2014 Logger of the Year for Region 3 is Ray Karickhoff, LLC of Spencer WV. This logger was nominated by Tom McLaughlin, retired tree farmer, and Les Facemyer of Facemyer Resources, LLC.

Ray Karickhoff, LLC established business in 1986 and has worked with the same subcontractor for 18 years. Ray Karickhoff, LLC buys all of his own timber. Their leads are generated from word-of-mouth referrals, longstanding reputation of quality work and fair dealing. This operation cuts loggers choice or single-tree selections harvests and produces 25 to 30 mbf/week. They sort saw-logs, peelers and pulpwood and are a multi-year DOF Logger of Excellence.

Both logging operations are members of WVFA. Nominees are judged on safety practices, as well as community involvement and their use of Best Management Practices (BMPs). BMPs are soil erosion prevention measures that are used by logging professionals to minimize soil erosion and sedimentation of creeks and streams.

The West Virginia Forestry Association represents the state's forestry community with over 1,000 members that include foresters, loggers, private forest landowners, as well as businesses that produce furniture, lumber, flooring, building supplies, fencing and paper. The Association works to promote sound forest management practices by recognizing the outstanding efforts of those in the forest industry that perform exemplary work. The WVFA Logger Selection Committee inspected the two Regional Winners on June 3, 2014, starting the day at Spencer and ending in Crawley:

• Tom Crickenberger, MWV, Chair
• Steve Harp, Pardee & Curtin
• Mark Shreve, Weyerhaeuser NR
• Tom Pastorial, Northwest Hardwoods
• Frank Stewart, WVFA/SFI