

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.