The 84th Annual Oregon Logging Conference was held at the Lane Event Center and Fairgrounds in Eugene, Ore., from Feb. 24 to 26, 2022.
After celebrating the OLC in a scaled-down version in 2021, many positive comments were made this year about being able to gather in-person.
Conference Manager Rikki Wellman said this year there was more equipment on display outdoors compared to previous years. And while paid registration was slightly down from the previous year, there was no dip in attendance with many industry professionals and members of the public participating in the OLC.
Keynote speaker Blake Manley shared his insight and success in engaging and encouraging young men and women to consider careers in the logging and forestry industries. Manley, a natural resources teacher at Sweet Home High School, is creator of the Manley Jobs career video YouTube series. He also is chair of the Oregon Natural Resources Teachers Association and a logger.
Manley also was the speaker at the annual Desserts for Dreams luncheon, where he suggested ways to continue reaching out to young women and men with information about the logging and other natural resource industries. The charity selected by Oregon Logging Conference First Lady Wendi Melcher to receive proceeds from the event was the Sweet Home High School Forestry Club, which will receive more than $10,000.
