Lowell Hubbard of Lowell Hubbard Logging, has been named the 2002 Southcentral Region Outstanding Logger by Forest Resources Association's Southcentral Technical Division, the organization has announced.

The Forest Resources Association (FRA), formerly the American Pulpwood Association, is a national non-profit trade association concerned with the safe, efficient, and sustainable harvest of forest products and their transport from forest to mill. The Southcentral division is based at Magee, Mississippi.

As Southcentral Division winner, Hubbard will compete for National Logger of the Year at the FRA national convention in May.

Hubbard, a third generation logging contractor, has been working in the timber industry since 1988, and operates out of the Winnfield area. In its announcement, the FRA said, "His work ethic distinguishes him as a unique individual in his profession. He is supportive of the Sustainable Forestry Initiation, and participates in the Master Logger Certification program."

As a tribute to his professionalism, Lowell attended Northwestern State University at Natchitoches, where he received an associate degree in agri-business. He currently serves with the Winn Parish Sheriff Reserves, and is a volunteer fireman for the Joyce Fire Department.

He has received several special recognitions and awards in the past four years, including Louisiana Outstanding Logger of the Year awarded by the Louisiana Logging Council of the Louisiana Forestry Association for 2001; Outstanding Businessman Award by the Winn Chamber of Commerce for 2001; Plum Creek Timber Company Environmental Logger of the Year for 1998; and John Deere Innovation Award for 1998.

Hubbard Logging operates two crews in the Winnfield/Monroe, Louisiana area. One is a conventional crew that harvests timber on tracts purchased by Mr. Hubbard. The second crew operates on a concept relatively new to the South - cut-to-length, with new technology in the logging equipment. This type operation has been used in Europe for over 30 years, but has only gained acceptance in the U.S. recently, FRA states.

Hubbard says of the new technology on his equipment, "I used to have mechanics tools in my truck. Now I have to have computer boards and electronics to go with my tools." The crew usually works on Plum Creek Timber Company lands in North Louisiana.

Lowell and his wife Connie have two children, Holly, 19, and Lathon, 14. He handles all the bookkeeping, purchasing of parts, banking, contracts, and payments. Connie said, "He does have a CPA but all the daily record keeping is done by Lowell at night after supper."

The Hubbards live in a home which he contracted and helped to build, on the Stacy Smith Road off Highway 84, just a couple of miles east of the West Fraser sawmill complex at Joyce, where he hauls most of his logs. Both Hubbard's father and grandfather logged for the Joyce mill during its days as Tremont Lumber Company and Crown Zellerbach.

In an interview last year on his selection as the Louisiana Logging Council Logger of the Year for 2001, Lowell told The Piney Woods Journal, "I have a much different operation that do most loggers. I guess you could say that I have the best of both worlds by mixing conventional logging with cut-to-length logging."

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

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