HONESDALE (July 31, 2018) – The men – and women – of Wayne County’s timber harvesting industry show off their skills in an exciting competition that has been a part of the Wayne County Fair for more than three decades.
During the 35th Wayne County Woodsmen’s Competition this Saturday, Aug. 4, at 2 pm in front of the grandstand, the region’s lumberjacks and ‘jills wield axes, chainsaws and other equipment in a series of individual and doubles events.
The competition has grown even fiercer since the Wayne Conservation District, which organizes the contest each year, raised the prize money in all eight different events in 2017. First place finishes will earn the competitors $100, $75 for second and $50 for third place.
The program includes three classes of Chain Sawing events, where contestants make three complete cuts in a rounded log, and the fastest time wins. Time will also determine the winners in the Vertical Standing Block Chop, where competitors use an axe to chop a log into two pieces from two sides.
The Tree Felling contests highlight accuracy. The Skill class involve only those who have completed the Game of Logging training. These contestants use techniques and knowledge of tree felling to fell a pole, which is scored for accuracy, cutting technique and placement nearest the target. For Chain Saw Tree Felling, the contestants try to hit a stake they have placed in the ground.
Competitors pair up for the Two Person Cross Cut, the co-ed Jack & Jill Cross Cut and the Log Rolling competitions, but the big crowd pleaser is the Axe Throwing Contest, in which competitors throw either a double or single-headed axe with a handle at least 24 inches long at a stationary target from a distance of 20 feet. The highest score wins.
Come out and watch the professionals, who use many of these skills every day in their line of work. Don’t miss the family activities on the grandstand lawn, including a ‘Lumberjack’ theme photo booth for selfies, wood cookie necklaces, and audience giveaways.
Sponsors for this year’s competition are: Reining Forest Products, Dunn’s Sawmill, NTHA - Northern Tier Hardwood Association, Forest Regeneration Services Inc., Estemerwalt Log Homes, Dyberry Sand & Gravel, PACD – Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, ProFIA – Professional Forest Industry Association, Paul Mott Logging, Porosky Lumber, Ian Ernst, Inc., REMAX Wayne, Brent Courtright Logging & Sawmill, Rent-E-Quip Inc., SFI of PA, Honesdale Agway, Honesdale Spreading, Timberwolf Logging, Citizens Savings Bank, The Wayne County Fair and the Wayne Conservation District.
It all takes place Saturday, Aug. 4, at 2 pm in front of the grandstand at the Wayne County Fair located on Route 191, one mile north of Honesdale. Admission to the fairgrounds is $10 per person, which includes parking, exhibits, rides and free grandstand for this event. For more information, contact the Wayne Conservation District at 570-253-0930 or email kstewart@waynecountypa.gov.
CUTLINES:
A team competes in the Log Rolling competition at the 2017 Woodsman’s Competition at the Wayne County Fair. The excitement gets under in front of the grandstand this Saturday at 2 pm for 35th annual event.