A New Model

Intermountain Logging Conference will reflect a changing environment

By Diane Mettler

This April 2006, attendees will experience an improved Intermountain Logging Conference. The conference, which is entering its 68th year, is being tailored to meet the demands of a changing industry, from logger to equipment dealer.

“Last year we worked to reestablish our relationship between natural resources professionals and the logging community. This year we’re listening to the equipment dealers and suppliers. We are all very much woven together, and we are building a program that is valuable to everyone,” says Gordy Sanders, President and conference director.

Listening to the many segments of the industry — their comments and insights — has led to both small and large changes, ones that the Intermountain Conference planners believe will help them grow a better and even more effective conference.

Tailoring to Meet Needs

People may first notice the condensed schedule. Instead of running a week, the conference will be held from April 5-7. The show time was shortened in response to peoples’ busy schedules.But don’t expect that fewer days means less information.

“The conference title this year is Sustaining Communities Through Professionalism and Forest Stewardship,” says Sanders. “We will be discussing the notion of landscape level stewardship projects that do a multitude of treatments across a very large landscape — between 10,000 and 150,000 acres. These stewardship projects line up multiple beneficiaries creating multiple supporters from a broad base. By working together [wildlife, recreation, and forest management] help each other to achieve each other’s objectives.”

“Jim Peterson will be our keynote speaker,” adds Sanders.“He’s an individual I know can easily bring together these concepts.”

Speakers & Breakout Sessions

After the speakers have had a chance to talk about the “big picture” concepts, there will be focused breakout sessions dealing with the nuts and bolts of running an operation.

“The equipment dealers and suppliers provided a lot of input regarding the breakout sessions,” says Sanders. “Total, we’re going to have nine different breakout sessions that we will repeat twice.” A few of these sessions include:

• Air brake maintenance
• Engines and fuel savings
• When to buy, sell and trade equipment
• Trust estate planning

Easy Access

Attendees will also notice less machinery this year. After listening to the equipment suppliers, the Intermountain Conference decided to make the equipment show a less frequent event (approximately every three to four years). But when they do have equipment as part of the conference, the goal is to make it a major event.

“We have committed to — whenever the equipment dealers and suppliers want to do an equipment show, we will do an equipment show,” says Sanders. But attendees will still have easy access to current equipment information. The equipment displays will be set up in the same room as the conference and breakout sessions.

Continued adjustments and changes will take place and Intermountain continues to work with other groups and individuals to create a conference that is a model for an evolving industry.

“It makes a big difference when you include everyone in the discussion and planning of a conference, and to try to incorporate what works well for everybody,” says Sanders.“I think we’ve lined up a program that everybody supports and has something for everyone.”

Speakers are still being confirmed. For a current listing and more information on the Intermountain Logging Conference, just log on to www.intermountainlogging.com.

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