3 minute read
Logger of the Year Region 1
Soon after graduating High School in 1989, Darrek Copeland started work as a saw hand for Lenard Ledbetter. He earned $5.00/hr. at a time when the minimum wage in Tennessee was just $3.80/hr. Darrek tried a few other jobs but just couldn’t find anything that scratched the itch that running a saw gave him, so he headed back to the woods. In August of 1990, Darrek married Tammie Ledbetter, Lenard’s niece. Darrek and Tammie’s Father, Glenn Ledbetter started C&L Logging in 1995 with just a few saws, a tractor with loading forks, and a Cat 518 Skidder. Over the last 28 years, C&L has grown into two fully mechanized hardwood logging crews. Safety on the job is foremost at C&L and it is evident with $0.00 in claims filed since working with Forestry Mutual in 2009.
Just a few years after starting his logging company Darrek felt the Lord was calling him to also pastor a church. Darrek has pastored 3 churches over the last 25 years, he is currently the Pastor at Livingston 1st Freewill Baptist Church. Of the 2 roles, Darrek feels that serving the Lord is where his heart fully is, but logging has complemented his bi-vocational ministry well. The flexibility it has given him over the years has made serving in both capacities possible. He was quick to point out that none of this would be possible without the incredible support he receives from Tammie. She serves both at the church in addition to the administrative role at the logging company which has turned into a full-time job.
Darrek and Tammie have 2 boys, Kade who drives a log truck for C&L, and Judd who is studying Business Information Technology at Tennessee Tech. Mr. Ledbetter sold his portion of C&L to Derek in 2015 but maintains a presence around the shop from time to time just to make sure things are done correctly. When asked how he can keep everything in order through the ups and downs of logging and pastoring, Darrek recited Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he "trusteth in thee.” When asked what that meant to him Darrek said, “Trust in the Lord… in EVERYTHING.”
