The Montana Logging Association

Timber Roots - by Tim McEntire

As we close in on the 50^th celebration of the Montana Logging Association, the next few Timber Roots articles will be focused on your organization. This article, will cover what drove the need to establish the Association and its humble beginnings.

The establishment of the Montana Logging Association (MLA) in 1976 was far more than a simple administrative milestone; it was a defining moment born out of necessity and a testament to the resilience of Montana’s timber industry. The organization emerged from a pivotal period of disruption, where independent logging contractors found their traditional way of life threatened by a convergence of environmental regulations, shifting public perceptions, and severe economic instability. The creation of the MLA provided a unified voice for this fragmented industry, allowing it to navigate an uncertain future and redefine its role as a steward of Montana’s forests.

For decades leading up to the 1970s, logging was an entrenched part of Montana's economy and identity. The industry's roots stretched back to the mid-19th century, with initial timber harvesting providing essential materials for the state's booming mining operations. The expansion of railroads further cemented logging's importance, supplying wood for railway ties, trestles, and tunnels. Following the Great Depression, the industry experienced a period of exponential growth, fueled by the demands of World War II and the post-war housing boom. Western Montana, in particular, thrived on the wood products sector, with towns like Libby and Missoula becoming deeply intertwined with the timber trade. The era was characterized by a seemingly endless supply of timber and a general public acceptance of the industry's role in economic prosperity.

However, this period of prosperity began to unravel in the 1960s and 1970s. The once-unquestioned reliance on timber production came under intense scrutiny from a nascent but powerful environmental movement. Negative media portrayals of clear-cutting—especially in national forests like the Bitterroot—ignited widespread public concern over its impact on wildlife habitats, watersheds, and the state’s natural beauty. These images challenged the traditional narrative of the logger as a rugged provider and instead cast them as a force of environmental destruction. This shift in public consciousness was a major challenge for the independent contractors who formed the backbone of the industry. Without a collective platform, their individual voices were drowned out by the increasingly vocal opposition.

The growing public pressure soon translated into legislative action. The passage of federal laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 introduced significant new regulations on forest management. These laws effectively and dramatically curtailed the amount of timber that could be harvested from federal lands, which constituted a major source of raw material for Montana’s logging operations. The resulting reduction in timber supply created immense economic pressure on independent contractors who found themselves competing for a shrinking resource.

Beyond environmental and regulatory hurdles, the industry faced severe economic instability. Independent loggers were small business owners, operating on thin margins and vulnerable to market fluctuations. Rising operational costs and volatile timber prices created a precarious financial environment. Compounding these issues were the prohibitive costs of workers' compensation insurance. Logging had always been a high-risk profession, but the cost of mitigating that risk through insurance placed an enormous financial burden on family-owned enterprises. In this fragmented state, individual contractors lacked the collective bargaining power to negotiate better rates or influence policy.

It was against this backdrop of environmental critique, regulatory restrictions, and economic uncertainty that the independent logging contractors realized the urgent need to organize. The informal camaraderie of the industry was no longer sufficient. A coordinated, unified voice was required to advocate for their interests in the state legislature, counter negative public perception, and address the systemic challenges threatening their livelihoods.

This need culminated in the formal incorporation of the Montana Logging Association in 1976. The inaugural meeting in Deer Lodge brought together a determined group of men who shared a common vision for the industry’s future. These founders including John E. Bruns (Dillion), Donald Roedel (Dillion), Donald Wozny (Townsend), Calvin Stokes (Deer Lodge), Don G. Buck (Deer Lodge), Don Moullet (Livingston), and Art Perry (Belgrade) were family business owners who understood the stakes firsthand. They laid the groundwork for an organization that would represent and protect their fellow contractors.

The early years of the MLA were characterized by a grassroots, low-budget approach. The association's initial "office" was often run from the home of its president, who served a two-year term. This structure reinforced the organization's member-centric mission, with leadership drawn directly from the communities it represented. In the beginning of the MLA focus was growing the association and unifying Montana’s timber industry’s voice.  Meetings with representatives of the Western Montana Logging Association and Timber Hauling Association happened often and other western logging associations all laid the blueprint for what eventually would be the MLA.

On Saturday, February 9^th, 1980 the MLA minutes reflect that 12 leaders of the association convened at Kalispell’s Outlaw Inn for the purpose of charting a new path for the MLA.  During the previous month the association had met with a consulting forester from the Coeur d’Alene region about being the next Executive Director.  Mr. Keith Olson was brought on board and would lead the charge of the MLA for the next 38 years.  MLA member Clyde Smith who had just been elected as the MLA’s 3^rd President placed Mr. Olson on Smith Logging’s payroll with the understanding that he had six months to “Make it Work!”

Some of the MLA's first and most critical achievements were developing a member-benefit program which including a health insurance program with Blue Cross and its partnership with the Montana State Fund in 1980 to develop a workers’ compensation program. These initiatives not only promoted essential safety and loss control measures but also alleviated some of the financial risk for members by enabling monthly premium payments. This cooperative effort provided a crucial safety net for an industry known for its inherent dangers.  Other member benefits would soon come online including a safety program with the birth of the “Safety Rangers” and a publication named “Montana Logger” that focused on need-to-know action items, articles penned by Monty Logger and Rich T (just to name a few), a picture page featuring “Timber Beasts” and a Slash Pile where members could sell their treasures.  In later years the Accredited Logging Professional program would be developed to be a voluntary educational initiative designed to enhance professional standards, foster stewardship ethics and promote continuing education among loggers in Montana.

In parallel with its internal efforts, the early MLA focused on establishing a political presence. It began actively engaging in state legislative sessions, ensuring that the concerns of independent timber harvesters were heard. The organization also initiated communication efforts to reframe the public narrative, emphasizing the logging industry's contributions to the state's economy and promoting a responsible, science-based approach to forest management. The goal was to restore the logger's image from "environmental villain" to "forest steward."

The MLA's determined efforts in its beginning years were instrumental in helping independent logging contractors endure a period of immense change. By providing a united front, improving safety standards, and advocating for a more balanced regulatory environment, the association laid a strong foundation for future growth. The humble beginnings, rooted in the shared struggles of its family-owned business founders, ultimately evolved into a powerful and enduring force. The subsequent establishment of a permanent office in Kalispell in 1998 reflected the organization’s expansion and continuing relevance. Today, through programs like the Accredited Logging Professional (ALP) program, the MLA continues to honor its heritage while ensuring that the logging industry operates with the highest modern standards, securing its place as a vital part of Montana’s future.