Friday morning (Aug. 14), the Loggers Competition will once again take place. This contest has taken place for at least 41 years—probably a lot longer, but that’s when records started being saved—and is still going strong and arguably one of the most-enjoyed events of the entire fair.
Every year, seasoned loggers and some who have retired from logging pin on their badge number, go through all the safety checks and start their saws for the first event.
The eight events that contestants compete in are speed saw, bucksaw, two-man crosscut, pole felling, axe chop, axe throw, chair carve and tea boil.
Each event is difficult and strenuous. There is also the Jack and Jill competition, in which loggers recruit a female from the audience to join them in a crosscut event. Audience participants are often family members, including daughters, nieces, granddaughters and sometimes a gal that had no intentions of entering the event (that would be me).
This is always enjoyed by all. The results are not part of the final logger’s points, but make for great audience involvement.
The weather conditions definitely play a part in the composition. Over the 21 years that I’ve emceed the Loggers Competition, most days have been hot, some excruciatingly so. There have also been competitions when it’s rained hard. Whatever the weather conditions, the competitors persevere until the final event, which is almost always the chair carving.
Last year there were 16 men who competed, including one rookie, T.J. Barker. Sixteen is generally the standard number of competitors, but occasionally that can vary up or down, and usually there is more than one rookie competing.
The day takes a lot of work, and those involved start preparing early in the morning to set up everything needed in the competition, as well as the scoreboard and organizing all the prizes, filling coolers of ice and cold drinks. For as long as I remember, Cloverleaf Grocers has generously donated all the cold drinks for the day.
Gaston Godbout started the Loggers Competition over 41 years ago. Gaston and his sons and grandsons competed for many years. The entire Godbout family organized and saw to it that the competition was well run and enjoyed by everyone attending. Gaston competed until he was 76 years old. He had cancer at his final competition, although no one knew. 2005 was his final competition, and he passed in the fall of that year.
Following Gaston’s passing, there was one year that the Loggers Competition didn’t take place. Thankfully, Kelvin Caul and Sis Wilson (see her column in this paper!) knew without a doubt that the competition definitely needed to continue. The two have seen to it that, other than the year there wasn’t a fair because of COVID, the event has been going strong.
Many loggers have competed for many years. When the final event is over, and the loggers wipe the sweat from their brows, winners are announced for Champion Logger, Safety Logger and Rookie Logger. Last year’s Champion Logger was Kelvin Caul, Safety Logger was Gary Booth and Rookie was T.J. Barker.
And many volunteers work to make this event happen, men from various mills, loggers and many men and women who have a passion for the logging industry and the important role that logging has played throughout our district. There is always a chief judge, scoreboard marker, volunteers delivering score results and jobs that people don’t even think about that need to happen to make this the event the people in the grandstands enjoy.
Over the years, the long-time volunteers have gotten to know each other, and it’s great catching up at the yearly contest.
Sadly, in the last two years there have been heartfelt tributes to both Jason Easton and Kenny Roen. Both these fine men gave their time and dedication to the Loggers Contest. Their impact will remain in the hearts of many for years to come.
This year we are saddened by the passing of Kelvin Caul’s mother, LaVerne Caul. LaVerne, her husband Bill and their family never missed a loggers contest. In that, they were never disappointed, as their son Kelvin and grandson Jason have been placing first in both championship logger and safety logger for many years. Her memory and that unforgettable smile will be with many of us on the day of the competition.
The local businesses that donate prizes are phenomenal. The top loggers go home with many dollars’ worth of prizes. Every competitor takes something or several things home. Even the volunteers end up with a hat or T-shirt. Definitely a win-win competition for all involved with the competition.
I encourage everyone to attend this year’s Loggers Competition. I’m sure the regulars will be there, as we have a faithful following.
If you haven’t ever attended a Loggers Competition, plan on joining us at 9 a.m. on Friday—you won’t be disappointed! Come with your cheering voices, loud enough to be heard over the whirr of saws because the Loggers Competition is still going strong!
