I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I can never seem to time these articles very well. I probably should have wished everyone a Merry Christmas in last month’s issue.
From lower Michigan through Wisconsin, mills seem to be filling up quickly everywhere. It looks like we skipped mud season entirely this year, going straight from a dry fall into frozen conditions. In the past, that would have been considered a good thing, but it also highlights just how productive the logging industry has become. We’re moving wood faster than ever, and the mills are feeling it.
With that in mind, I hope loggers were able to take a little extra time off to spend with family over the holidays though I know how this industry works. Between the stress of family visiting and the constant stream of breakdowns, it’s never as simple as taking a few days off. This month alone I’ve heard stories of a harvester computer being sent out twice for repairs only to come back still not working correctly, a log truck sidelined with emission problems with a two-week wait just to get looked at, and my favorite, an employee putting a hole in the side of the shop while snowplowing.
When problems like this pile up, my instinct has always been to jump in a machine and work more hours, produce more wood to make up for lost production and avoid the confrontations waiting back at the shop. Running equipment is relaxing in its own way, probably because you don’t have to interact with anyone for a while.
If you’re one of the people dealing with these headaches or just looking for some assistance USDA Rural Development may be able to help. At the GLTPA board meeting in December, Andrew Iverson and Cari Sabel joined us to share information about their programs. I was surprised by how many tools and resources are available. I was familiar with Rural Development through the Wood Innovations Grant Program, but it turns out Rural Business Services is only a small part of what the agency offers. Rural Development also includes Rural Housing Service and Rural Utilities Service, making it a much broader support system than many realize.
I still have a few questions before making any formal recommendations, but the Timber Production and Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (TPEP) looks promising for loggers and small mills in our region. TPEP is not a grant. It provides guaranteed loans backed by USDA Rural Development and supported through cooperative efforts with the USDA Forest Service. Up to 90% of a loan can be guaranteed through the lending institution of your choice, however not all loan institutions are aware of this program. These guaranteed loans can also be used in conjunction with the Forest Service’s Wood Innovations Grant Program or the Community Wood Grant Program.
For more information, the TPEP website is available here:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/timber-production-expansion-guaranteed-loan-program-tpep
The GLTPA Board will continue looking into this, but if you have questions, here are the contacts:
Wisconsin:
Veronica Hinke, Public Information Officer
715-345-7669
Veronica.Hinke@usda.gov
Michigan:
Valarie Handy, Deputy State Director (Acting State Director)
517-324-5219
Valarie.Handy@usda.gov
On a completely different note, the 2026 Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo will be held Thursday, September 3rd, and Friday, September 4th at the Resch Center in Green Bay. Yes, you read that right. The Expo Committee has discussed different options for years and ultimately recommended to the GLTPA Board that we move to a two-day show, and the Board agreed.
I know not everyone will be happy with the change. Every time this topic comes up, the feedback is almost fifty-fifty split on whether we should continue having a Saturday show. But over the last several years, Saturday attendance has been very low. As a result, vendors have been breaking down early and trying to leave halfway through Saturday’s show. GLTPA strives to put on a strong event for both attendees and vendors, and an empty Saturday doesn’t serve either group well.
Why has Saturday attendance dropped? It is hard to say. Maybe people are just a little slow getting out of bed after Friday night vendor parties. That could be part of it, but I also think family priorities have changed. Thirty years ago, Logging Congress was a full family event, kids and all. While some families still come together, it’s nowhere near as common as it used to be. Kids today are involved in so many activities that even if the whole family wants to attend, there are often prior commitments.
So, for now, we’re going to try a two-day show, likely running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, and see how it goes. Our goal is to create the best possible experience for everyone involved, and we’ll continue adjusting as needed based on what works for our members, vendors, and the industry.
As we head into the heart of winter, it’s clear that our industry continues to evolve whether it’s the pace of production, the support programs available to us, or even the way we gather as a community at events like the Expo. None of these changes happen in a vacuum. They reflect the pressures we’re all feeling, the priorities we’re balancing, and the commitment we share to keeping this industry strong. GLTPA will keep working to bring forward resources, information, and opportunities that help our members navigate whatever comes next. In the meantime, I hope everyone stays safe, stays productive, and finds a little time to breathe as we move into the new year.
Mike Elenz
GLTPA President