The Louisiana Foestry Association (LFA) and the Louisiana Logging Council named Jesse Greer of K & J logging as the 2011 Louisiana Outstanding Logger.  The award was presented to the Sarepta logger Aug. 31 at the recent annual convention in Lake Charles.  Greer, 22, is the youngest logger to win the statewide award.

The judging team included Dr. Mark Gibson and Dr. Clyde Vidrine of Louisiana Tech University School of Forestry, Greg Cohrs with the U. S. Forest Service and Kenneth Morgan, the 2010 Outstanding Logger.

Greer grew up in the logging business working with his father, Kenneth.  He attended college for a time but his heart wasn't in it.  "I wanted to go to work," he said. "I wanted to go to the woods."  He partnered with his father Kenneth and then last year was called upon to take over their job when his dad had surgery for colon cancer.  Kenneth has rebounded in retirement and is very proud of his son's award.

He was nominated for the award by Travis Taylor, a former Outstanding Logger himself.  Taylor said that K & J Logging runs a production-oriented job that has "everything in place."

There are eight men on the woods crew, seven truck drivers, a mechanic, an office manager, a forester and Jesse.The wood's crew consist of Jason Henley, Stephen Young, Tony Hall, Jimmy Harris, Bobby Jackson, Ben Jackson, Jeff Stephens and Greg Boyett. Andy Staten is the mechanic and Kay Freeman is the Office Manager.  Truck drivers are Willie Harris, Glen Herin, Shannon Striplin, Jason Striplin, Chris Miller, Greg Carrawway and Jim Carter.

Jesse and his wife, Danyale, have a one-month old daughter Ryland.

 Courtesy of the Louisiana Forestry Association