by James Ronald Skains
Journal Correspondent

For the second consecutive year the Louisiana Logger of the Year is from Winn Parish, which bills itself as ``The heart of the Louisiana forest industry.'' Lowell Hubbard, a third generation Louisiana logger, joins the year 2000 Logger of the Y ear, Tony McManus and Travis Taylor, Logger of the Year in 1997 to give Winn Parish as the home base of three of the last five Louisiana Loggers of the Year.

Ironically all three, Hubbard, McManus, and Taylor log for Plum Creek Timber although Taylor has logging operations with other companies.

Hubbard lives only a couple miles east of the huge West Fraser Sawmill complex to which he hauls most of his logs. Both Hubbard's Dad and Granddad logged for the Joyce mill during the years that the mill was owned by Tremont and Crown Zellerbach.

The Piney Woods Journal asked Hubbard his thoughts about being selected as Louisiana Logger of the Year. "I was surprised to be nominated first of all. I want to thank Frankie Rogers who is a unit Forester with Plum Creek for nominating me for Logger of the Year."

"I didn't think that I had a chance to win for two reasons," Hubbard acknowledged. "First, Tony MacManus from our area won last year, and secondly, I have a much different operation than do most loggers."

"I guess yo u could say that I have the best of two worlds by mixing conventional logging with cut-to-length logging," Hubbard added in explaining his innovative operation. "I use a John Deere sawhead to windrow the trees and then I use John Deere 210 track machine w ith a Log-Max head to process the trees in the woods leaving all the limbs in the woods near to where the tree was standing, not on a set."

"I've got three forwarders, two Fabtek's and a Timberjack to bring the logs out of the woods and put them on the truc ks," Hubbard elaborated on his operation that won him Logger of the Year for 2001. "One of the judges for the Logger of the Year seemed real impressed at how fast we could get a truck loaded although we didn't have a conventional loader on the job."

"I don 't have loaders or skidders on my log job anymore," the 38-year-old Logger of the Year pointed out. "It's a different type logging operation but its fairly simple. The sawhead fells the trees, the Trac machine with the Log Max head processes the trees and the forwarders bring the logs out and puts them on the trucks."

"All this innovation didn't just come about by accident," Hubbard said. "About a year ago, we were forced to take a $1.5 and a $1 per ton cut in our cut and haul rates on logs and wood, so I had to figure out some way to stay in business."

"I had three jobs going at the time but was forced to shut my other company job down and really tighten up to absorb the loss in the cut and haul rates," Hubbard noted. "When I shut down the other job, I had all this extra equipment that I couldn't sell or have any use for so I had to figure out some way to make it useful."

"I also had to layoff some people which I didn't like because I don't have much turn-over in my crews," said Hubbard, who continues to l og for Plum Creek Timber Company although they have sold the Joyce mill to West Fraser stated. "I consolidated my other job with this logging job and now I use the equipment from my shut down job as backup for this job. I only have four people plus myself on this job, the shear operator, the processor operator and two forwarder operators."

"I use two trucks of my own to haul with and two lease trucks, one which is owned by my brother, Byron, but we still get out 60-plus loads of logs a week," Hubbard pointed out. "My other job is a small job for which I buy my own timber. I only have two guys on that job plus a truck driver. We mostly do fence row jobs, cut trees around people's houses and small tracts of timber."

"I guess you could also say that I'm one of the new breed of loggers," Lowell Hubbard told the Journal. "I'm as proficient with a computer as I am with a log loader or skidder or shear. I'm able to keep all my OSHA files, Motor Carrier Safety files, repair and maintenance cost files up to date w ith my computer although that usually takes place late at night."

"We have monthly safety meetings which seem to pay off because in my 14 years as a logging contractor, thank the Lord, I've never had a loss time accident," Hubbard emphasized.

One of the log trucks that Hubbard operates is a 1984 Kenworth. The '84 KW is the last piece of original equipment still operational that Lowell Hubbard bought from his Dad, Eugene, when he became an independent contractor 14 years ago.

Two of Hubbard's employees, Jimmy Thompson who now operates a forwarder and Tommy Underwood who supervises Hubbard's small logging operation, have been with Lowell for the entire 14 years.

Tommy Underwood is also the father of Lowell's wife Connie Jo.

Three other guys have been employed by Lowell Hubbard for nearly 9 years. Galen May who operates a sawhead, Tony Ohler who does some mechanic as well as fills in as an operator, and Eugene "Woody" Ford who drives the 1984 KW all hired on with Hubbard in the early 1990's. Other employees ar e Jamie Wroten who drives a forwarder, Bob Richards who operates the processor, Carl Sepulvado who operates a sawhead and sometimes a chainsaw, Tim Short who drives a truck and Paul Frisby who has been driving for Hubbard for over 2 years.

"All my guys are already cross-trained to operate any piece of equipment. Even the truck drivers can operate the forwarders to load logs on their truck," Hubbard noted with pride. "Also, one of the guys has obtained his Master Logger certification. I intend to have all my guys become Master Loggers. I think that will make my job easier."

In going to the cut-to-length system, I was able to cut fuel costs substantially, which helps to offset the losses due to lower hauling rates Hubbard pointed out. " The fowarders don't burn near what the skidders and loaders burn. The John Deere engine in the 200 LC processor with the 750 Log Max head is one of the nost fuel efficient on the market."

"But with a million and half dollars or more invested in yhour operation, you can't get by with a net of only 5 to 8% return on your investment," Hubbard pointed out. "Loagging isn't like a big grocery store that can get by with just a 1 or 2% net on thi\eir gross because of their big volumed. Even with a 5% return on y\our gross we have to be innovative to survive."

"One thing that I am really proud of that indicates how well my combination Cut-To-Length and conventional logging operation does is my `deduct' record," Hubbard said in handing the Journal a computer printout dated 8/07/2001 for 92 loads of logs. The printout detailed each load of logs as to mis-cut logs as to length, diameter, sweep, and separation per load as to size hauled by Hubbard.

"My combination logging operation along with the skill of my crew lets me keep my `deducts' to less than two percent," H ubbard said with confidence. "I don't really understand the `deduct' concept because we are only cutting the timber assigned to us but anyway I'm able to keep my `deducts' low."

Hubbard usually does final harvesting with his combo operation on 40 to 120 acre Plum Creek Timber Company tracts.

"Another one of my trademarks is that I spend a lot of money on preventive maintenance," Hubbard acknowledged. "In a year's time, I probably spend more money on preventative maintenance that I do on actual repairs and maintenance."

When the Journal asked Lowell Hubbard about his hobbies and non-logging activities, he had this reply. "I don't have much free time but I do enjoy working at the shop on my own equipment. I put in 12 to 14 hours nearly every day on the loggin g operations but I am beginning to go to livestock shows with my kids and my wife Connie."

"I do a little four wheeling with the kids, a little deer hunting and as much duck hunting as I can find time to do," Hubbard added. "My oldest kid is Holly who is s tarting to Northwestern this year to study Environmental Forestry. Lathon, my boy, is 13 and interested in a lot of different things."

Hubbard also attended Northwestern State University in Natchitoches where he received a degree in Agri-Business.

The Journal's last question to the 2001 Logger of the Year was about his Dad, Eugene, who logged in the Piney Woods and the mountains of New Mexico for over 40 years.

"At first, my Dad was a little quiet about my being selected as Logger of the Year. But after a time, he began to talk about it and seems real proud of me getting this honor. He and my Mom are planning on being in Lafayette next week for the LFA meeting when I officially get the award."