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The Michigan Christmas Tree is now fully lit and on display in Lansing. Read about the harvesting celebration that took place in St. Johns, MI in the December TPA.
Decorating for the Holidays or need a gift idea? This month features Winter Woods, A Company Committed to Natural Beauty and Sustainable Products, and Snow River Cooperative, Cutting Boards of all Shapes & Sizes.
Don't miss the latest news and updates as there are plenty of them again this month. Grab a warm drink and check out this final TPA for 2022. All of us at GLTPA & FISTA wish you a Blessed Christmas and Healthy, Happy New Year.
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From the President's Desk
Matt Jensen
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Well at the time of this article the mid-term elections have happened but have not had all the ballots counted to determine the full outcome. In the year 2022, we are still not as efficient and transparent in our elections as some third world countries. I firmly believe election day should be a national holiday so everyone can vote without excuses.
Our national elections seem to have as many questions and problems as they had in 2020. With mail in ballots going on for months and ballot harvesting being legal in some states, our elections have turned into election season, not election day. That stated, it is hard to believe the best we can do is to have election results take weeks to conclude. The State of Florida has nearly 22 million people and had their election results by the end of the night on November 8th. The Election system can and must be fixed by some of these states that take weeks to count ballots.
Currently it appears the Republicans will have the majority in the House of Representatives and still may be a 50/50 split in the Senate. In an after-election press conference, President Biden was asked; with the election results and a poll that stated 75% of the people feel the country is going in the wrong direction, what he plans to do different. He stated “nothing.” What? Not enough inflation? Interest rates not high enough? Gas and food prices not high enough? Do we need more than 2 million illegal immigrants crossing the border this upcoming year? Not enough Fentanyl and other drugs pouring across our Southern border with the open border policy? Not enough wasteful government spending? Not enough free speech infringement from Facebook, Twitter, and the media? Not enough green new deal environmental social governance and job killing regulations? Well, I guess you get my point.
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GLTPA Director Notes
Henry Schienebeck
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Greetings,
Hopefully everyone took time to vote in the November 8th elections, gave thanks for Thanksgiving, and gave veterans a word of thanks for the sacrifice they gave to ensure the freedom we Americans enjoy. And of course, Christmas is coming followed by a new year. As of the writing of this article there are no outcomes and for once in blue moon, I’m ahead of the curve in submitting my article.
Thanksgiving starts a period of reflection when sharing wealth and good fortune are thought about in terms of helping others. Wealth as defined in the dictionary is 1. a great quantity or store of money, valuable possessions, or other riches. 2. An abundance or profusion of anything: plentiful amount. Based on the definitions provided, wealth is not necessarily money or items related to money. It can be tangible items like friendship, knowledge, a giving spirit of being, and the ability to be happy no matter the circumstance. Wealth can also be a state of being where a person places a higher value on the needs of others than one’s own self. This form of wealth is often referred to as leadership and is about serving others without expectation of personal gain.
Recently increased costs for transportation are ultimately leading to increased cost for all manufactured and grown products such as food. With the increased cost of every product on the market, a person cannot help but wonder how this will impact the season of giving to others. Will the food pantries have enough food to meet the need, will homeless shelters be overwhelmed with homeless folks in need of shelter and clothing? Will people in need be able to afford their heating bills? The list goes on and on, and it’s hard to imagine where the money will come from to supply additional needs. Will there be enough money given to make sure everyone in need is cared for?
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Welcome December E-New's Sponsor |
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Timber! Making Your Logging Dreams a Reality |
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The timber industry can be challenging, exhilarating, and unpredictable. That’s something that Anthony Wender of Pine Creek Logging in Iron Mountain, Michigan knows all too well.
Timber is in his blood; his grandpa, father, and uncle have been in the industry for decades. After he decided to stop cutting with them, he was on the search for bigger timber – and his own equipment.
“It’s been in the family,” said Anthony. “When you grow up around it and grow up on the job site as a kid, you learn to like it. It doesn’t really feel like work.”
Anthony worked with GreenStone Farm Credit Services in August to secure an equipment loan to purchase a harvester. For him, that too was simple.
“It was just a simple phone call, and they helped me with the rest,” said Anthony.
Now, he has the equipment necessary to grow his business and continue his family’s legacy of working in the woods.
Anthony isn’t alone. GreenStone offers a variety of services and financing options to make timber dreams a reality across Michigan and northeast Wisconsin – even if you’re new to industry.
When you’re ready to take your logging operation to the next level, GreenStone can help!
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Michigan Christmas Tree
Up, Up, and Away!
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Harvesting of the 2022 Michigan State Capitol Christmas Tree was nothing short of a well-orchestrated plan resembling a modern-day miracle of ingenuity, patience, and expertise.
Choosing a tree and planning the harvest is conducted annually by the Michigan Department Technology, Management, and Budget, (DTMB) The Michigan Association of Timbermen (MAT) and Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association. (GLTPA) DTMB’s Heath Miller and Jeff Canfield, along with Denny Olson make up the team of master planners for this year-round endeavor.
The 2022 tree located in St Johns Michigan, was donated by Mary Ann Beck and her daughter Caitlyn. According to its growth rings the 63-foot Spruce tree has graced passersby’s with its presence on Hwy M 21, one of the busiest streets in St. Johns, for approximately 74 years.
Harvesting the tree took extra effort and planning as the tree grew in a place surrounded by houses and service wires which weaved their way through the branches as it grew to its current height. The average person could likely not imagine how to remove a tree this size without cutting it from the top down and dissecting it into small manageable pieces. As was witnessed at the cutting, anything is possible with the right equipment and experienced operators to guide it.
The harvest begins with a few details such as setting up a lunch and refreshment area, PA system, speaker platform and other details necessary for the opening ceremony. As preparations began Hwy M 21 was closed and detoured during the ceremony and harvest providing plenty of room and safety for all to witness this momentous undertaking.
The next task is staging equipment and positioning of an appropriately sized crane to pick and load the tree. Once the crane is set an additional bucket lift is tasked with attaching lifting straps to the tree at the proper location enabling the crane operator to do a straight-up lift as there is no room for error in this situation. After the crane is set and the straps are attached, the tree is ready to be severed from the stump. M & W Crane Service provided the crane and operator and was assisted by Michigan’s 324 Operating Engineers.
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Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association
PO Box 1278, 3243 Golf Course Road Rhinelander WI 54501
PHONE # 715-304-2861
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