Forest Heritage Days

FOREST HERITAGE DAYS

Heffner will seek third Game of Logging title

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    GREENVILLE — The highlight of Forest Heritage Days has traditionally been the Game of Logging (GOL), where woodsmen display their skills in front of an appreciative audience at the Greenville Consolidated School athletic fields.

File photo

    CHAMPION’S CHECK — Maine Employee Mutual Insurance Company (MEMIC) safety management consultant Andy Wood presented the Game of Logging winner’s $1,000 check to Sam Heffner of Greenville at last year’s Forest Heritage Days.

    Last year, local favorite Sam Heffner of Greenville won his second championship after going into the final round with a one-point lead over Chris Maxim of Chesterville.
    But after Maxim missed the target in the precision felling contest, Heffner’s tree landed squarely on the 30-point mark.
    Heffner, a Department of Conservation forest ranger, said he’ll be back this year. “I enjoy the competition and last year’s games were pretty exciting,” Heffner told the Observer. “I’ve been told we’ll have some new competitors this year.”
    Heffner already warmed up for the local contest by placing second in the Game of Logging National Finals at the Northeastern Loggers’ Association (NELA) Expo in Essex Junction, Vt. on May 10. “That was another very tight contest, right up to the end,” Heffner said. “At one point, I was 25 points behind the winner (Ron Andrus of Galeton, Penn.)”
    The Game of Logging consists of several precision contests where the difference of a half-inch can make or break a score.
    Two events use balloons so the audience and judges can clearly see the difference between an accurate or errant cut.

File photo

    UP A NOTCH — Andrew Marquis of St. Agatha competes in the double notch event where loggers have to notch a tree from both sides and have the two cuts meet in the middle.

    In the precision boring contest, loggers have to bore completely through a block of wood without penetrating either side. If they do, balloons placed on either side of the block are burst.
    Another event uses orange and black balloons to determine the accuracy of a bore cut.
    The spring pole competition tests loggers’ ability to safely release small tree limbs pulled over and tied down. Under actual working conditions, a chainsaw could “kick back” if pressure is released on a downed limb too quickly.
    The toughest one, however, is the precision felling. “People win or lose on the felling all the time,” Heffner said.
    “You have to factor in the height of the tree (which is stripped of branches for the contest), the cut, the aim and even a little breeze.”
    Aside from the intense competition at the GOL, Heffner said that Forest Heritage Days are a real benefit to the Moosehead Lake region.
    “The committee does a great job highlighting the forest industry,” Heffner said.
    “The bus tours to the working forest are also very popular. We expect a lot of people in town this weekend.”

23rd annual Forest Heritage Days returns to Greenville Aug. 8-9

Contributed Article

    GREENVILLE — There’s only one place in Maine where you can take a bus tour through the state’s magnificent working forests, try your hand at ax throwing, cheer on your favorite logger as they race head-to-head in a speed cutting competition and eat a traditional bean hole dinner all in one weekend.
    The 23rd annual Forest Heritage Days (FHD) returns to Greenville on Friday, Aug. 8 and Saturday, Aug. 9 at the Greenville Consolidated School athletic fields.
    This free, family-friendly event honors the state’s most historic industry and celebrates Maine’s woods by combining education and entertainment in a unique way, while maintaining a focus on forestry stewardship and sustainability.
    “The forest products industry is a major part of Maine’s history, economy and future, and this event is a fun way for Mainers to learn more about the state’s working forestland,” said Candy Russell, FHD committee member. “We welcome visitors from near and far to join us as we celebrate our forests with a weekend of exciting fun for all ages.”
    The main attraction schedule is:
• Friday, Aug. 8 – Working Forest Bus Tour – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. ($15 per person)
• Friday, Aug. 8 – Colby Woodsmen demonstration – 3 p.m. (free)
• Friday, Aug. 8 – Woodsmen Supper – 5 p.m.
• Friday, Aug. 8 – Sumner McKane’s “In the Blood” performance at the Center for Moosehead History – 7 p.m. ($10 per person)
• Saturday, Aug. 9 – “Game of Logging” competition – 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (free)
• Saturday, Aug. 9 – Craft Fair – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 9 – “Forest Fire Lookouts of the Moosehead Region” presentation – 7 p.m. (free)
    In addition to the main attractions, the event will offer free horse and carriage rides, forestry exhibits, food and beverages and a Log-A-Load for Kids Raffle to benefit local hospitals through the Children’s Miracle Network. Guests can enter the raffle to win a four-foot wood-carved bear and chainsaw.
    Advanced registration is required for the working forest bus tour (695-2241 Ext. 210) and Sumner McKane’s “In the Blood” performance (695-2909).
    For a full event listing and details, visit www.forestheritagedays.com.
    Leading event sponsors include the town of Greenville, the University of Maine’s University Forests program, Maine Forest Service, Forest Society of Maine, Plum Creek, Maine Employers’ Mutual Insurance Company (MEMIC), Moosehead Historical Society and Tele-Power.

Forest Heritage Days Quick Facts

• When the Maine Forest Service observed its 100th anniversary protecting Maine forests, a group of Moosehead Lake Region individuals organized Forest Heritage Days to provide an opportunity for people to learn about the working forests of Maine, including the history, the current practices and what’s in store for the future. The first Forest Heritage Days celebration was held in 1992.
• Approximately 600 people attend Forest Heritage Days each year from across the region and state to learn more about Maine’s forest products industry and enjoy family-friendly fun.
• The forest products industry is one of Maine’s largest and most historic industries. It contributes an annual economic impact of $8 billion, employs one in every 20 Mainers, and produces nearly 29 percent of all state exports.
• The state is a leader in conservation and sustainability. Maine leads the nation with 9.4 million acres of forests certified as sustainably managed by the major sustainability certification bodies and the state’s forestland contains more than 24 billion live trees — a ratio of 18,688 trees for each Maine resident.