 

of management. You should offer safety training to new 

hires and host refreshers at least annually. Implement inthe-moment 

training after any incident. 

3. Show genuine concern for your employees. Let 

them know that your goal is for them to return home in 

the same condition – safe and healthy – as they arrived. 

4. Recognize safe performance. While a formal incentive 

program is value-added, you should also give your 

employees affirmation for doing their job safely. A simple 

word of thanks can go a long way. 

5. Develop a tight relationship with your carriers. 

Seek insurers who understand the Hardwood niche. They 

can help you design a program that best mitigates your 

risk. The right carrier will offer you property and casualty 

coverage, and also help you identify other coverages, such 

as cybersecurity or employment practices liability, that 

could benefit your company. 

What to include in your risk mitigation plan 

As you build out your culture of safety, consider taking 

these steps to reduce some of the most frequent causes 

of losses. 

• Step up your fleet safety. Create a fleet safety program 

that addresses driver training, hiring and screening. 

At minimum, review motor vehicle reports before hiring 

any candidate. Consider adding telematics and cameras to 

your vehicles. This has quickly emerged as the gold standard 

approach because it empowers companies to address 

risky driving behaviors before an accident occurs. 

• Fortify your facilities. Protect yourself from wind 

damage with proper roof maintenance. If you’re not sure 

of your roof’s current condition, perform an inspection. 

Use aerial photography to identify emerging issues. Then 

compare those photos with a walk-through inspection. 

Look for signs of water intrusion or damage in potential 

trouble spots. 

• Enhance your fire protection. Test and maintain all 

fire protection systems, including smoke or heat alarms, 

automatic sprinkler systems and fire pumps. Implement a 

hot work permit program for welding fire safety. Sawmill 

and pallet manufacturers should consider using infrared 

thermography to scan electrical panels for potential hot 

spots. 

• Test your network safety. Work with IT professionals 

and put appropriate cybersecurity safeguards in place. 

Consider running phishing simulations that give your employees 

a score based on how accurately they identify potentially 

harmful emails. 

• Reduce your general liability-related risks. Keep 

aisles of retail locations clear and clean. Make sure storage 

racks are secured properly. Institute forklift safety programs 

that address optimal loading and unloading procedures. 

Make sure employees wear personal protective 

safety equipment. If your business contracts with installers, 

institute proven risk-transfer controls. 

As weather-related risks grow and digital networks 

become more complicated, the risk profiles of Hardwood 

businesses will continue to evolve. By taking a top-down 

approach to risk management, you can make safety an 

ongoing part of everyone’s job, improve your loss profile, 

and help keep your workers happy and healthy. 

The author 

Michael Culbreth is a loss control consultant with Pennsylvania 

Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Group (PLM). 

PLM is the nation’s oldest and largest mutual insurance 

company dedicated to the wood products, lumber and 

building materials industry. 

Learn more at www.plmins.com. n 




Ian Faight, Hardwood Manufacturers Association, Warrendale, PA; Troy Brown, Kretz Lumber Co. Inc, Antigo, WI; Scott Cummings, 

Cummings Lumber Co. Inc., Troy, PA; and Gus Welter, Granite Valley Forest Products, New London, WI 

FEDERATION FLY-IN TAKES OFF ON CAPITOL HILL 

AS FARM BILL JUMPS KEY HURDLE 

PHOTOS BY SCOTT HENRICHSEN 

The Hardwood Federation (HF) Fly-In took place recently, 

deploying industry advocates across Capitol Hill. 

More than 60 Hardwood industry leaders conducted 

over 100 bipartisan, congressional meetings, advocating 

for Hardwood priorities in the farm bill, tax legislation 

and H.R. 6880, the Hardwood Access and Development 

Program Act, which would establish a Hardwood products 

grant program to educate consumers about the 

sustainability of Hardwood products. While the legislation 

currently has three champions, Reps. Tiffany (R- 

WI), Kuster (D-NH) and Van Orden (R-WI), Hardwood 

advocates blanketed the Hill with messages urging 

more lawmakers to sign onto the legislation and give it 

momentum. Several Members of Congress did respond 

to constituent pressure and have indicated interest in 

signing on to the bill. The Federation team is following 

up with those offices. 

As noted above, also high on the priority list were several 

items HF would like to see included in the Forestry 

Title of the Farm Bill, which, although currently extended 

through September, needs to be reauthorized at some 

point for a 5-year span. After months of delay, on Thursday, 

May 23, the House Agriculture Committee passed 

a version of the bill on a bipartisan vote. The breakthrough 

paves the way for a vote on the House floor. 

Fortunately for industry, the House version of the bill includes 

two items industry leaders advocated for while 

in DC: doubling funding for USDA export promotion authority 

and addressing the industry’s staffing shortage 

by incorporating workforce training programs for the 

wood products sector in currently funded initiatives. 

On the tax front, Fly-In participants pointed out the 

need to restore tax relief measures for businesses including 

100 percent bonus depreciation of equipment 

and the depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of 

business interest deduction. They also made the case 

that making permanent the 20 percent small business 

deduction for QBI earned by pass-through entities and 

preserving estate tax exemptions included in the 2017 

tax reform are essential to company health and vitality. 

Dismay about the Biden Administration’s proposed 

rules and definitions of Old Growth and Mature Forests 

was also expressed. Policy makers were encouraged to 

take a closer look at this regulatory effort and to take action 

against rewriting federal forest management policy 

that contradicts established forest health science. 

Industry leaders delivered key messages to more than 

one-third of the U.S. Senate, racking up 37 meetings. 

On the House side, Hardwood advocates conducted 

71 bipartisan meetings. Not only was the Hill coverage 

broad, but the meetings were geographically diverse, 

reaching 20 different state delegations in every region 

of the country. 

After Hill meetings wrapped up, participants headed 

to the Capitol Hill Club to thank House-side Republican 

friends of the industry with a social hour. Following the 

reception, House Agriculture Committee members John 

Rose (R-TN) and David Rouzer (R-NC) addressed the 

group during dinner outlining a path forward for the farm 

bill. Additionally, Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI), a member 

of the Natural Resources Committee, discussed the importance 

of constituent advocacy and shared insights 

into the challenges of working within a closely divided 

House. On Thursday, May 23, the Fly-In concluded 

with a breakfast reception, also on Capitol Hill where attendees 

mingled with Democrat lawmakers who have 

a demonstrated track record of supporting the industry. 

Learn more about the Hardwood Federation by visiting 

www.hardwoodfederation.com. n 

Amy Shields, Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group Inc., Kane, 

PA; Tyler Shields, Bingaman & Son Lumber Inc., Kreamer, PA; 

Rep. Mike Kelley, PA – 16th District, Pennsylvania; and Norm 

Steffy, Cummings Lumber Co. Inc., Troy, PA 

John Hester, National Hardwood Lumber Association, Memphis, 

TN; Rep. David Kustoff, TN – 8th District, Tennessee; Ashley 

Johnson and Renee Hornsby, National Hardwood Lumber Association, 

Memphis, TN; and Jesse Joyce, Middle Tennessee Lumber 

Co. Inc., Burns, TN 

Tommy Joyce, Vanleer Hardwoods, Vanleer, TN; and Jordan McIlvain, 

Alan McIlvain Co., Marcus Hook, PA 

Michael Martin, National Wood Flooring Association, St. Charles, 

MO; Jesse LaSon, Rossi Group, Emporium, PA; and Luke Brogger, 

Quality Hardwoods Inc., Sunfield, MI 

Additional photos on next page 




HF FLY-IN PHOTOS Continued 

Burt Craig, Matson Lumber Company, Brookville, PA; Tyler 

Shields, Bingaman & Son Lumber Inc., Kreamer, PA; and Bucky 

Pescaglia, MO PAC Lumber Company, Fayette, MO 

Jon Syre, Cascade Hardwood, Chehalis, WA; and Rep. Jeff Van 

Drew, NJ – 2nd District, New Jersey 

James Steen and David Steen, Pike Lumber Co. Inc., Akron, IN; 

and Dana Lee Cole and Bryan Brendle, Hardwood Federation, 

Washington, DC 

Rep. Thomas Massie, KY – 4th District, Kentucky; Steve Merrick, 

Merrick Hardwoods, Somerset, KY; Bob Bauer, Kentucky Forest 

Industries Association, Frankfort, KY; Lowery Anderson, Roy Anderson 

Lumber Co., Tompkinsville, KY; and Troy Jamieson, Merrick 

Hardwoods 

Bob Bauer, Kentucky Forest Industries Association, Frankfort, 

KY; Rep. Andy Barr, KY – 6th District, Kentucky; Lowery Anderson, 

Roy Anderson Lumber Co., Tompkinsville, KY; and Troy Jamieson 

and Steve Merrick, Merrick Hardwoods, Somerset, KY 

Eric Doll, Doll Lumber, Southington, OH; Jenna Reese, Ohio Forestry 

Association, Zanesville, OH; and Trent Yoder, Yoder Lumber, 

Millersburg, OH 

Tyler Shields, Bingaman & Son Lumber Inc., Kreamer, PA; Caleb 

Unruh, RW Supply and Design, West Plains, MO; and Tony Pescaglia, 

MO PAC Lumber Company, Fayette, MO 

Steve Carlson, Rep. Chris Pappas’ Chief of Staff, New Hampshire; 

Rep. Chris Pappas, NH – 1st District, New Hampshire; and 

Jameson French, Northland Forest Products, Kingston, NH 

Tommy Petzoldt, East Perry Lumber, Frohna, MO; Peter Conner, 

WD Flooring, Laona, WI; Troy Brown, Kretz Lumber Co. Inc., Antigo, 

WI; Rep. Derrick Van Orden, WI – 3rd District, Wisconsin; 

and Gus Welter, Granite Valley Forest Products, New London, WI 

Rep. Virginia Fox, NC – 5th District, North Carolina; and Andrew 

Maxwell and Wil Maxwell, Maxwell Hardwood Flooring, Monticello, 

AR 

Bucky Pescaglia, MO PAC Lumber Company, Fayette, MO; and 

Tom Inman, Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc., High 

Point, NC 

David Steen and James Steen, Pike Lumber Co. Inc., Akron, IN; 

Jia Zheng, ATI Wood, Roanoke, VA; and Paul Zheng, ATI International, 

Roanoke, VA 

Tommy Petzoldt, East Perry Lumber, Frohna, MO; Matthew 

Gutchess, Gutchess Lumber, Cortland, NY; and Rep. Tom Tiffany, 

WI – 7th District, Wisconsin 

Rep. James Comer, KY – 1st District, Kentucky; Lowery Anderson, 

Roy Anderson Lumber Co., Tompkinsville, KY; and Bob Bauer, 

Kentucky Forest Industries Association, Frankfort, KY 

Tommy Joyce, Vanleer Hardwoods, Vanleer, TN; Rep. Mary Scanlon, 

PA – 5th District, Pennsylvania; Bill Joyce, Middle Tennessee 

Lumber Co. Inc., Burns, TN; and Matthew Gutchess, Gutchess 

Lumber, Cortland, NY 

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, PA – 6th District, Pennsylvania; Rep. 

Chris DeLuzio, PA – 17th District, Pennsylvania; Dana Lee Cole, 

Hardwood Federation, Washington, DC; and Rep. Brendan Boyle, 

PA – 2nd District, Pennsylvania 




Jordan McIlvain, Alan McIlvain Co., Marcus Hook, PA; U.S. Congressman Glenn “G.T.” Thompson, Chairman of the House Committee 

on Agriculture, Howard, PA; and Steve Jones, Ron Jones Hardwood Sales Inc., Union City, PA 

Amy Shields, Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group Inc., Kane, PA; Pete Singer, Kane Hardwood, Kane, PA; Bob Shields, DeLullo 

Trucking & Woodbed Corp., St. Marys, PA; and Trevor Vaughan, Ron Jones Hardwood Sales Inc., Union City, PA 

PENN-YORK CONVENES NEXT 

AT RON JONES AFTER RECENT 

GATHERING AT KANE HARDWOOD 

PHOTOS BY CHRIS FEHR 

A tour of the Kane Hardwood sawmill in Kane, PA, was 

a highlight of the recent Penn-York Lumbermen’s Club 

meeting, which was hosted by Collins Kane Hardwood. 

The Penn-York meeting included dinner and an association 

meeting, featuring guest speaker U.S. Congressman 

Glenn “G.T.” Thompson. That was followed 

the next day by networking opportunities via a golf game 

and sporting clays. 

Kane also hosted attendees at an open house to celebrate 

the new energy efficient “passive house” building: 

Six&Kane. The building is part of a sustainable energy 

movement to make structures airtight to reduce their energy 

needs for heating and cooling. 

Regarding Kane Hardwood, the company website noted 

Kane is situated in the 119,000-acre Collins Pennsylvania 

Forest in the Allegheny Mountains of northwest 

Pennsylvania. Kane’s sawmill produces approximately 

24 million board feet annually and dries 14 million board 

feet annually. Lumber species available include: Red 

and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, Poplar, Birch, 

Basswood and Black Cherry in thicknesses of 4/4-12/4. 

Lengths are 4 feet through 16 feet. 

More information about the above products is listed at 

www.collinsco.com/locations/kane. 

The next Penn-York meeting is scheduled for July 15 

in Franklin, PA and will be hosted by Ron Jones Hardwood 

Sales. 

Learn more at www.pennyork.org. n 

Jeff Dougherty, The AGL Group LLC, Jacksonville, FL; Simon 

Ince, Walker Lumber Company Inc., Woodland, PA; and Andy 

Dickinson, Sirianni Hardwoods Inc., Painted Post, NY 

Bruce Horner, Abenaki Timber Corp., Kingston, NH; Chris Strang, 

Alan McIlvain Co., Marcus Hook, PA; Andy Nuffer, RAM Forest 

Products Inc., Shinglehouse, PA; and Matt Lowry, Lewis Lumber 

and Milling Inc., Clarion, PA 

Jeff Dougherty, The AGL Group LLC, Jacksonville, FL; Jesse La- 

Son, Rossi Group, Cromwell, CT; Greg Ochs, Hickman Lumber 

Co. Inc., Emlenton, PA; and Rob Matson, Matson Lumber Company, 

Brookville, PA 

Brian Sexton, Wagner Hardwoods, Cayuta, NY; Anna Adams and 

Meghan Jones, Fr. Meyer’s Sohn NA LLC, Reading, PA; John 

Pysh, Pennsylvania Hardwoods Co., Pleasantville, PA; and Craig 

Albright, Messersmith Manufacturing Inc., Bark River, MI 

Additional photos on page 56 




ANNUAL ALC MEETING IN MYRTLE BEACH 

INCLUDES FUN, PLUS INDUSTRY INSIGHTS 

PHOTOS BY CHRIS FEHR 

The Appalachian Lumbermen’s Club held its Annual 

Beach Meeting in North Myrtle Beach, SC, with members 

and guests enjoying sports events and networking. 

The meeting attracted 148 people to the Avista Resort 

for the annual event. Casual networking is the 

theme for this weekend and included forest industry 

representatives from landowners, sawmills, distribution 

yards and secondary manufacturers from the central 

Appalachia region. 

The group held two well-attended receptions and a 

dinner that was followed by a spirited game of Deal or 

No Deal. Participants were drawn and allowed to select 

a case that held cash prizes. Before opening the case, 

they could accept cash offers to sell or keep it. 

There were also golf, beach cornhole and horseshoe 

contests and a host of door prizes from sponsors. 

The next event for the Club is September 10 and location 

will be announced soon. 

More details available at www.lumberclub.org. 

n 

Mark Pierce, New River Hardwoods Inc., Mountain City, TN; Eddy 

Phillips, Phillips Lumber & Farm Products LLC, Mountain City, 

TN; and Peter McCarty, TS Manufacturing Co., Levant, ME 

Preslea LaSon, Destiny LaSon, Oskar LaSon, Jesse LaSon and 

Khloe LaSon, Rossi Group, Cromwell, CT 

Donna Reese, Roy Reese, Megan Reitzel and Andrew Robinson, 

Penn-Sylvan International Inc., Spartansburg, PA; and Tyler Berntsen, 

ISK Biocides Inc., Clarksville, TN 

Abigail Summerfield, Lauren Summerfield, Lilly Summerfield, 

David Summerfield and Hailey Summerfield, ISK Biocides Inc., 

Grovetown, GA 

Stan Jones, Koppers Inc., Raleigh, NC; Robert Coleman, Robert 

S. Coleman Lumber Co. Inc., Culpeper, VA; Lance Johnson, ISK 

Biocides Inc., Memphis, TN; and Shannon Garland, American 

Hardwood Industries Inc., Waynesboro, VA 

Larry and Shannon Cockram, Griffith Lumber Company, Woolwine, 

VA; and Damon Bevins, Farrow Lumber Company, Cairo, IL 

Peter Lovett, Maria Lovett, Jessica Lovett and Julia Lovett, King 

City Northway Forwarding Ltd., Montreal, QC 

Cooper Garland and Shannon Garland, AHI, Roanoke, VA; Erin 

Cox, GTL Lumber Inc., Ironton, OH; Linwood Truitt, Sarabeth Kight 

and Josh Turner, Beasley Forest Products Inc., Hazlehurst, 

GA 

Janie Duplisea, Jayden Duplisea, Adam Duplisea and Brentley 

Duplisea, Nyle Dry Kilns, Brewer, ME 

Annalise Howard, Jeremy Howard, Weston Howard, Tiffany Howard, 

Bella Howard and Haley Howard, Nyle Dry Kilns, Brewer, ME 

Jeff Dougherty, Sr., Cindy Dougherty, Carly Dougherty, Jeff 

Dougherty Jr. and Haley Dougherty, The AGL Group LLC, Jacksonville, 

FL 

Peter Lovett, King City Northway Forwarding Ltd., Montreal, QC; 

Lindsey DiGangi, PLMI, Philadelphia, PA; and Karl Schmertzler, 

Yoder Lumber Co. Inc., Lenoir, NC 

Wendy and John Bowman, AHMI, High Point, NC; Jesse LaSon, 

Rossi Group, Cromwell, CT; and Rick Jordan, Associated Hardwoods 

Inc., Granite Falls, NC 

Amanda and Shannon Forrest, Robinson Lumber Company, Anderson, 

SC; and Michael Oakes and Taylor Barr, ISK Biocides 

Inc., Marion, VA 

Additional photos on next page 




ALC PHOTOS Continued 

Jennifer Beam, Jennifer Beam SEO, Staunton, VA; and Mavis 

Beam, Stephen Beam and Drake Beam, NWH, Staunton, VA 

Annalise Howard, Tiffany Howard, Weston Howard, Jeremy Howard, 

Bella Howard, Haley Howard, Janie Duplisea, Jayden Duplisea, 

Adam Duplisea and Brentley Duplisea, Nyle Dry Kilns, Brewer, 

ME 

Eddy and Amy Phillips, Phillips Lumber & Farm Products LLC, 

Mountain City, TN; and Mark and Dana Pierce, Layne Law and 

Wayne Law, New River Hardwoods Inc., Mountain City, TN 

Tatianna Hughes and Winonna Hughes, SII Dry Kilns, Lexington, 

NC; Toye Oshoniyi, Dominion Risk Advisors, Roanoke, VA; and 

Karmin and Ken Matthews, SII Dry Kilns, Lexington, NC 

Additional photo on page 57 

# 

1 

LAKE STATES Continued from page 6 

nesses of 4/4 through 8/4. 

“White Oak and Walnut are selling well for us and will 

be for the foreseeable future. We aren’t seeing a lot of 

interest in Hard and Soft Maple or Red Oak, but they 

have improved over the past several months.” 

His company sells to distribution yards. When asked 

if he had heard any comments as to how his customers’ 

sales were doing, he said, “We don’t pry into our customers’ 

business, so unless they are telling us to slow 

down on shipments we know that their sales are doing 

well.” n 

SOUTHEAST Continued from page 7 

to be more supply than demand.” 

In Alabama, a lumber spokesperson said that the current 

market was unsatisfactory and that it was “still the 

same” as it was six months ago. 

His company handles White and Red Oak in all 

grades, mentioning that Red Oak FAS was “doing okay,” 

and that “Red No. 1 Common and No. 2A Common are 

the worst.” The White Oak for his company is selling 

the best and they cut the lumber in thicknesses of 4/4 

and 5/4. 

When asked who he sells to, he responded with, “international 

and domestic.” He also believes that “everybody’s 

business is off,” when it comes to comments from 

his customers regarding the market for their products. n 

WEST COAST Continued from page 7 

same. “We are probably just a little short of where we 

were six months ago.” 

His company offers White Oak, Soft Maple and Poplar 

in upper grades and in thicknesses of 4/4 and 5/4. “We 

are chasing White Oak, like everyone else. Poplar has 

been slow and you would think the market would like it to 

satisfy the cheaper products going into homes because 

of how cheap it is right now,” he remarked. 

He said that while he hasn’t heard any comments as 

to how his customers sales are doing, at the time of this 

writing, he can tell that their sales have slowed down 

due to his company’s overall orders being at about 60 

percent of what they normally are. n 

CRAFTMANSHIP ISN’T DEAD. 

IT’S HIDING IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. 

615-740-5100 

WWW.MIDTNLUMBER.COM 




ONTARIO Continued from page 8 

Some contacts commented that markets had improved 

for Red Oak, especially for the No. 1 Common 

and Better and No. 2A and Number 3A. White Oak demand 

continues to be strong. For some areas there is 

a shortage of supplies with prices moving up. Demand 

is also strong for kiln-dried White Oak, thus prices are 

rising. 

Flooring manufacturers boosted their inventories for 

the anticipated spring and summer construction season. 

With the federal budget in April focusing on housing and 

building more homes, this provided a needed positive 

boost of future business to the sector. For some manufacturers 

they say business is better than last year. They 

still have concerns and issues, as do most other sectors 

in the Hardwood industry, such as tight supplies, finding 

qualified employees and their retention, and others as 

stated above. 

The Ontario government is trying to take action to ensure 

the province has the tradespeople needed to build 

Ontario, as the demand for skilled workers in the construction 

and manufacturing sector is set to grow significantly 

over the next decade. 

In May, the Ontario government introduced new policy 

and legislative measures to attract young people to the 

skilled trades, through a new apprenticeship pathway 

and an online job matching platform designed to promote 

the skilled trades to youth and workers leading to 

careers in these sectors. 

The new stream, called Focused Apprenticeship Skills 

Training (FAST), will allow students in Grades 11 and 12 

to participate in more apprenticeship learning through 

additional co-operative education credits while completing 

high school. Graduates would receive a new seal on 

their Ontario Secondary School Diploma to signify their 

successful completion of the program and recognize 

them for their dedication to learning in the skilled trades. 

The Program will go back to basics ensuring students 

focus on learning and building skills that lead 

to good-paying jobs. FAST will now allow students to 

take up to 80 percent of their senior courses in co-op 

education. This will accelerate entrance into the skilled 

trades, supported by the mandatory requirements for all 

students to take at least one Technological Education 

course starting this September. 

Ontario is also launching a new online job-matching 

portal for potential apprentices, journey persons and employers 

to network and share opportunities. Currently, 

Ontario does not have a dedicated provincial system 

to match potential apprentices with hiring employers or 

sponsors. A government-housed platform, developed in 

partnership with the private sector, would help streamline 

the process for potential apprentices to find interested 

sponsors, register and begin their training. 

Also, Ontario is proposing legislative measures to 

reduce barriers to apprenticeship training for workers 

who have prior professional experience, but cannot 

meet certain academic entry requirements to register 

as an apprentice. This policy would create alternative 

pathways for people interested in the skilled trades as a 

second career if they meet alternative criteria that may 

include minimum years out of high school and history of 

prior work experiences. The proposed change sets the 

stage for the ministry to develop these alterative criteria 

which would be set out by future regulations under the 

Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021. 

These changes are part of a larger package that, if 

passed, would protect the health and safety of workers 

and frontline heroes, impose tougher penalties on exploitative 

bad actors and make it easier for more people 

to start a career in the trades. By continuing to put 

workers first, the government is building a brighter future 

for all Ontarians and ensuring the province remains the 

best place to live, work and raise a family. n 

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QUEBEC Continued from page 8 

prices ranging from steady to firm. 

Interest rates are at a 23-year high and the Bank of 

Canada said in May it was watching the ability of institutions 

and households to service their debts as well as 

monitoring the valuation of some assets, which appear 

to have become stretched. 

The Canadian financial system remains resilient but 

the continuing adjustment to higher rates and possible 

shocks present key risks to stability, Bank of Canada 

Governor Tiff Macklem said. 

Macklem made his remarks at the launch of the central 

bank’s annual Financial Stability Report. 

“Canada’s financial system remains resilient. Over 

the past year, households, businesses, banks and other 

financial institutions have taken proactive steps to adjust 

to higher interest rates and to weather economic 

shocks,” he said. 

“This adjustment still has some way to go and continues 

to present risks to financial stability.” 

Most Canadian mortgages have a five-year term and 

one concern is what happens when households start renewing 

at sharply higher rates. Another is the increasing 

stress shown by renters and the growing rates of arrears 

on credit cards and auto loans for households without a 

mortgage. 

Over the last year, the number of borrowers without 

a mortgage carrying a credit card balance of at least 80 

percent - people the bank says are significantly likely to 

miss a future debt payment - edged up and is now at 23 

percent. 

“Higher debt-servicing costs reduce financial flexibility 

for households and businesses and make them more 

vulnerable in the event of an economic downturn,” stated 

the report. 

At the end of 2023, over one-third of new mortgages 

had a mortgage debt service ratio greater than 25 percent, 

double the share of new mortgages with the same 

ratio in 2019. 

Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers said evidence 

suggested households had the flexibility to continue 

servicing debts at higher rates, in part because 

they had set aside money and were also earning more. 

Macklem said that the central bank was getting closer 

to being able to start cutting rates but has so far declined 

to give a timetable. 

The report said price corrections could be large and 

abrupt if expectations about the path for rates changed 

significantly or the economic outlook worsened. 

“Stretched asset valuations may not properly reflect 

risks to the economic outlook and therefore increase the 

likelihood of a disorderly price correction,” it said. 

People and businesses have become more focused 

on the timing and scope of central bank rate cuts, driving 

renewed appetite for risk, the report said, noting 

that benchmark U.S. and Canadian equity indexes had 

reached all-time highs in 2024. 

Valuations remain under pressure in part of the commercial 

real estate sector, particularly the office subsector. 

“Not all asset managers have fully reflected these reduced 

valuations on their balance sheets, meaning that 

further adjustments may be necessary in the future,” the 

report said. 

With this news, it may be more challenging for Hardwood 

businesses to eke out a profit this year, and to 

find new customers as people reign in their spending 

until interest rates go down, and economic conditions 

improve. n 

AHEC REPORT Continued from page 18 

that Benchmark is known for.”– Mike Holland, Head of 

Industrial Design, Foster + Partners. ILE makes use of 

two solid timbers – American Red Oak and British Ash 

– both of which are practical, affordable, attractive, and 

sustainable. The Red Oak, sourced from forests in the 

Northern Appalachians, is notable for its rapid rate of regeneration. 

Despite the fact it makes up around 18 percent 

of the Hardwood forest of North America, it is massively 

underused, making its usage in ILE a net benefit 

in terms of making a more sustainable use of the forest. 

The Cherry Project: Kingston students champion 

sustainability in Hardwood furniture design 

High-grade – i.e. knot-free – Cherry is widely used 

by interior designers and architects in high-end joinery 

and interior architecture. Lower grades provide equally 

beautiful and sustainable wood and are a great choice 

for projects that don’t require very long sections, such 

as kitchen cabinetry, furniture parts, and flooring; however, 

they are less popular. To ensure sustainability, it is 

crucial to use all parts of a harvested tree, not just the 

premium grades. To promote this approach, Kingston 


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AHEC REPORT Continued 

students were challenged to create furniture using lower 

grades of American Cherry. By embracing lower grades, 

the design community can lead the way in sustainable 

practices, achieving both cost effectiveness and environmental 

stewardship. 

As part of their ‘Intelligent Making’ module, 50 second-year 

students of Kingston’s Product & Furniture 

Design course were presented with offcut low-grade 

Cherry and invited to create new design forms. “Working 

directly with materials and exploring processes is critical 

to our student experience. The physical investigation of 

materials enables new ideas to emerge. Having a good 

amount of Hardwood to play with has allowed us to explore 

structure and prototype freely, both at scale and 

full size. This means every student has had the opportunity 

to establish their own structural principles and to 

manufacture their own full-size finished prototypes to a 

high standard.” – Carl Clerkin, Tutor, Product & Furniture 

Design, Kingston University. 

The result is an extraordinary collection of furniture 

and objects that offer fresh, practical and creative per- 

spectives on an overlooked material. From stools and 

shelving to benches and even a playground see-saw, the 

body of work produced showcases both the versatility of 

Cherry and the visionary talent of the emerging design 

generation. “The next generation of designers, more 

than any before them, will need to adapt to a new way 

of thinking about the materials they use and the environmental 

impact of the designs they produce. This project 

has given these students valuable experience working 

with a timber species that is currently out of fashion but 

has the potential to offer so much to the world of product 

design. It has also shown that, with imagination, you can 

make beautiful products from what would be rejected as 

unsuitable in the commercial world.” – David Venables, 

European Director, AHEC. n 


HARDWOOD FEDERATION INFO 

Continued from page 20 

out of concern that too many changes to the bill would 

upset the delicate arrangement forged in the House that 

allowed the bill to pass the lower chamber. And finally, 

politics are ever present in all negotiations here in Washington—whether 

it’s a tax bill, appropriations, a Farm Bill 

or anything in between. Next year is a critical one for 

tax policy as many benefits in the TCJA are set to expire—even 

our own Sec. 119A deduction for S-Corporations 

and pass through entities. Senate Republicans are 

banking on the prospect of retaking control of the upper 

chamber after the November election and being in a position 

to hold the pen on tax policy. In sum, their thinking 

is why not hold off on this bill now and tackle all of the 

expired and expiring provisions in one big bill next year. 

At this point it is hard to envision a scenario where 

H.R. 7024 becomes law this year. Nevertheless, the 

Hardwood Federation team is visiting with Senate offices 

on a near daily basis urging for action on these critical 

tax benefits. We will continue to stay after it and keep 

you apprised of developments. n 

NAFF BULLETIN Continued from page 22 

each year won’t be saddled with college debt. Instead, 

students who are accepted into the program are employed 

by UFP and receive 100 percent scholarships 

into the Business School. 

Instructors in this program are all practitioners currently 

working for UFP in the field in which they teach: 

finance, production management, plant management, 

design, marketing, sales, maintenance engineering and 

IT. 

Ann Baker, Dean of the UFP Business School says, 

“Not only does this reflect a commitment to real world 

experience, but it also testifies to the commitment of the 

executives who dedicate time and resources to the program.” 

During the summer session students are placed in sixweek 

immersive internships in the field–at any one of 

14 plants throughout the company. Cycling through work 

and study experiences that give them an intensive, application-rich 

education. Baker adds that, “the problems 


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they address are real; the results they achieve are real; 

and upon graduation they are ready to step into a career 

path that moves them ahead.” 

Interested in the possibilities? Reach out to Ann Baker, 

Ann.Baker@ufpi.com, to find out how the program 

works in detail. 

Targeted Educational Partnerships with Industry 

Bring Career Opportunities to Students 

While River Parishes Community College (RPCC) 

in Gonzales, Louisiana does not specifically serve the 

wood products industry, it does serve a region with a 

similar challenge: stable, high-paying, secure jobs go 

begging because people don’t realize the opportunities 

exist. 

RPCC is located in an area of heavy advanced manufacturing 

with a high presence of petrochemical, oil, and 

gas companies. Not only are children unaware of the 

possible careers they could one day pursue, but many of 

the adults around them–including teachers and counselors–don’t 

realize the opportunities that surround them. 

Under the leadership of Chancellor Quintin Taylor, 

RPCC is taking intentional steps to build for the future. 

They asked their industry partners some key questions: 

• Where are we meeting the mark, where are we 

falling short? 

• Where are our greatest areas of opportunity 

for growth? 

• How do we become the preferred workplace 

solution for industry partners? 

RPCC’s response has been to adapt the curriculum to 

align with the talent and skills development needed now 

and in the future as the industry changes. This includes 

stackable credentials that can be earned in anywhere 

from two months to two years and immediately put to 

use on the job. 

Taylor notes the strong influence teachers and counselors 

have on students and has positioned RPCC to 

provide them with the information and experiences that 

help them understand regional industries. With that 

deeper grasp of potential opportunities, they can in turn 

share that information with students. 

RPCC is intentional in taking other steps to reach 

younger generations as well. Working with the feeder 

system of schools in the region, RPCC is participating 

in providing age-appropriate education for children in 

grades K-3 so that their eyes are open to the full breadth 

of careers that could be open to them in the future. 

Where can you partner with a community college or 

educational program in your region? Don’t wait to be 

asked, do the asking. 

Frank Miller Lumber Understands the Value of Focusing 

on Succession and Business Sustainability 

Steve James, President and CEO of Frank Miller Lumber 

in Union City, Indiana believes it’s vital to be actively 

involved in partnership with local schools - - elementary 

as well as high school. He describes several outreach 

and educational efforts that are in the works with the 

school systems in his region. 

• Created an immersive, virtual reality experience that 

allows 8th graders to tour the plant and explore the kinds 

of jobs that are available. As part of the East Central 

Indiana Service Center, the project reaches students 

throughout the region. 

• Industry partner with the P-Tech program at Winchester 

High School, Winchester, Indiana. The program 

will take in twelve 9th graders each year, in an internship 

format designed to develop a range of trade and other 

skills. James is working with the students on a marketing 

project providing other leadership training. 

• As an IHLA task force member, promoting opportunities 

for internships and apprenticeships for students. 

Recent clarification on rules means that while students 

younger than 18 cannot operate dangerous machinery, 

they can be in the plants and participate in internships. 

• The Frank Miller Lumber plant hosts an annual open 

house for the public to raise awareness and has the ability 

to provide wide-aisle tours for small groups of elementary 

school children. 

• All jobs in the facility are videoed so that when they 

are posted, interested applicants can easily see and understand 

what would be involved. 

While this is an abbreviated list of all the actions these 

organizations are taking to develop talent and close the 

skills gap, it does illustrate the kinds of steps that are 

possible. The industry offers many ways to build a solid 


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NAFF BULLETIN Continued 

career without necessarily following a path that includes 

college. 

What unites these stories and others like them is the 

dedication to the industry and a willingness to reach out 

and share by taking action and finding ways to reach 

young people. 

Here’s Your Challenge 

Who will you connect with? How can you make the 

industry–and an understanding of your business–more 

accessible to those in your community or region? 

Over and over, we hear that while it’s good to involve 

high schoolers, the age we need to reach is far younger. 

Why not be the one to visit a kindergarten or early elementary 

classroom and just talk about what your company 

does in an age-appropriate way? 

Or dip your toe in the water and start by sponsoring 

Truth About Trees kits for classroom teachers, and even 

visit a classroom to share what you know and learn what 

the kids want to know–the questions on their minds. 

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4/4 thru 16/4 

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HICKORY • HARD & SOFT MAPLE • POPLAR • RED & WHITE OAK • WALNUT • ASH 

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NHLA: WHY KNOT... 

Continued from page 24 

Addressing the crisis of underutilized biomass in rural 

communities requires a concerted effort from policymakers 

and industry stakeholders. It is crucial to 

develop, support, and enact regulatory frameworks 

and financial incentives that encourage biomass utilization 

and domestic renewable energy projects. For 

instance, FERC needs to mandate fair pricing equal to 

solar and ensure co-op power suppliers are not mandated 

to purchase only from the big utilities. Investing 

in infrastructure for biomass transportation and storage 

can facilitate the transition towards decentralized power 

generation and create opportunities for Hardwood 

mills to grow and stabilize their raw material supply. 

Furthermore, fostering cooperation between the utilities 

and Hardwood mills can unlock new opportunities 

for sustainable energy production while bolstering the 

resilience of the region’s Hardwood industry. 

Biofuel, biomass, pulp, paper, and other plants or 

export terminals shutting down across the Southern 

United States are causing a ripple effect throughout 

the region’s economy. The situation poses a significant 

challenge to Hardwood mills, jeopardizing the 

economic viability of the region’s forestry sector. However, 

addressing regulatory barriers, granting access 

to capital, investing in infrastructure, and improving 

cooperation between federal and state governments, 

utilities, and Hardwood mills can mitigate the impacts 

of plant closures and pave the way for a more sustainable 

future. Why Knot Advocate to Solve Our Biomass 

Crisis. n 


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For 30 years, Thompson 

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WHO’S WHO 

IN HARDWOOD PURCHASING 

A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE LEADING 

PURCHASING EXECUTIVES IN 

THE HARDWOOD INDUSTRY 

EXPERIENCE QUALITY DEPENDABILITY 

975 Conrad Hill Mine Rd. ~ Lexington, NC 27292 

Phone 336-746-5419 ~ Fax 336-746-6177 

www.kepleyfrank.us 

Facilities: 

3 Sawmills Processing 50 Million' • 750,000' Dry Kiln 

Capacity • 600,000' Fan Shed Capacity 

2 382 Newman Planer Mills • 50 Bay Bin Sorter 

Products Available: 

4/4-8/4 Appalachian Lumber • 6/4-8/4 Ship Dry Capacity 

Crossties (100,000 BF per week) • Timbers up to 18' 

1,000,000+ Average KD Inventory • 12,000,000+ 

Average AD Inventory 

Species: 

White Oak • Red Oak • Poplar • Ash • Hickory 

Elm • Beech • Gum • Hackberry • Pecan 

Jimmy Kepley, owner, and Bart 

Jenkins, lumber sales 

The firm manufactures 4/4 through 8/4 thicknesses. 

Sales: 

Bart Jenkins 

bjenkins@kepleyfrank.us 

Jimmy Kepley 

jkepley@kepleyfrank.us 

MATTHEW D. NICOSON has 

been working full time for American 

Millwork, located in Elkhart, 

IN, since March of 1994 and will 

celebrate his 30th anniversary 

with the firm this year. Nicoson 

has been the Materials Manager 

for American Millwork since 2010. 

In his position, Nicoson oversees 

Matthew D. Nicoson raw material purchasing, inventory 

control and scheduling. The 

company purchases over 12 million board feet of Hardwood 

lumber per year. He also assists with machinery 

upgrade projects such as the recent implementation 

of scanning technology in their rough mill, as well as 

serves on the product development team. 

American Millwork is owned by Vaughn Nickell and 

offers Hardwood S4S, mouldings, handrails, and components 

mainly in Red Oak and Poplar. In the last 12 

months American Millwork has also expanded to processing 

Hard and Soft Maple, White Oak and Alder. 

The business is a member of the Wood Component 

Manufacturers Association and the World Millwork Alliance 

and specializes in high volume production of these 

products including the UPC labeling and packaging for 

large distributors. Also, this past year, American Millwork 

added a few new products that are focused on wall coverings 

which has helped them diversify their sales. The 

firm also utilizes a fingerjointer and gluer to recover fiber, 

making handrails, fingerjoint blanks and primed fingerjoint 

Poplar mouldings and S4S. 

Nicoson graduated from Concord Community High 

School, in Elkhart, IN. He received a bachelor’s degree 

in forestry, from Purdue University, in West Lafayette, 

IN. He started in the forest products industry making RV 

doors and working at American Millwork as a planer operator. 

Nicoson has two sons, Tate (24) and William (21) and 

one daughter, Emma (28) and one granddaughter Virginia 

Mae. He coaches cross country at Concord High 

School, and is also an assistant track coach. Nicoson 

also enjoys running, playing guitar, and traveling. 

More information is available at 

www.americanmillwork.com. 

RICK BUTLER is president of Woodworkers Shop 

Inc., DBA Millworks and Pekin Hardwood, located in Pekin, 

IL and Peoria, IL. 

Pekin Hardwood is a manufacturer of flooring, mouldings, 

dimensional lumber and millwork, in addition to operating 

a Hardwood distribution yard that markets over 

40 species of kiln-dried Hardwood lumber from around 

the world. Lumber is purchased in high grades in thicknesses 

of 4/4 up to 12/4. Total volumes of Hardwoods 

purchased annually come to over 300,000 board feet. 

The species range includes Red Oak, White Hard Maple, 

Poplar, Birch, Walnut, Hickory, Soft Maple, Ash and 

Cherry (surfaced and straight-line ripped). Millworks 

sells interior finishes such as flooring, doors, moulding 

and windows to the public. Woodworkers Shop retails 

woodworking tools and accessories along with 40 species 

of Hardwoods to hobbyist and professional woodworkers. 

Butler graduated high school in 1977 and went on to 

graduate from college with a business degree in 1981. 

He started working at Millworks and Pekin Hardwood 43 

years ago and purchased the company in 1998. His first 

job in the forest products industry was right after college, 

working at a sawmill and learning the business from the 

ground up. He has experience in log tallying, running the 

chipper and edger, grading lumber on the green chain, 

running dry kilns, bookkeeping and also sales. 

Woodworkers Shop, Millworks and Pekin Hardwood 

are members of the National Wood Flooring Association, 

National Federation of Independent Business and the 

Better Business Bureau. 

In his spare time, Butler enjoys fishing, golfing and 

reading the Bible. 

Butler has been married to Nina for 43 years and the 

couple has two sons, one daughter and three granddaughters 

and two grandsons. 

For more information, visit www.pekinhardwood. 

com, www.mymillworks.com or www. 

woodworkersshop.com. 


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Wood: The Natural Choice 

Stay on track: www.rta.org or 

WHOS WHO Continued 

TERESA MOORMAN is the lumber purchasing agent 

and Environmental Coordinator for Mid-America Cabinets 

in Gentry, AR. Her current responsibilities include 

all purchasing and filing state and federal environmental 

reports. 

Mid-America Cabinets purchases 700,000 board feet 

per year of Hard Brown Maple, Red Oak, Knotty Alder 

and European Steamed Beech (No. 1 Common, 15/16- 

inch, surfaced). 

Mid-America Cabinets focuses on the multi-family industry, 

as well as retirement facilities, with kitchen and 

bath countertop solutions, providing services on time 

and on budget. The company also offers cabinets. 

Mid-America Cabinets is a member of the Kitchen 

Cabinet Manufacturers Association. 

Moorman graduated from McDonald County High 

School in Anderson, MO, in 1979 and Missouri Southern 

State University, located in Joplin, MO, in 1982. She 

has worked for Mid-America Cabinets for 40 years. Her 

and her husband, Ivan, enjoy traveling, doing anything 

outdoors and spending time with their grandchildren. 

She is also an avid Arkansas Razorback and Green Bay 

Packer fan. 

For more information about Mid-America Cabinets, 

visit www.midamericacabinets.com. n 

INDUSTRY NEWS Continued from page 15 

Simms started in the forest products industry as the membership 

development manager at the National Hardwood 

Lumber Association, where she recruited new members and 

provided marketing solutions for members through advertising 

and sponsorship opportunities. 

Simms earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University 

of California in Riverside, CA. 

For more information, call 901-581-2349 or visit www. 

kingcitynorthamerica.com. 

Biden-Harris Administration Invests in Wood 

Products And Forests 

Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small announced 

that the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service 

is investing nearly $74 million to spark innovation, create 

new markets for wood products and renewable wood energy 

from sustainably sourced wood, and increase the capacity 

of wood processing facilities as part of President Biden’s 

Investing in America agenda. 

Made possible in part by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure 

Law and the Inflation Reduction Act – the largest 

climate investment in history — these investments fund 171 

project proposals across 41 States and American Samoa 

and directly support forest health and the wood products 

economy. 

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to supporting 

innovation in the wood products and wood energy economies, 

which are at the heart of so many small towns, especially 

in Tribal and rural communities,” said Deputy Secretary 

Torres Small. “These investments will support good 

paying jobs for families and communities. It will increase 

the economy’s capacity to manufacture wood products. In 

turn, sustainably sourcing the wood used to manufacture 

these products will make our forests healthier and reduce 

the threat of catastrophic wildfires.” 

Sustainably sourcing materials for wood products directly 

supports efforts to improve forest health. Removing dead 

trees and overgrown vegetation reduces wildfire risk, improves 

forest health and creates wildlife habitat, all while 

supporting the forest products economy. 

The Forest Service is awarding grants to entities across 

the public, private and non-profit sectors through its Wood 

Innovations Grant, Community Wood Grant and Wood 

Products Infrastructure Assistance Grant Programs. Grant 

funding will support proposals that increase demand and 

create new and innovative uses for sustainably sourced 

wood. Funded proposals include converting heating systems 

in schools to sustainable biomass boilers, installing 

cutting-edge equipment in sawmills and processing facilities 

to increase efficiency, supporting innovative housing using 

mass timber and more. 

The Forest Service will also be providing more than $7 

million to 10 project proposals from Tribes that will directly 

support Tribally owned businesses and project proposals 

from Tribal governments. 

For more information, visit www.usda.gov. n 

Having freightmares 

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JOSEY (JOCO) 2018 Christmas REV .qxp_Layout 1 11/19/18 2:42 PM Page 1 

JoCo Lumber, Inc. is a division of 

Josey Lumber Company, Inc. 

Tripp, Logan, and Joey Josey 

Our company offers: 

• 10,000,000 BF of annual production from 

our 6’ band headrig and 6’ band resaw. 

• Red and White Oak, Soft Maple, Ash, 

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• rough, surfaced, air-dried and kiln-dried 

lumber in random widths and lengths. 

• export prepping, container loading of logs and lumber, 

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• 500,000 BF of dry kiln capacity. 

• 65,000 SF of enclosed warehouse for storage and loading of 

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PENN-YORK PHOTOS Continued from page 37 

Jason Stanley, Justin Fiebig, Ashley Gerg, Ryan Swanson and 

John Olson, Kane Hardwood, Kane, PA 

Cameron Waner, Kane Hardwood, Kane, PA; Paul Kephart, NWH, 

Beachwood, OH; and Chris Fehr, National Hardwood Magazine, 

Erie, PA 

Peter Lovett, King City Northway Forwarding Ltd., Montreal, QC; 

Rob Matson, Matson Lumber Company, Brookville, PA; Jesse 

LaSon, Rossi Group, Cromwell, CT; and Nate Jones, Ron Jones 

Hardwood Sales Inc., Union City, PA 

Bob Long, Pennsylvania Forest Products Association, Harrisburg, 

PA; Burt Craig, Matson Lumber Company, Brookville, PA; 

Brant Forcey, Forcey Lumber & Veneer Company Inc., Woodland, 

PA; Ted Korn, Matson Lumber Company; and Curt Hollabaugh, 

Slater Run Resources LLC, Tidioute, PA 

ALC PHOTO Continued from page 40 

A 70 Year Tradition of Excellence 

manufacturers with vast inventories of premium quality 

domestic and imported hardwoods, from Alder to 

Zebrawood, 4/4 through 16/4 in many species. When you 

need Hardwood, think MacBeath. . . a name synonymous 

Concentration Yard: 

Edinburgh, Indiana 

800-322-9743 

Arizona: 

Phoenix: 602-504-1931 

Tempe: 480-355-5090 

Tucson: 520-745-8301 

Reload: 

Northern California: 

Golden State Reload Berkeley: 800-479-9907 

Perris, California 

Stockton: 844-490-5051 

800-322-9743 

Utah: Salt Lake City: 800-255-3743 

macbeath.com 

“Looking for Premium Appalachian Hardwood? 

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HAROLD WHITE LUMBER 

Connecting North American 

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John Pysh, Pennsylvania Hardwoods Co., Pleasantville, PA; Laurie 

Sue Burt, Collins Kane Hardwood, Kane, PA; Lloyd Lovett, 

King City Forwarding USA Inc., Chesapeake, VA; George Ceranick, 

H & K Equipment Inc., Pittsburgh, PA; and Jeffrey T. Davis I, 

First United National Bank of Fryburg, Tionesta, PA 

Chris Funk, U-C Coatings LLC, Buffalo, NY; Camron Zerbian, Fitzpatrick 

& Weller Inc., Ellicottville, NY; Rus Gustin, RAM Forest 

Products Inc., Shinglehouse, PA; and Greg Fitzpatrick, Fitzpatrick 

& Weller Inc. 

Karl and Karen Schmertzler, Yoder Lumber Co. Inc., Lenoir, NC; 

Will Schmertzler, Rex Lumber Company, Crozet, VA; Chris Fehr, 

National Hardwood Magazine, Memphis, TN; and Nate Jones, 

Ron Jones Hardwood Sales Inc., Union City, PA 


Free Digital Copy of National 

Hardwood Magazine - All 13 

Issues! 



Founded in 1968 by Harold White, we offer: 

• Bandsawn lumber 

• Excellent color and texture 

• 500,000 b.f. kiln capacity 

• Planing mill facility 

• On-site container loading 

• Dimension plant specializing in paneling, flooring, 

casing, doors and finger-joints 

For lumber and prompt worldwide shipping, 

contact Ray White: rwhite@haroldwhitelumber.com 

For dimension and/or millwork requests, 

contact Lee White: lwhite@haroldwhitelumber.com. 

Harold White Lumber, Inc. 

2920 Flemingsburg Road 

Morehead, KY 40351 

(606) 784-7573 phone 

(606) 784-2624 fax 

www.haroldwhitelumber.com 




HAROLD WHITE 2016-2.indd 5 

6/6/16 2:40 PM

CLASSIFIED 

PROFIT OPPORTUNITIES 

To: Anyone involved in the sawmill controls industry 

FOR SALE 

Dry Kiln Concentration Yard with 470,000 bdft Kiln Capacity 

and 400,00 bdft Predryer Capacity 

LOT – Western Pennsylvania 

26.47 – acre industrial site 

26.31 – acre wooded lot 

70,000 sqft asphalt lot 

100 x 80 vehicle lot 

Enough sq footage to openly store 2,000,000 bdft lumber. 

BUILDINGS: 

80 x 212 Steel storage building concrete floor (blue lumber storage) 

65 x 140 Wood frame equipment building concrete floor (green chain) 

60 x 130 Wood frame equipment building (stacker) 

60 x 80 Steel building high storage (sawdust) 

60 x 60 Wood frame equipment building (grading shed) 

130 x 80 Coe steel building (predryer) 

5 – 50,000 ft SII Kiln Building 

2 – 40,000 ft Irvington Moore Kilns 

2 – 80,000 ft Nardi Kilns 

25 x 160 Garage w/small office and wash area. Parts storage rooms. 

Block and wood structure. 

25 x 160 Open face wood storage shed, gravel floor. 

25 x 160 Open face steel storage shed with a 50 x 60 high overhang roof, 

gravel floor. 

104,000 sqft Asphalt lot 

OFFICE – Roughly 2,000 sqft working space. 

11 Individual offices 

2 large clerical offices 

1 large conference room 

Small kitchen 

2 Restrooms 

Reply to: nhm@millerwoodtradepub.com, put CMP #3578 in subject line. 

USED MACHINERY FOR SALE 

●USNR 4TA30 Top Arbor Three Shifting 

Saw Edger 

●Infeed Landing Deck 

●USNR – Lunden Cam Unscrambler 

S/N 41419 

●Even Ending Rolls 

●Queuing Hooks (2) ahead of Scanner 

●Queuing Hooks (2) after Scanner 

●Edger Infeed Model 600 Maximizer 

S/N 2951-A 

●USNR 4TA30 Edger with 200 HP Arbor 

Drive Motor 

●Outfeed Belt with Shifting Edging Shears 

●Specs – Hardwood 1” to 4” Thick x 4” to 24” 

Wide x 6’ to 16’ Long 

●Saw Kerf .160” x Saw Plate .120” 

●Two Hydraulic Units 

●Water Mizer Oil Mist Guide System 

●Set of Babbitt Guide Tools 

Contact: James Robbins 

Cell: (207) 322-3162 

Email: jarobbins@rlco.com 

SERVICES 

National Hardwood Magazine 

www.nationalhardwoodmag.com 

Hardwood Purchasing Handbook 

www.hardwoodpurchasinghdbk.com 

Greenbook’s Hardwood Marketing Directory 


Greenbook’s Softwood Marketing Directory 

(on-line only) 


Forest Products Export Directory 

www.forestproductsexport.com 

Imported Wood Purchasing Guide 

www.importedwoodpurchasing.com 

Connecting North American 

Forest Products Globally 

Import/Export Wood Purchasing News 

www.woodpurchasingnews.com 

The Softwood Forest Products Buyer 

www.softwoodbuyer.com 

The Softwood Forest Products Buyer 

Special NAWLA Edition 

www.softwoodbuyer.com 

Forest Products Stock Exchange 

(on-line only) 


P.O. Box 34908 • Memphis, TN 38184-0908 

(800) 844-1280 or (901) 372-8280 


PLEASE VISIT US ONLINE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PUBLICATIONS 

Mail running slowwwwww? 

SALESMAN WANTED 

We’re looking to add a salesman 

to our team to grow our U.S. sales, 

and our Ontario, Canada westward 

sales. 

Knowledge of the Hardwood industry, 

logistics and supply chain 

process are important. Strong sales 

qualities and solutions oriented. 

Full-time and exclusive to our service. 

Location is not an issue – work 

remote from U.S. or in Ontario, Canada. 

Reply to: 

nhm@millerwoodtradepub.com 

Put CMP #3579 in subject line. 

Our Classified 

Advertising 

Works! 

For information 

Call: 

800-844-1280 

ALL CLASSIFIED ADS MUST BE 

PAID IN ADVANCE 

$45.00 PER INCH 

Blind Box Number Fee: $10.00 

DEADLINE: 

30 Days Preceding 

Publication Month 

We can’t control mail delays so we are speeding up the way you can get your next issue. Scan and sign-up to 

get all 13 digital issues FREE and delivered directly to your inbox. 

National Hardwood Magazine keeps YOU informed about Hardwood sawmill production, lumber 

distribution and consumption of appearance grade Hardwoods throughout North America. 

Scan this QR code with your 

camera phone to sign-up. 

Classified advertising will not be accepted for Hardwood 

products such as lumber, dimension, turnings, veneer, 

carvings, new dry kilns or dry kiln equipment, etc. 




ADVERTISERS 

INDEX 

For over a century, Corley has been 

the most trusted name in the industry. 

Abenaki Timber Corporation...................... 

AGL Group, The......................................55 

AHC Hardwood Group................................ 

Air Systems Mfg. of Lenoir, Inc..............56 

Anderson, Roy, Lumber Company, Inc...13 

Atlanta Hardwood Corporation.................. 

Automation & Electronics USA..............11 

Bailey’s Inc................................................. 

Baillie Lumber Co....................................... 

Beard Hardwoods....................................... 

BID Group.................................................... 

Bingaman & Son Lumber, Inc..................... 

BioLube, Inc................................................ 

Breeze Dried Inc......................................... 

Brunner-Hildebrand Lumber Dry Kiln Co... 

Cardin Forest Products LLC....................... 

Cardinal Equipment................................40 

Church, Bryant, Hardwoods, Inc................ 

Clark Lumber Co......................................... 

Classic American Hardwoods, Inc........ BC 

Cleereman Controls.............................. IFC 

Cleereman Industries........................... IFC 

Cole Hardwood, Inc.................................... 

Collins......................................................... 

Continental Underwriters, Inc...............49 

Cooper Machine Co., Inc............................ 

Corley Manufacturing Co......................IBC 

Cramer, W.M., Lumber Co.......................50 

Cummings Lumber Co., Inc......................3 

Deer Park Lumber, Inc................................ 

Devereaux Sawmill, Inc..........................53 

DMSi Software........................................25 

Eagle Machinery & Supply, Inc.................. 

EXPO Richmond.......................................... 

EZLOG Company, Inc.................................. 

Farm Credit Mid-America........................... 

Fitzpatrick & Weller Inc.............................. 

Forcey Lumber Company, Inc..................... 

Frank Miller Lumber Co., Inc...................... 

GF Hardwoods, Inc.................................14 

Graf Bros. Flooring & Lumber..................1 

Granite Valley Forest Products.................. 

GTL Lumber Inc.......................................... 

Hardwood Forestry Fund............................ 

Hardwood Manufacturers Assoc .............. 

Hartzell Hardwoods, Inc............................. 

Hermitage Hardwood Lumber Sales, Inc.. 

HHP, Inc....................................................... 

Hurdle Machine Works Inc.....................47 

Hurst Boiler & Welding Co., Inc................. 

Industrial Vision Systems, Inc................... 

Irving, J.D., Limited..................................9 

ISK Biocides, Inc........................................ 

JoCo Lumber, Inc....................................55 

JoeScan, Inc...........................................42 

Jones, Ron, Hardwood Sales, Inc.............. 

Josey Lumber Co., Inc............................55 

Kentucky Forest Industries Assoc............. 

Kepley-Frank Hardwood Co., Inc...........52 

King City Forwarding USA, Inc................... 

King City/Northway Forwarding Ltd........... 

Kop-Coat Protection Products................... 

Kretz Lumber Co., Inc................................. 

Lawrence Lumber Company Inc................ 

Lewis Controls, Inc...............................IBC 

Lewis, Dwight, Lumber Co., Inc................. 

Lewis Lumber & Milling............................4 

Lumber Resources Inc............................... 

Lussier, Simon, Ltd..................................... 

MacBeath Hardwood Company..............57 

Maine Woods Company.............................. 

Mars Hill, Inc............................................... 

Matson Lumber Company........................... 

Maxwell Hardwood Flooring...................... 

McDonough Manufacturing Company........ 

Mellott Manufacturing Co., Inc................... 

Merrick Hardwoods.................................... 

Messersmith Manufacturing, Inc............... 

MiCROTEC...............................................12 

Middle Tennessee Lumber Co., Inc........41 

Midwest Hardwood Company.................... 

MO PAC Lumber Company......................45 

Montreal Wood Convention........................ 

Mueller Bros. Timber, Inc........................... 

Neff Lumber Mills, Inc................................ 

New River Hardwoods, Inc......................... 

Nicholson Manufacturing Ltd..................... 

North American Forest Foundation............ 

Northern Hardwoods.................................. 

Nyle Dry Kilns...........................................5 

NOTE: ADVERTISERS WITH NO PAGE NUMBER CARRY AN ALTERNATING AD SCHEDULE. 

Oakcrest Lumber, Inc................................. 

OHC | Overseas Hardwoods Company....... 

O’Shea Lumber Co...................................... 

Patrick Lumber Company........................... 

Paw Taw John Services, Inc...................... 

Pennsylvania Hardwoods Co..................15 

Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual 

Insurance Company.................................... 

Peterson, Keith D., & Co., Inc................54 

Piche, Inc.................................................... 

Pike Lumber Co., Inc............................. FC 

Prime Lumber Company............................. 

Primewood.................................................. 

Quality Hardwoods Ltd............................... 

Quebec Wood Export Bureau..................... 

Railway Tie Association.........................54 

RAM Forest Products, Inc......................48 

Real American Hardwood Coalition.......17 

Robinson Lumber Company........................ 

Rosenberry, Carl, & Sons Lumber, Inc...46 

Sawmill MD................................................. 

SII Dry Kilns................................................ 

Sirianni Hardwoods, Inc.........................43 

Snowbelt Hardwoods, Inc.......................... 

Southern Forest Products Assoc............... 

Stiles, A.W., Contractors, Inc..................... 

Stoltzfus Forest Products, LLC.................. 

Taylor Machine Works, Inc......................... 

Thompson Appalachian 

Hardwoods, Inc...................................... 51 

Tigerton Lumber Co................................21 

TMX Shipping Co., Inc................................ 

TS Manufacturing...................................10 

U-C Coatings, LLC....................................... 

USNR........................................................... 

Western Hardwood Association.............44 

Wheeland Lumber Co., Inc......................... 

White, Harold, Lumber, Inc.....................57 

Williams, R.J., Inc....................................... 

Wolverine Hardwoods, Inc......................... 

Note: Advertisers with no page number 

carry an alternating Ad schedule. 

Since Since 1905, 1905, our our family-owned business business has has been been built built upon upon a a reputation for for quality, quality, integrity, integrity, and and 

old-fashioned business business ethics. ethics. Today, Today, our our partnership with with Lewis LewisControls brings brings you you the the best best in in 

equipment and and optimization software. software. From From turnkey turnkey sawmills sawmills to to individual individual machine machine centers centers and and 

retrofits, retrofits, we’re we’re committed to to providing providing maximum maximum returns returns on on your your investment—year after after year. year. 

Our Our experienced professionals can can help help you you realize realize a a profit profit potential potential you you may may have have never never thought thought 

possible. possible. Call Call us us today today or or visit visit our our website website to to discover discover what what lumbermen have have known known for for over over 

100 100 years. years. Wood Wood is is Wonderful...and who who knows knows that that better better than than we we do? do? 

www.corleymfg.com 

www.lewiscontrols.com 

P.O. P.O. Box Box 471 471 | Chattanooga, Tennessee Tennessee 37401 37401 | tel: tel: 423-698-0284 | fax: fax: 423-622-3258 




WHO ELSE CAN GRADE, S2S, SORT, SCR, GANG RIP, OPTIMIZE, AND MERCHANDISE, PER YOUR 

SPECIFICATIONS, 125,000 BF OF HARDWOOD LUMBER IN ONE 8 HOUR SHIFT? Our fully optimized 

grading, sorting, surfacing, and ripping system is complete with two planers and an optimized high-speed 

gang ripsaw. After each board is viewed through a state-of-the-art 3D scanner, our technology allows us to 

maximize value, yield, and grade while reducing waste and saving time while meeting your specifications. 

3D Scanner 

One of two Newman Planers 

LICO Optimized Ripsaw 

Vision Tally and Bundle System 

Shanghai, China 

Classic American Hardwoods, Inc. 

Phone: (901) 522-9663 

Memphis, TN 

1245 North 7th St. 

Memphis, TN 38107 

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 

www.cahmemphis.com 

62 JULY 2024 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE www.RealAmericanHardwood.com/industry

National Hardwood Magazine - July 2024

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