MDC recognizes Wayne County man as Southeast Region Logger of the Year

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces Jeff Skaggs, owner of Skaggs Logging in Wayne County, as the 2014 Southeast Region Logger of the Year. Skaggs is certified as a Professional Timber Harvester and a Missouri Master Logger.

According to Regional Forestry Supervisor Joe Garvey, Skaggs' nomination is due to his professionalism and high quality results in the logging woods.

"The quality of Jeff's logging jobs that I have observed have always reflected positively on Missouri's Master Logger program," said Garvey.

Skaggs' work on a timber harvest at Flatwoods Conservation Area (CA) in Wayne County was exceptional, according to Garvey. Residual damage levels were low and the water bars that were built for erosion mitigation were well constructed. Skaggs maintained a clean logging site free of litter.

"His work presented a good image of the logging industry and the Conservation Department's forest management practices," said Garvey.

Skaggs recognizes that it takes teamwork to get the job done. Skaggs' crew includes Randy Carter, Josh Mullins and Jeff's father, Curt Skaggs. Skaggs and his crew work with private landowners to recommend trees that can be harvested and trees that should be left. They work to ensure residual damage levels are low and to reduce skid trails on the harvest site.

"We are fortunate to work in an area with a healthy forest products industry and numerous loggers and wood processing mills. The timber harvests conducted by Skaggs represent some of the best quality jobs in this area," Garvey said.

According to Jason Jensen, MDC's forestry field programs supervisor, regional logger awards are given to the logger that demonstrates the ability to carry out a timber harvest in a manner that causes the least amount of damage to the remaining resources on-site. The purpose is to recognize the abilities of loggers who practice low impact logging and take extra time to harvest forest resources responsibly. Jensen said MDC desires to recognize loggers throughout the state that do an outstanding job in timber harvesting operations and there's extensive criteria for the award.

Additionally, Jensen said loggers must have completed the Professional Timber Harvester's Training Program sponsored by the Missouri Forest Products Association and the MDC.

Crader Distributing Company, headquartered in Marble Hill, Mo., the exclusive distributor of STIHL Outdoor Power Equipment in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Southern Illinois, sponsors the Logger Award program. STIHL has given Skaggs' crew members a protective kit valued at $160 to commemorate the award.

For more information on forests in Missouri and forestry Best Management Practices, go online to mdc.mo.gov.