Seeking Logging Mentors

[JaredWoodcock]

Hi All,
I have been trying to put the pieces together for a while and now I’m ready to take the plunge into doing some small woodlot management. I feel comfortable enough with my community that I will be able to slowly incubate the business with supportive landowners and friends. Now I need some mentors.
I am hoping to find some draft loggers in my region that will be willing to mentor me through this first winter. What I need most is to learn how everyone is running their businesses and some of the more advanced forest management and silviculture practices that are appropriate to my scale of operation.
A little about me to help you get a grasp of where I am starting…
I have been running a chainsaw since I could hold one, I have some game of logging certifications, and I have been working with horses on and off through most of my life. I still have a lifetime of learning ahead of me with both horses and saws but I am comfortable and familiar with the work.
As for forest management experience: I was raised in the woods and my father managed our land for wildlife and timber production. I have a Masters in Biology and I was an ornithologist for 8+ years.
I am currently working for a community college as an agriculture coordinator (http://www.sunyacc.edu/news/suny-adirondack-receives-100k-gift-sustainable-agriculture-initiative) and I run a small diversified farm with my wife and two kids. (www.taprootsfamilyfarm.com)
I live in Cambridge NY which is right on the border of VT between Bennington and Arlington. (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cambridge,+NY/@43.0086646,-73.5178793,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89e09d6e017f7ab7:0xc46f8aabae737c2d)
The draft logging work will be a small piece of the pie financially but one that I am passionate about and excited to face as a new challenge.
If anyone is willing to help mentor me by showing me how they run their operations and help me work through this first season please give me a call or shoot me an email.
Thanks for all of the help everyone has already given me through the forum and good conversations at the field days.

Jared Woodcock
518-677-3925
woodcockj@sunyacc.edu

[Brad Johnson]

Jared-
Glad to hear you are taking making a go of this! I am willing to help you to whatever extent I can. I am super busy so not sure I can take time to come over to you but I can certainly give you a sense of how I run my business. Perhaps a visit from you over here to see what I do might be helpful. I have all the financial details down on the computer and you are welcome to take a look if it would be helpful. Let me know what works for you. Thanks.
-Brad

[JaredWoodcock]

Brad,
Thanks for the offer. I will take you up on that. I work with Chris Dutton at VT Tech for the academic side of my life and do occasionally make it up your way. If you could send me an email or give me a call at the contacts above I will try to set up a time that I can come talk.

Thanks Again
Jared

[Brad Johnson]

Jared-
Sounds good. Email is brad@alltogetherfarm.com, and phone is cell 802-345-7488. Try anytime before 9 PM, though evenings are better as not much phone reception in woodlot at the moment.
-Brad

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