Huge Crowd Enjoys Loggers Jamboree

NORTH FORK – The 55th Annual Mid-Sierra Logger’s Jamboree was a rousing success, which is great news for the kids who enjoy the Summer Youth Program funded by this event.

Over 1,600 people attended the weekend’s competition, enjoying the cloud cover on Sunday which made finding a shady seat a breeze.

Fifteen vendors served up food and cold drinks and sold hand crafted items, while kids enjoyed several options in the bounce house area and a swim in Willow Creek.

In the arena, the competition was hot and fast, with Nathan Hodges taking the title of Champion Logger for the second year in a row.

Hodges took first place in the Pro Am with Gina Brancato, and went on to win the Jason Taylor Ax Throw, Choker Setting, Stock Power Saw, Hand Chopping, Jack and Jill with Cathy Hodges, and Birling (log rolling).

Thirteen teams participated in Saturday’s Pro Am competition, and twenty contestants tried their hand at the Jason Taylor Ax Throw.

This year, the Jamboree built on the popularity of this contest, adding a Junior Ax Throw that drew five participants, age 12 – 15. Justin Wilson took top honors in the inaugural event.

In the Ladies’ Ax Throw, Kittie Lavell scored the highest during Sunday’s competition.

Also on Saturday was the ever-popular Horseshoe Tournament, with 28 teams vying for the title. In the end, it was Willie Chepo and Bob Midkiff of Coarsegold who captured top spot.

After the events at the Rec Center, the festivities moved to the center of town for the Loggers Jamboree Parade. Nearly 50 entries made their way down the main street, with lots of folks tossing candy to the kids lining the route, and fire engines spraying a refreshing blast of water.

The parade was followed by a barbeque dinner at the Town Hall where Little Loggers winners Kessler Lopez and Timothy Alex Valle were announced.

Back at the Rec Center, the Woodchopper’s was highlighted by the crowning of this year’s Loggers Jamboree Queen, Cheyenne Whitener.

It was Cheyenne and the rest of the queen candidates who accounted for the higher-than-normal pre-sale of tickets this year, providing much-needed funding for the maintenance of the Rec Center and the Summer Youth Program.

On Sunday, 52 contestants took part in the action in the arena, including 12 women. The weather on Sunday was cool for a Jamboree, but as always, the competition was hot, and the event a huge success. (See more parade photos below the results. Click to enlarge)

2014 Loggers Jamboree Results

Saturday, July 5

Pro Am

1^st Nathan Hodges/Gino Brancato

2^nd Jerami Middleton/Aaron Morrow

3^rd Rudy Bates/Mark Ahrens

4^th Charlie Rose/Brian Terry

Jason Taylor Ax Throw

1^st Nathan Hodges

2^nd Brian Davis

3^rd Buck Scroggs

4^th Bill Antill

Junior Ax Throw

1^st Justin Wilson

2^nd Keagan Mackey

3^rd Emily Bourdan

4^th C.J. Minton

Jackpot Saw

1^st Aaron Morrow

2^nd Bill Antill

3^rd Mike Morrow

4^th Jessie Hutchens

Sunday, July 5, 2014

Champion Logger

1^stt Nathan Hodges

2^nd Aaron Morrow

3^rd Buck Scroggs

4^th Indy Elming

Event	1st	2nd	3rd	4th
Ax Throw	Nathan Hodges	Mike Morrow	Kyle Jansen	Dale Tex
Choker Setting	Nathan Hodges	Indy Elming	Buck Scroggs	Charlie Rose
Double Hand Bucking	Mike Morrow Aaron Morrow	Bill Antill Buck Scroggs	Nathan Hodges Pat Hodges
Stock Power Saw	Nathan Hodges	Aaron Morrow	Bill Davis	Tim Elming
Hand Chopping	Nathan Hodges	Aaron Morrow	Buck Scroggs	Jeff Shamblin
Tree Falling	Indy Elming	Buck Scroggs	Aaron Morrow	Nathan Hodges
Hot Power Saw	Mike Morrow	Tim Elming	Scott Hamilton	Indy Elming
Ladies Power Saw	Kathy Logee	Susie Lavell	Cathy Hodges	Melissa Hodges
Ladies Ax Throw	Kittie Lavell	Toyahni Beihn	Sheri Pinkerton	Mindy Greer
Jack and Jill	Nathan Hodges Cathy Hodges	Susie Lavell Mike Morrow	Kittie Lavell Aaron Morrow	Gino Brancato Toyahni Beihn
Birling	Nathan Hodges	Jetty Hodges	Pat Hodges