2017 SCLC Logger of the Year Award

Each year the SCLC Logger of the Year committee seeks nominees for this prestigious award. The committee receives nominees from the members of the conference and individuals from surrounding communities.

This year the committee has made a selection which is not an individual. The committee has selected a company who has demonstrated in their day to day business activities and generosity, Faith, Family, Forests, and Fortitude.

This years’ recipient started out in 1968 in the community of Red Bluff, CA. It's founder John V. Wheeler became a prominent and generous businessman in the community who passed down these qualities to some of the very first people he hired. Vernon McCoshum was hired as his head woodsman and now is an owner and side-rod, John Miller was hired as a choker-setter and is an owner and now President of the company, Ron Hartman was hired as a water truck operator and is an owner and head mechanic, Tommy Hyatt was hired as a loader operator and is an owner and side-rod, and James Bell was hired as a choker-setter and landing man as is also an owner and side-rod. Collectively these gentlemen have over 225 years of logging experience. Their vast knowledge of logging has been handed down over the years to their employees, past employees, many of whom are still in the industry working for others today and in some cases have started up their own logging companies.

John Wheeler Logging has 85 full-time employees and hires 15 seasonal employees each logging season. This company provides economic stability to 49 families in the community.

As the SCLC Board of Directors and members know, John Wheeler Logging has been very generous in their support of the conference and its’ educational programs such as Education Day at the fairgrounds, Forestry Institute for Teachers, The Forestry Challenge, Talk about Trees, and college scholarships.

They are also a generous supporter of youth programs such as football, baseball, soccer, cheerleading, dance, high school rodeo, and the Tehama Jr. Livestock Auction. In addition they have generously supported community events such as Relay for Life, PATH, and Sober Graduation. Their support in 2016 for these programs exceeded $53,000.00.

I have been honored to have had a working relationship with this company for the past 42 years. Their “Logger Strong” attitude, professionalism and dedication to the logging industry is one that they should be proud of and continue into the future. -Mike Mitzel

Congratulations 2017 Logger of The Year, John Wheeler Logging!

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