If you’ve ever been to the Mid-Sierra Loggers Jamboree in years past, you know that last weekend’s event was a balmy delight! With temps in the high 80’s and a nice breeze wafting through the trees both days, spectators and competitors alike enjoyed a fantastic weekend of logging action without the sweltering heat that is usually a part of Jamboree days.
The competition got underway on Saturday at 10am with the Pro Am competition, which was won by the team of Dexter Evans and Nathan Hodges. Pete Curtis took top honors in the Axe Throw, with the Working Saw title going to Eyler Harrison.
While the action was fast and furious in the arena, Scott Marsh, Winston Damme and their crew were busy setting up for the Woodchopper’s Ball. This year’s line-up of bands included Mo’s Blue Groove, Poor Man’s Poison, Licorice Pimps and Good Medicine. 
Between sets, Mana Fire wowed the crowd with fancy footwork and red-hot firedancing.
But before the dancing would begin, the Loggers Jamboree Parade stepped off at 5pm, followed by a BBQ at the Town Hall, sponsored by the North Fork Boosters. (See winning parade entries below)
Sunday morning started off with a local tradition – the Lions Club Pancake Breakfast at the Town Hall. This is always a very popular event, giving everyone a chance to sit and visit with friends and neighbors, and get fueled up for the day’s activities at the Rec Center. The Lions Club served over 340 people, and they want to thank the community for coming out to support them. Mark your calendars for their next Pancake Breakfast on September 1st at the Rec Center. Same time, 7am – 10am, same price, just $6, or find a Lion for a pre-sale price of $5.
With the singing of the National Anthem, Sunday’s competition was underway at noon. It was another day of hot saws and cool weather, which included perennial favorite, the “hot power saw” event. There was also a refreshing plunge into Willow Creek for those competing in the Log Burling event.
Crystal Piotrowski was crowned Jamboree Queen during the Woodchoppers Ball on Saturday night, winning the title by selling the most tickets, 792. Little Princess Sidney Thornburg-Frausto sold 500 tickets, and ‘Lil Logger John Quigley sold an amazing 1,561. 
When the saws were silent and the chips had fallen, the title of Champion Logger was earned by and awarded to Tom Martin. (Photo Courtesy of Roger Robinette)
The 53rd Annual Mid-Sierra Loggers Jamboree was a great success for the North Fork Boosters, and the money raised goes right back into the community to fund programs for our kids at the Rec Center, and for maintenance of that facility and the Town Hall. Both are important assets for the town of North Fork, and your participation in the Jamboree helps to keep these up and running.
See the final results of the competitions below:
| 2012 Loggers Jamboree Results | ||||||
| Champion Logger — Tom Martin | ||||||
| PRO AM Results (Saturday) | Professional Results (Sunday Events) | |||||
| 1st | Dexter Evans | |||||
| Nathan Hodges | Axe Throw | Hot Power Saw | ||||
| 2nd | Aaron Morrow | 1st | Nathan Hodges | 1st | Mike Morrow | |
| Jeremy Middleton | 2nd | Jim Taylor | 2nd | Tom Nelson | ||
| 3rd | Buck Scroggs | 3rd | Kyle Jansen | 3rd | Indy Elming | |
| Rory Castro | 4th | Dale Tex | 4th | Tim Elming | ||
| 4th | Tom Wheeler | 5th | Bob Maldonado | |||
| Kenny Quigley | Choker Setting | Ladies Power Saw | ||||
| 1st | Nathan Hodges | 1st | Sue Lavell | |||
| Jason Tayler Axe Throw | 2nd | Charlie Rose | 2nd | Kittie Lavell | ||
| 1st | Pete Curtis | 3rd | Tom Martin | 3rd | Cathy Hodges | |
| 2nd | Nathan Hodges | 4th | Daniel Ching | 4th | Kathy Logee | |
| 3rd | Mike Morrow | 5th | Buck Scroggs | |||
| 4th | Jerry Hodges | Stock Power Saw | Ladies Axe Throw | |||
| 1st | Bill Davis | 1st | Kathy Logee | |||
| Working Saw | 2nd | Aaron Morrow | 2nd | Shannon Raley | ||
| 1st | Eyler Harrison | 3rd | Bob Maldonado | 3rd | Cathy Hodges | |
| 2nd | Aaron Morrow | 4th | Riley Allen | 4th | MacKenzie Pinkerton | |
| 3rd | Bill Antill | 5th | Tom Wheeler | |||
| 4th | Mike Morrow | Hand Chopping | Jack and Jill | |||
| 1st | Tom Martin | 1st | Jim Taylor/Carol Taylor | |||
| Horseshoe Tournament | 2nd | Mitch Richardson | 2nd | Nate Hodges/Kittie Lavel | ||
| 1st | Arthur Burt/Cisco Delacarza | 3rd | Walt Page | 3rd | George & Tina Harrison | |
| 2nd | Dale Tex/Leif Rowland | 4th | Riley Allen | 4th | Aaron & Bev Morrow | |
| 3rd | Jacob Ross/Gary Daniels | 5th | Nate Hodges | |||
| 4th | Kenny Wyatt/Rudy Bates | Double Hand Bucking | ||||
| 1st | Tom Martin/Jim Taylor | |||||
| 2nd | Walt Page/Mitch Richardson | |||||
| 3rd | Aaron Morrow/Mike Morrow | |||||
| 4th | Wesly Palmer/Burl Wade | |||||
| 5th | Eyler Harrison/George Harrison | |||||
| Tree Falling | ||||||
| 1st | Tom Martin/Jim Taylor | |||||
| 2nd | Jim Taylor | |||||
| 3rd | Mitch Richardson | |||||
| 4th | Bill Davis | |||||
| Log Birling | Champion Logger | |||||
| 1st | Nathan Hodges | Tom Martin | ||||
| 2nd | Burl Wade | Nathan Hodges — 2nd | ||||
| 3rd | Jerry Hodges | Jim Taylor — 3rd | ||||
| 4th | Pat Hodges | |||||
2012 Loggers Jamboree Parade Winning Entries – Theme: “Green Then, Green Now, Green Forever”
Best Theme Float
-The Davis Family, “Autism Awareness Goes Green”
-North Fork Women’s Club
Equestrian Group
-American Spirit Riders
-2012 Coarsegold Rodeo Royalty
-JT Hutchens
Best Auto
-Stan Whitson 1919 Model T Roadster
Merchant Float
-Gas ‘n Stuff
Organization
-Sierra Mono Museum
Bicycle Riders
-Dillon Fink and Mitchel Uribe
Lavell-Curtiss Family Float
John Fabris – “Rocket Logger”
