Along with the social aspects, education has for many years been a focus at the annual gathering of the Redwood Region Logging Conference (RRLC). This year RRLC was held in Ukiah, March 13–15 and recognition was given to the three women who established Education Day at the conference.
Maribelle Anderson and Diane Ogle, of Mendocino County, and Jan Benbow, of Humboldt County, established Education Day at the conference in 1987 and were selected as this year’s achievement award recipients. “Their efforts have shaped an educational program that now invests over $70,000 annually, positively impacting thousands of students and fostering a more positive perspective on the timber industry,” RRLC Executive Director Jeannie Fulton said.
Education Day at RRLC was held on a Thursday, and this year more than 450 third through eighth grade students attended, eager to learn about forestry and natural resources. Highlights of the day included a live wildlife show, an exciting logging sports competition featuring teams from Cal Poly Humboldt, College of the Redwoods, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and U.C. Berkeley and train rides powered by an historic steam locomotive used in the early days of Humboldt County logging. Students also watched chainsaw carving, historic and modern logging equipment demonstrations and interacted firsthand with industry professionals.
Both Humboldt and Mendocino County students participated in and garnered some monetary prizes in the annual mural contest. Each classroom of students creates a piece of art that reflects the RRLC theme, which this year was “Our Families, Our Forests, Our Future.”
Mural winners in each county were divided into two age groups.
At the K–third grade level in Humboldt County, Fortuna’s Walker Elementary third grade class took first place; second place was the third grade class at Freshwater Elementary School, and third place was the 1st grade class at Ridgewood School in Eureka.
At the K–third grade level in Mendocino County, first place went to Laytonville Elementary School’s first grade class; second place was Yokayo Elementary’s third grade class, and third place was Willits Charter School second grade class.
At the fourth–eighth grade level in Humboldt County, Freshwater Elementary’s fourth and fifth grade class took top honors; second place was the seventh grade class at Trinidad Elementary, and third place was the 5th grade class at Joe Hamilton School.
At the fourth–eighth grade level in Mendocino County, the sixth grade class at Laytonville Elementary took first place; second place was the fourth grade class at Willits Charter School, and third place was the fifth grade class at Riviera Elementary.
First place classrooms received $200, second place classrooms received $150, and third place classrooms received $100. There were also several schools in both Humboldt and Mendocino Counties who received honorable mentions in the mural contest, and each received $75 for that recognition.
Other friendly competitions at the Redwood Region Logging Conference included a log loader competition, past president’s axe throw and show and shine contest.
Expert log loader competitor Bryan Chipps, who works for Green Diamond Resource Company, won that competition. Second place was Danny Savoie of Two-Brothers Logging, and third place was Doug Parmeter of Parmeter Logging & Excavation.
In the past president’s axe throw, first place was captured by the 2023 president of RRLC, Wes Parmeter. Second place was Adam Steinbuck, RRLC president in 2004, and third place was Jim Holmes, RRLC president in 1985.
47 vendors from as far away as New Zealand cast their votes in the show and shine contest. First place was McFarland Trucking and a 2019 Kenworth T800 log truck, second place was Bobby Dockins’ 1986 Peterbilt logging truck, and third place was John’s Group 2016 Peterbilt 367 water truck.
“RRLC extends a heartfelt thank you to all attendees, sponsors, vendors, volunteers and participants who made this year’s conference a tremendous success,” Fulton said. “We look forward to another great event in 2026,” she added.
The 2026 Redwood Region Logging Conference returns to Eureka next year, March 19–21.
