BISHOP FOREST PRODUCTS: 2006 NATIONAL OUTSTANDING LOGGER

The Forest Resources Association honored Adrian Bishop, owner of Walterboro, South Carolina’s Bishop Forest Products, as the 2006 National Outstanding Logger at its June 3 Awards Dinner in Orlando, Florida. FRA Chairman Jim Brody (at left) presented Adrian (right) with an axe plaque and commented, “on behalf of the FRA Board of Directors, it gives me great pleasure to recognize you as this year’s National Outstanding Logger.”

Steve Meriam of Stihl also congratulated Adrian and presented him with a $1,000 check.

Adrian Bishop accepted the award, remarking, “I’d like to thank FRA for recognizing loggers for their hard work and International Paper at Georgetown for all their support. I think logging is all about family. I’ve been so blessed with family and employees.” He specifically thanked his wife of 34 years, Linda. “She’s been by my side, and I thank her very much for that.”

Adrian Bishop has owned and operated Bishop Forest Products since 1980, and his progressive approach to timber harvesting has built his reputation. In 1988, he established one of the first shovel logging operations in South Carolina. Regarding shovel logging, Adrian says, “We really have to pay attention because of the harshness of the environment we operate in. We work closely with the (South Carolina Forestry) Commission, their foresters, and dealers to make sure we’re operating correctly. I think proper planning is key.”

Adrian’s most recent innovation is utilizing set-out trailers in lieu of hot-loading trucks. Twenty-eight log trailers are deployed between two crews, which allows Adrian to decouple the trucking system from the logging system. A dispatcher coordinates contract trucks among multiple delivery points.

Adrian is concerned about the negative representation of the logging profession by the media. He says, “We try to maintain a good-looking trucking fleet. For many people, the trucks on the highway are the only thing they see. They don’t see the operation, itself, which shines brightest.”

Adrian really enjoys logging and knows the secret to his success—his logging crew members. Adrian says, “I’m proud of all my crews and the job they do. Most of the guys have been with me a long time.”

FRA has honored 17 National Outstanding Loggers since establishing the national award in 1990. Recent National Outstanding Loggers include Randy Pew of California (2001), Michigan’s Dave and Sue Sidell (2002), Ken and Lynetta Griner of Florida (2003), John and Nipper Bunn of Georgia (2004), and Mitchell and Wanda Presley of Alabama in 2005. Nominees for this year’s award passed through state-level recognition to regional award programs administered through FRA’s Regional Division structure. A jury of 25 national-level leaders in forestry and conservation selects the winner.


The other nominees for this year’s National award were:
Jack and Jake Bronnenberg, Bronnenberg Logging, Stratford, New Hampshire
Wayne Hamann, Hamann Logging, Medford, Wisconsin
Mike Janicki, Janicki Logging, Sedro-Wadley, Washington
Ted Whitfield, Jr., Whitfield Timber Co., Wewahitchka, Florida
Scott Zimmerman, Zimmerman Logging, Wilcox, Pennsylvania

The Outstanding Logger program is designed:

1) to recognize outstanding logging contractor performance;
2) to raise the visibility of competent, professional independent logging contractors in the forestry community;
3) to encourage other independent logging contractors to emulate the outstanding performance of the award winners; and
4) to improve forester-logger relations by publicly recognizing outstanding logging performance as an essential element of every planned timber harvest.

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