MLOFT program recognized for outstanding contributions to forest industry education

OLD FORGE, NY On May 18, 2023, the Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking Program was presented with the Outstanding Contributions to Forest Industry Education Award in 2022 by the Northeastern Loggers’ Association at its annual Loggers’ Banquet in Brewer, Maine.

The Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking Program, conducted out of Northern Maine Community College (NMCC) in Presque Isle, is the only college training program for operators of mechanized logging equipment in the state of Maine and in the region.

The program is made possible through a partnership between Maine’s community college system, industry partners, and the Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine.

In the program, students spend weeks getting real-world experience harvesting timber in a variety of machines at an active logging site. Students pay no tuition or fees, and PPE is provided. They work under the guidance of veteran logging instructors who impart a strong emphasis on safety. The training is combined with classroom instruction, and at the end of this training, graduates are well-positioned to enter the logging workforce.

The Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking Program is inclusive, offering accessibility to logging careers for men and women, high school graduates, and older students seeking new opportunities. There are now dozens of graduates from this program working in Maine’s logging industry.

“The continued positive attention the program has brought to logging remains critical as we work to ensure the industry’s future,” said Andy Irish, president of the American Loggers Council and owner of Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Member Irish Family Logging in Peru, Maine. He added, “I hired one of the first graduates of this program and he was a good employee for my business.”

Leah Buck, Assistant Dean of Continuing Education at NMCC, accepted the award on behalf of the students and faculty of the program.

The Northeastern Loggers’ Association, Inc. (NELA) was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in Old Forge, New York. The organization has nearly 2,000 members in the region from Maine to Minnesota and Missouri to Maryland. NELA publishes the monthly magazine The Northern Logger & Timber Processor and hosts the annual Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Exposition (Loggers’ Expo).

NELA hosts the Annual Awards Banquet every year on the evening prior to the opening of its annual Loggers’ Expo.