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Even though vendor participation at the Mid-South Forest Equipment Show, held here September 17-18, was down from 2008, visitors shrugged off a tough economy and unseasonably hot weather and showed up in strong numbers for the 14th version of the event. Show management put the total two-day attendance at just over 5,600.

Show Manager Charles Burkhardt said he was not surprised at the turnout, considering strong pre-registration numbers. “I was concerned about the show two months ago, but as the time drew closer I began to feel better about it. We’re pleased that it turned out so well. I believe most everybody that participated felt good about being a part of it. I want to thank all exhibitors and attendees for their participation and our staff and volunteers for all their hard work. We look forward to the next Mid-South show in 12.”

Sixty exhibitors displayed or operated machines or products worth tens of millions of dollars. Products ranged from skidders to portable sawmills, processors to grapples and insurance services to ground saws.

In keeping with tradition, the continuing education segment of the show was very popular. Loggers and foresters—mostly loggers—were awarded slightly more than 4,200 CE hours for attending multiple sessions that embraced topics ranging from timber markets to ethics.

Another good draw this year was Bobby Goodson, key figure in the Swamp Loggers series on the Discovery Channel. Along with his wife, son and daughter-in-law, the affable Goodson greeted fans at the Tigercat booth and signed caps, T-shirts and toys. It was his third time to appear at a trade show this year on behalf of Tigercat.

Activities among exhibitors generated a total of $6,186 for Log A Load For Kids (Children’s Miracle Network hospitals). T-shirt sales by the Mississippi Loggers Assn. totaled $3,000. MLA ordered 300 for the show, sold 50 beforehand and ran out before the show concluded, according to MLA Executive Director Cecil Johnson. By collecting donations for catfish plates on Saturday and charging entry fees for a loader contest, Cat Forest Products and Cat dealers Thompson Machinery and Puckett Machinery collected $1,669. This total included $200 in prize money given to Tommy Carroll for placing first in the loader contest. Carroll, of Linden, Tenn., donated his winnings to the charity. John Deere and Stribling Equipment collected another $1,517 for the cause by selling chances on select John Deere toys.

The show-sponsored skidder contest attracted 63. Taking first place and $500 was Mitchell Lowery, affiliated with T.C. Mace Logging, Brilliant, Ala. He beat out his boss, Tim Mace, who placed third and pocketed $100. Second place ($300) went to Ronald Walters, owner of Walters Logging, Crystal Springs, Miss.

Ricky Smith of Enterprise, Miss. won the $500 cash prize given away by the MLA and Austin Cupit of Mead­ville, Miss. won a 32 in. TV set given away by MLA Insurance Services.

Held on-site again this year, the MLA awards banquet drew 268 participants, including keynoters Nate Clark and Joe Mastanduno, both with John Deere.

Noting the many issues confront­ing the nation’s forest products industry, Clark said he is convinced that “the answers to the many pressing and contentious questions facing our forestry communities will be determined in large part by the ability of our forestry communities to build and maintain unity.” He noted that unity is the primary way to bring about change in America’s political system, and that unity is a fundamental building block of state logging associations and the American Loggers Coun­cil. He urged MLA members to strengthen their support of the organization. “By ‘support’ I mean active engagement and participation. Attend meetings. Volunteer for committees. Lend your wisdom, passion and voice.”

He suggested that forestry communities create a vision or message around which they can unify and that the vision be strong enough to expand its appeal beyond any single region or subsector of the forest industry. “Just imagine the gains that forestry communities could achieve if all of their experience, talent, passion and capacity were unified through effective organizations driven by a common vision.”

Mastanduno enlightened the group on tighter federal mandates for diesel engine emissions and how they are impacting machine purchase and maintenance costs.

MLA recognized Johnny Black, owner of Johnny Black Logging, Ackerman, Miss., as its 2010 Logger of the Year. Black, who contracts with Weyerhaeuser, has logged for 25 years and has been a member of MLA since its formation in 1989. MLA President Ken Martin was recognized by Johnson for his multiple contributions and overall commitment to the organization. MLA’s South Central District was singled out for two honors: as MLA’s district of the year and Log A Load district of the year. SLT

#1) The Swamp Logger Will Be There - So Should You!

Bobby Goodson, the star of the Discovery Channel’s Swamp Loggers television series, is scheduled to appear at the Mid-South Forestry Equipment Show courtesy of Tigercat. Hatton-Brown Publishers, the show’s advertising partner, featured a timely article about the North Carolina contractor, Goodson’s All-Terrain Logging Company, in the July 2008 issue of Southern Loggin’ Times. This put Los Angeles based Pilgrim Films on the trail of Bobby Goodson, and a star was born. Goodson attributes the success of his company to his crew, and as a fourth-generation logger now reaching a global audience, he hopes to show the public that he is not destroying the forest but is rather a responsible steward of the land. Goodson is a user of Tigercat equipment and will be at the company’s exhibit on Saturday morning to sign autographs and to discuss his “second career” and how he and his crew have adjusted to the newfound celebrity.

#2) New Markets - New Opportunities!

At a press conference on Thursday, August 26, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour announced that KiOR, a biofuels company headquartered in Pasadena, Texas, is locating five biofuel production facilities in Mississippi. The first plant will be located in Columbus, just 40 miles from the permanent site of the Mid-South Forestry Equipment Show. In total, KiOR will be investing more than $500 million in its Mississippi facilities and has committed to create at least 1,000 direct and indirect jobs in the state. KiOR will use Mississippi’s abundant, renewable natural resources to create a high-quality crude oil substitute, known as Re-Crude™, that will help meet the nation’s energy needs, reduce dependence on foreign oil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create high quality jobs and economic benefit to rural America. This renewable crude can easily be refined into gasoline, diesel, and other transportation fuels making it compatible with the nation’s existing fuel production and distribution infrastructure, resulting in easy large-scale adoption. With this announcement, Mississippi’s landowners and forest/agricultural industries are positioned to become leaders in the production of domestically sourced biofuels.

...Not to mention these show features!

1. Nation’s longest-running live in-woods logging demonstration
2. Easily accessible by four-lane highway
3. Over 65 lodging choices within an hour drive (hotels, B&Bs, RV parks, casino-hotel & spa resort)
4. Two-day attendance of 6000 individuals
5. Variety of exhibitor site options (pavilion booths, static sites, forested live operation sites)
6. Continuing education courses and family activities provided
7. ultitude of contests and prizes including skidder and loader contests

TWO QUESTIONS:
#1- Have you reserved your exhibit space?
#2 - Have you registered to attend the show? DON’T DELAY…

Founded in 1983, the Mid-South Forestry Equipment Show is the longest running live forestry equipment event in the South. In recent years the family-friendly venue has grown to outperform similar regional shows in terms of exhibitor participation and attendance—both set records in 2008—but here’s the best part: since it is affiliated with Mississippi State University, Mid-South’s rates are much lower. Now that’s something the forest industry can live with during these tight economic times.

1. BIGGEST/OLDEST regional forestry event
2. $33 MILLION value for equipment, supplies demonstrated/displayed at 2008 event
3. TOTAL ATTENDANCE nudged 6,000
4. 2,000 PARTICIPATED in training, continuing education sessions
5. MLA ON-SITE annual meeting, dinner; recognition of Mississippi Logger of the Year
6. MULTIPLE CONTESTS excite, test skills of equipment operators
7. BENEFITS for Log A Load For Kids
8. SPECIAL activities for children

Harness the power of Mid-South Forestry Equipment Show 2010. To view/download the exhibitor guide, visit www.cfr.msstate.edu/msfes

Loggers and associated manufacturers turned out in surprisingly good numbers June 6-7 for a milestone Mid-South Forestry Equipment Show. An estimated 6,000 people, hailing from as far away as eastern Canada, passed through the gate. It was the 25th anniversary of the growing event. Founded in 1983, the show is the longest running live logging venue in the nation. It began on Mississippi State University’s (MSU) John W. Starr Memorial Forest and continues on the tract, located a few miles south of Starkville, Miss. Continued