Kevin Kanduch - Presidents Message

As we head into fall, I think it is important to acknowledge that this is a challenging time for many in our industry. Fuel prices remain absurdly high, the prices we receive aren’t keeping pace with operating costs, and there is still plenty of uncertainty heading into the fall and winter months. For contractors trying to keep crews working, equipment running, and businesses healthy, those pressures are very real.

I would like to offer a confident prediction that things will get easier soon, but I think most of us would rather hear an honest assessment than another overly optimistic outlook. There is work ahead, but making that work pencil out continues to be a challenge. Even a busy schedule doesn’t necessarily mean a strong bottom line.

What does give me confidence is the people in this industry. Montana’s logging contractors know how to adapt, solve problems, and work through difficult conditions. That doesn’t make today’s challenges any less serious, but it gives us something solid to build on. We can keep making thoughtful decisions, looking out for our crews, and staying connected with one another as we navigate the months ahead.

These are also times when having a strong association matters. As MLA members, we need to continue sharing what we are

seeing on the ground and speaking clearly about what it takes to sustain viable logging businesses. Keeping contractors healthy is essential to getting forest management work done, supporting our mills, and maintaining jobs in our communities. I encourage you to stay involved and reach out with the concerns affecting your operation.

On the KLM side, we have been busy on fire assignments down around Wise River and Wisdom. As those assignments wrap up, we are getting our fall projects underway and helping our excavation crews finish several large projects they have been working on. We are also gearing up for the fall/winter logging season. Like many of you, we are balancing the work in front of us with careful planning for what comes next.

My hope for this fall is that we can finish the season safely, find opportunities that make sense for our businesses, and head into winter on firmer footing. There is good work to be done, and our industry has a great deal to contribute. Thank you for the effort you put in every day and for your continued support of the Montana Logging Association.

Word of the Season: Resolve

Resolve: A firm determination to follow through, even when the path is difficult.

We may not control fuel prices, markets, or what the coming winter brings, but we can choose how we meet those challenges. Let’s carry resolve into this fall with the decisions we make, the care we take with our crews, and the support we offer one another.

Stay safe out there, and have a productive fall.

Kevin Kanduch

President, Montana Logging Association