Ginger Gray Contributor
On Friday, May 20, homeschoolers from Madison were given an educational tour on the job site of Gray Logging, LLC. The tour began with the owner, Jerry Gray, welcoming the group to the logging office/shop and distributing hard hats to all. Also provided were wonderful coloring books called, “Wood Is Good”, which tells the story of the harvesting of wood. The coloring book was illustrated by Ireland Cilio, a Madison native. Her creative drawings bring the woods to life.
When the homeschoolers arrived at the woods, they were divided into three groups. Jerry Gray told them the overall basics of the woods and they were able to see up close the Fellerbuncher and the skidder. They also enjoyed a tree being “felled” by the fellerbuncher.
Joshua Light, Director of Operations for Genesis Timber, LLC, explained the workings of the loader. The highlight was a ride on the machine. Lots of fun there, too.
Todd Witt, Forester for Genesis Timber, LLC, explained the aging of a tree using the “pancake” cuttings from the tree. He also showed how to “bore” a tree and get a slice to count the rings. He had on display a pine “pancake” and an oak “pancake” to better observe the rings, aging, growth cycles and water cycles of a tree.
On hand for the day to lend their expertise was Mike Beardsley, Executive Director of the Southeastern Wood Producers Association and Matt Webb, co-owner of Genesis Timber, LLC. Although the day was hot, it was an exciting educational time, where the kids and parents went away with a better understanding and appreciation for wood products that we consume and the hard workers that make our lives a little more comfortable.