PRESS RELEASE
GORHAM – New Hampshire Loggers and Truckers Hold 30th Annual Convention
On Saturday, October 22, the N.H. Timber Harvesting Council (NHTHC) held its 30th Annual Loggers & Truckers Convention at the Town & Country Inn and Resort in Gorham. The yearly gathering is a chance for this community to catch up with old friends, have a meal together, hear about the Professional Loggers Program from the N.H. Timberland Owners’ Association (NHTOA), and recognize the newly certified or re-certified. NHTHC chair Bruce Bovill of Moultonborough welcomed his colleagues, and NHTOA executive director Jasen Stock and program director Cheri Birch summarized the done by NHTOA over the past year in partnership with UNH Cooperative Extension and several other state agencies, with financial support provided by the Implementation Committee of the N.H. Strategic Forestry Initiative.”
The event is also a time to remember and honor members of the logging and trucking community who have passed on. This year they lost Hunter Carbee of Greenfield, Luther Crowe of Littleton, and Dan Keniston of Campton.
The proceedings always include a guest speaker, and last weekend Bill Torrey, a storyteller and former logger from Essex, Vt. entertained a room filled with 160 loggers, truckers, and their families. Torrey found the humorous side of almost being killed by a tree, evading a really nasty firewood customer, and how to deal with vandals at your landing.
The evening ends with the Red Ticket Auction. Members contribute items that range from homemade apple pies and handmade furniture to Halloween gift baskets and socket wrench sets. NHTOA vice president Rich Roy took charge of selling tickets and he sold nearly the whole roll.
Last Saturday was a beautiful Indian summer day and many spent it in the woods at work. But a good crowd made the time to drive up (or down) to Gorham because it’s an opportunity to check in on the state of New Hampshire’s forest products industry, of which the attendees are an important part.
These loggers completed the required coursework in the Professional Loggers Program and were re-certified. (From the left to right) Marty Driscoll of Lancaster, Jake Bronnenberg of Loudon, Craig Birch of Hollis, Matt Magoon of Loudon, Errol Peters of Landaff, and Michael Sharp of Bridgewater.
Contact: Bill Chaisson, communications director, 607-220-7425