Redoutey Family Awarded National Outstanding Logger of the Year Honors

You may remember this name....the company was highlighted in last year's annual report! Congratulations to Ohio's First Ever Recipient!

Redoutey Logging, a family logging business based in Scioto County, recently accepted the 2009 National Outstanding Logger of the Year award in recognition of excellence in environmentally-friendly harvesting practices, business operations, employee safety training and for their community contributions. The Redoutey's recognition is the first time an Ohio logger has ever been selected the National Outstanding Logger of the Year. The winner is selected from the nation's top loggers picked from several regions. The Redoutey family was named the Appalachian Regional Logger of the Year last fall, and before that, was named by the Ohio Forestry Association as Ohio's Outstanding Logger of the Year. The partners of Redoutey Logging include August, Ryan, and Reg Redoutey, and Aaron Daniel. "The Redoutey family are leaders in promoting safe working practices, innovative logging techniques and in assuring the highest environmental standards," said David Lytle, state forester and chief of the Ohio Division of Forestry. "We are proud to have worked with the Ohio Forestry Association in nominating Redoutey Logging for this award." John Dorka, executive director of the Ohio Forestry Association, commented, "Redoutey Logging is one of the most professional, up-to-date logging companies in the state. They have raised the bar for all of us over the years." In addition to the National Logger of the Year plaque the Redoutey Family received a $1,000 check from STIHL and one of the company's chain saws. August Redoutey started the company as a sole proprietorship in 1982 and won the "Game of Logging" national championship in 1993. August's two sons, Ryan and Reg, and cousin Aaron Daniel joined the business in the mid-1990s. Ryan became heavily involved in "Game of Logging" as well, serving on its national board of directors since 2003. Collectively, August and Ryan have taught chain saw safety techniques to hundreds of timber cutters in Ohio. Since the late 1990s, Redoutey Logging has specialized in "low impact logging," employing the correct piece of cut-to-length equipment with properly trained operators for the specific timber, terrain, and ground conditions. The Outstanding Logger program recognizes outstanding logging contractor performance; promotes competent, professional independent logging contractors in the forestry community; encourages other independent logging contractors to emulate the outstanding performance of the award winners; and improves forester-logger relations by publicly recognizing outstanding logging performance as an essential element of every planned timber harvest. The National Outstanding Logger of the Year is selected and awarded by the Forest Resources Association. The Forest Resources Association Inc. is a nonprofit trade association concerned with the safe, efficient, and sustainable harvest of forest products and their transport from woods to mill. FRA represents wood consumers, independent logging contractors, and wood dealers, as well as businesses providing products and services to the forest resource-based industries. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.