By Ben Olson
Reader Staff
For the first time in 15 years, Timberfest will return to the Bonner County Fairgrounds.
On Saturday, June 4, grab the whole family and engage in a day of fun and entertainment, while also learning about how the timber industry benefits Bonner County.
“Everybody has really worked hard to put this together and bring it back,” said Rhonda Livingstone, Bonner County Fair Director. “We’re really proud of our timber industries, and Timberfest should be a lot of fun this year.”
Competitors in the springboard chop competition.
Livingstone said the fun kicks off at 10 a.m. and goes clear until midnight, with exhibitions, competitions, machinery on display, food and drinks and live music by the Devon Wade Band.
For Mike Henley, plant manager with Idaho Forest Group, Timberfest is a way to honor the history of this region: “It was unfortunate that Timberfest faded away. We owe it to keep that going and educate the community on the heritage and history of the timber industry.”
A small list of contributing companies who helped bring Timberfest back includes Idaho Forest Group, Stimson Lumber, Caterpillar, Rowand Machinery, Western States and Pierce Auto Center. There will also be a wood carver from Denmark, as well as an exhibition by Carson Bosworth—a legendary competitor in logging sports who originally hails from Bonners Ferry.
The Carson Bosworth Lumberjack exhibition will feature a mixture of old-time lumberjack sports that have evolved into the modern sport of Timbersports. Events will include Hot Saw (snowmobiling chainsaw), an Obstacle Pole race, Axe Throwing, Underhand Chopping, Standing Chopping, Springboard Chopping, chainsaw carving, chair carving with a chainsaw, single crosscut sawing, double crosscut sawing versus chainsaw, a special chainsaw that cuts by itself with no operator, logrolling, tree climbing and a discussion about the historical events and uses of lumberjack skills.
Devon Wade Band.
A handful of professional Timbersports lumberjacks will take part in the exhibition, including Carson Bosworth (Lake Geneva, Wisc.), Mark Dufresne (Grey, Maine), Preben Palsgaard (Arden, Denmark), Ty Oliver (Clark Fork, Idaho) and Bill and Max McGarry (Lewiston, Idaho).
Later in the day, there will be an awards ceremony and auction, with proceeds benefitting injured loggers.
Tickets are $15 per family (which includes two adults and two children) or $5 per adult and $3 per kid. Pre-sale tickets are available at Sandpoint Super Drug, Les Schwab, Wood’s Hay and Grain, Columbia Banks, Pend Oreille Vet Clinic, Akre’s Gift Shot and at the Bonner County Fair Office. Also available online at www.bonnercountyfair.com.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
10-11 a.m.
Carson Exhibition #1
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Tug of War (Team Competition)
12-1 p.m.
Carson Exhibition #2
1-2 p.m.
Block Stacking Competition
2-3 p.m.
Carson Exhibition #3
3-4 p.m.
Tug of War (Team Competition Finals)
4-5 p.m.
Awards and Auction
5-6 p.m.
Jell-O Wrestling
7 p.m. to midnight
Dance to live music with the Devon Wade Band
(doors open at 6 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m.)
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