Cloquet’s Berthiaume Logging named Minnesota Logger of the Year

April 7, 2009 by Howie · Leave a Comment

The Minnesota Sustainable Forestry Initiative® Implementation Committee (SIC) named Cloquet’s Berthiaume Logging, LLC, as its 2009 Logger of the Year on April 7, during the Minnesota Logger Education Program conference at Fortune Bay Resort & Casino in Tower, Minn.

Berthiaume Logging, which has operated in Minnesota for more than 60 years, is owned by Don, Dave and Duane Berthiaume, sons of founder Richard Berthiaume. The brothers’ sons are now continuing the family logging tradition to a third generation.

“Over the years Berthiaume Logging has developed a strong reputation for conducting harvesting in a manner that is sensitive to environmental quality and sensitive to land owner objectives,” said Tim O’Hara, coordinator of the Minnesota SIC, which is based in Duluth. “Because the Berthiaumes realize that educating the public is crucial in developing a universal understanding that harvesting is needed for excellent forest management, they readily make their operation open to tours. This is just one of many examples of why the Berthiaume family is such an outstanding representative of the industry, and why they are receiving this award.”

This is the fourth year SFI has named a Minnesota Logger of the Year. At the ceremony, the Berthiaumes received a plaque and a $500 award. They will now represent Minnesota at a regional Logger of the Year competition.

Among those nominating Berthiaume Logging for the award were private landowners and representatives from the University of MN, Bell Timber, Potlatch Corporation and Sappi Fine Paper North America.

“Berthiaume Logging excels in the timber harvesting field by balancing environmental consciousness with a successful and efficient business,” Craig Ferguson, Procurement Forester for Sappi Fine Paper North America, wrote on his nomination form. “Berthiaume Logging follows all Minnesota Forest Guidelines and goes above and beyond requirements to ensure that their logging job is superb.”

“They have continually upgraded their equipment mix to try and keep up with the changing needs in harvesting and land management,” added Lew Castle, Senior Resource Supervisor, East Area Potlatch Forest Holdings, on his form nominating Berthiaume Logging.

Independent, non-profit SFI Inc. is one of the largest forest certification programs in the world. Its forest standard is based on principles and measures promoting sustainability, including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk and forests with exceptional conservation value.

Its 37 SFI Implementation Committees, working at state, provincial or regional levels across the United States and Canada, extend the benefits of the SFI program beyond SFI-certified lands. Committee members support community outreach, promote best management practices and deliver training programs for loggers and forest professionals.

The Minnesota SIC includes representatives from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, forest companies, the University of Minnesota, family forest owners, the Minnesota Logger Education Program, Minnesota Timber Producers Association, Minnesota Tree Farm Program, the Ruffed Grouse Society and SFI-certified county land departments.