June - July 2001 - Logging and Sawmilling Journal -

The latest forestry equipment and technology will be on display at Saskatchewan Forestry Expo

The major players among Saskatchewan's heavy equipment dealers, and support service companies, will all be represented in Prince Albert at Saskatchewan Forestry Expo.

Unlike other forestry shows where exhibitors often find themselves preaching to the converted, the Saskatchewan Forestry Expo is quite the opposite. Many exhibitors find themselves teaching-more than selling-at this early development stage of the province's expanding forest industry.

Small and medium sized Saskatchewan sawmillers will find a wide variety of equipment on display at Saskatchewan Forestry Expo.

The combination of the recent re-allocation of a significant amount of Saskatchewan's forest resource and greater involvement by the province's First Nations community has created a unique opportunity probably not seen in Canada since the forestry boom in Alberta back in the early 1980s. While many of the more than 10,000 who attended the inaugural show in 1999 were simply awestruck by the recent technological advances in the forest industry, much has happened in the province since then.

Those attending this time around will likely have a much better understanding of what modern forestry is all about and may even see a place for themselves in it. The second Saskatchewan Forestry Expo is slated for August 8 to 10 in Prince Albert. Prince Albert Exhibition Association representative Doug Mackenzie says it was quite evident from comments during and after the 1999 show that Saskatchewan Forestry Expo is playing a significant role in the development of the province's forest industry.

"There are a lot of new players in the industry that before would not have built up a fleet of forestry equipment, especially with the size of equipment now," says Mackenzie. "They've progressed and now suddenly they are learning about these mechanized harvesters and other more advanced equipment. So there is quite a dramatic change going on." Expo organizing committee member Lou Carriere of Brandt Tractor agrees that there appears to be a general eagerness to equip the province's forest industry in response to today's industry demands.

Carriere adds that if attendance at the last show is any indication, existing Saskatchewan logging contractors as well as newcomers to the industry are showing a great deal of interest and enthusiasm in bringing themselves up to speed on what is available, learning more about current harvesting methods and investigating their own possible involvement in this expanding industry. In addition to promoting Saskatchewan's forest industry, he says that Saskatchewan Forestry Expo will continue to play a significant educational role with the general public.

"This year, we are promoting the educational aspect a lot more than we did with the first show," he adds. They will be piggybacking their efforts with some of the big players in Saskatchewan's forest industry who will also have a large presence at the show. Prince Albert area forest companies are hosting sawmill and cutblock tours during the show, with departures and arrivals from the exhibition grounds. Not only will the big players be present, but so will important brand name equipment and service suppliers.

Among the equipment suppliers that attendees can expect to see are Cat dealer Kramer Tractor, John Deere dealer Brandt Tractor, Tigercat dealer Strongco, as well as Redhead Equipment Ltd. Attachment suppliers will include heavy hitters such as Quadco Equipment,Waratah, Risley Equipment and Weldco Beales Manufacturing.

Then there are the industry leaders in Saskatchewan support services, such as Traction Heavy Duty Parts and Cummins Mid-Canada, as well as respected Prince Albert-area forestry suppliers such as Charles Repair and Service Company. The show will also have a large truck presence, with exhibits hosted by Frontier Peterbilt Sales, Kal-Tire, Maxim International Trucks, log truck trailer manufacturer Peerless Ltd, and Saskatoon Volvo Trucks.

While Saskatchewan Forestry Expo will play an important role in letting everyone know the province is more than "grainfields and potash", the products displayed by portable sawmill distributors hold considerable promise as a potential source of supplementary income for Saskatchewan's farm population who live on the forest fringe. Just ask Robert Nagy, co-owner of Nagy Land and Lumber located near Mistatim, Saskatchewan.

Nagy has integrated a modern Kara thin kerf circular saw business into his farm operation and is successfully producing niche products. He is also using the income from his lumber business to expand his farming operation. Now that Saskatchewan has made more timber available to smaller independents and, with advances in portable sawmill technology, the feasibility of incorporating a sawmill business into a farming operation holds a lot of promise for many Saskatchewan farmers.

Plus, organizations such as the Saskatchewan Farm Woodlot Association, which will be in attendance at the Forestry Expo, offer farmers an appraisal service on the potential value of existing private woodlots, as well as training on how to properly manage a private woodlot so that it can provide steady income. A bonus is Saskatchewan Forestry Expo's location. Prince Albert and area boasts some of the finest unspoiled vacation destinations in Western Canada.

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