65th Mid-Sierra Loggers Jamboree Day 2

65th Mid-Sierra Loggers Jamboree Day 2
By: Sierra News Posted On: July 08, 2025 View: 5

The second day of the 65th Mid-Sierra Loggers Jamboree was a rousing success. The weather was wonderful, with temps in the mid 80s. The sun was out and the crowds did shift around in order to take full advantage of the shade from the trees in and around the arena. Compared to last years jamboree, where the temperature was flirting with triple digits, it was the best weather possible for this time of year.

The day began with the annual North Fork Lions club pancake breakfast, held at the historic town hall. Attendance was high, and everyone enjoyed the yearly tradition.

The gates to The Recreation Center opened at 10 am, and there was already a line of cars waiting to enter when I arrived. Parking was plentiful, and volunteers had already been at work, watering the dirt road that leads in as well as the parking lot and the vendors village on the hill which helped to keep the dust to a minimum.

The arena was filled with contestants who stood in line in order to get a little more practice with their axes, waiting for a chance to use the target. Spectators milled around, visiting the multiple food and merchandise vendors on the hill above the arena.

The days events kicked off at noon, with Paul Vining and Justin McAleece announcing. Paul took a moment to recognize Kevin Severe, born and raised in North Fork, for his many years of service to our country in the Air Force.

The national anthem was sung by a wonderful group of local musicians known as Sugar Pine.

The logging based competition is a long standing tradition in the town of North Fork, having begun in 1959 as an addition to an already yearly event known as the Spring Carnival. The North Fork Boosters had just purchased the land where the Recreation Center was built, and needed a way to pay back the loan, which had been procurred by 3 local residents. The addition of the logging competition to the carnival was the answer.

Yesterday this 65 year old tradition continued, with a full slate of competiters. Mens, womens and several coed events were held throughout the afternoon. Choker Setting, Stock Power Saw, Axe Throwing, Double Bucking, Ladies Axe Throwing, Jack and Jill Bucking, Speed Axe Throwing, Ladies Power Saw, Hand Chopping, Hot Power Saw, Tree Falling and Log Birling.

The standings were as follows:

Choker Setting

1st – Nate Hodges

2nd – Kai Hansen

3rd – Jerry Hodges

4th – JB Thornburg

 

Stock Power Saw

1st – Pat Hodges

2nd – Nate Hodges

3rd – Jessie Hutchens

4th – David McDonald

 

Axe Throwing

1st – Nate Hodges

2nd – Jerry Hodges

3rd – Dale Tex

4th – Bill Davis

 

Double Bucking

1st – Nate Hodges/Jerry Hodges

2nd – JB Thornburg/Jorge Perez

3rd – Jessie Hutchens Jr./Jessie Hutchens Sr.

4th – Justin Wilson/Zack Montgomery

 

Ladies Axe Throwing

1st – Lani Owen

2nd – Jessie Jansen

3rd – Natori Naylor

4th – Amanda Hodges

 

Jack and Jill Bucking

1st – Nate Hodges/Lani Owen

2nd – Vince Gomez/Ashley Pamona

3rd – Kai Hansen/Frankie Daumberger

4th – Justin Wilson/Kiera Vincent

 

Speed Axe Throwing

1st – Nate Hodges

2nd – Zack Montgomery

3rd – Jerry Hodghes

4th – Justin Wilson

 

Ladies Power Saw

1st – Lani Owen

2nd – April Jansen-Holt

3rd – Jacey Gonzalez

4th – Ahsley Pomona

 

Hand Chopping

1st – Nate Hodges

2nd – JB Thornburg

3rd – Burl Wade

4th – Jerry Hodges

 

Hot Power Saw

1st – Nate Hodges

2nd – Tim Elming

3rd – Zack Montgomery

4th – Jerry Hodges

 

Log Birling

1st – Jerry Hodges

2nd – Nate Hodges

3rd – Burl Wade

4th – Lonny Owen

 

Based on point accumulation, the overall Jamboree champion was Nate Hodges, with Jerry Hodges taking second, and JB Thornburg taking third.

 

The gate prize winners, based on a random drawing of presale ticket stubs by the jamboree queen:

1st – Chris Menezes of Oakhurst – $1,000

2nd – Bob Lyle of Bass Lake – Millers Landing Pary Boat Package

3rd – Kathleen Homis of Fresno – $200

 

This years jamboree court winners and their sponsors:

Queen – Mia Garcia, South Fork Forest Solutions

Junior Princess – Avery Hodges, Rebelz Coffee

Junior Logger – Brother team, Liam and Luke Guizar, The North Fork Pizza Factory

Litte Logger – Arbor Hodges, Yosemite Axe Throwing

Litte Princess – Brynless Russell, Buckhorn Saloon & Restaurant

 

On Wednesday I’ll be publishing a follow up article with the details of how each event is scored and the rules, the entrance fees for the events, as well as how the prize money is awarded to the winners.

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