VA Logger of the Year: Virginia Forest Resource, LLC

Forestry Mutual Insurance Company honored its Virginia Loggers of the Year with our September E.K. Pittman Award for 2021 in New Kent, VA. The honorees were Dan & Colleen Hockenburger of Virginia Forest Resources, LLC, West Point, VA.

The Award is named in honor of the first Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Forestry Mutual and presented to those companies chosen by the president and staff of Forestry Mutual based on their safety record and continued emphasis on safety in the workplace. This is Forestry Mutual’s most prestigious Award. Mr. Pittman served from 1971-1984 and was a strong proponent of Safety Training & Education and the use of Personal Protective Equipment.

The Logger of the Year Award recognizes only topperforming logging companies that show a genuine concern for the safety of their organization and employees and go above and beyond the basic safety requirements to ensure a safe and productive work environment.

Virginia Forest Resources has been a Forestry Mutual policyholder since 2014 and employs 12 people, 7 in the woods on the two crews and five drivers. Their safety record speaks for itself. Over the last eight years as a policyholder, Virginia Forest Resources has had a loss ratio of 0% in loss claims. An impressive feat for a company.

Virginia Forest Resources is one of those jobs if you are driving by their crew, you know it is them immediately. Virginia Forest Resources operates two logging Crews and a trucking company VFR Hauling, LLC. With all their moving parts on a logging site and the number of trucks they use with trailers equipped with headache racks, both on trucks and trailers you can see the value they have for safety. Dan goes above and beyond what we, as an insurance company, ask for and utilizes the many services offered by Forestry Mutual.

Dan Hockenburger with the Virginia logger of the year award.

Dan got into logging via his interest in forestry. He never planned on logging but plans changed, and Dan’s U.S. Marine background helped him to adapt and overcome. Since their motto is “Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome all obstacles in all situations,” that is exactly what Dan did when the mill he worked for closed. In 2014, Dan started his logging operation and has not looked back. Dan has stated numerous times how fortunate he has been to have good people working for him, which contributes to the success of his business and is a big reason he is receiving this Award.

Forestry Mutual guarantees extensive loss control services and is proud to continue to serve Dan and Colleen Hockenburger and their employees. It is just not every day that a policyholder can guarantee the service in return. Virginia Forest Resources exemplifies how a logging company can be productive and safe through proper and stable safety provisions.

Shawn Fulks, Forestry Mutual, presents Dan Hockenburger with the Virginia Logger of the Year Award