Photo credit: hechingerreport.org
SHINGLETOWN, Calif. — One chilly October morning, the sunlight struggled to filter through towering sugar pines and cedars in Shingletown, a quaint settlement in Northern California with a legacy as a logging camp dating back to the 1800s. Up a rugged gravel road lined with iron-rich red soil, Dylan Knight paused in his work of stacking logs.
Knight is among a cohort of 10 student loggers enrolled at Shasta College, where they are learning to operate the heavy machinery essential to contemporary logging practices. This includes processors that trim branches from freshly cut logs, skidders that transport logs from the felling site, loaders for organizing logs by type, and masticators that shred residual debris.
Historically, logging was primarily a seasonal trade, often passed through generations. However, evolving industry demands and climate concerns have transformed logging into a year-round vocation, leading to a pressing need for skilled labor.
“Our workforce was diminishing,” explained Delbert Gannon, the owner of Creekside Logging. “We found it increasingly difficult to recruit even from the least experienced candidates, which severely impacted our productivity. We knew something had to change.”
Reinvigorating Heritage Industries
Across the United States, community colleges are stepping up to facilitate apprenticeship programs for traditional industries like logging and aquaculture, which often lack the scale to operate independently. These partnerships allow colleges to enhance workforce development initiatives essential to their goals while simultaneously supporting local businesses by managing grants and providing necessary training resources.
The logging sector is notably small and faces significant challenges. According to recent statistics, there were only approximately 50,000 logging positions in the U.S. as of 2023, with the number of companies involved in logging declining steadily for years. Industry data reveals that the majority of loggers are over the age of 50, and with around 6,000 job vacancies appearing annually due to retirements, the urgency for new talent is escalating. The median annual salary in logging is roughly $50,000.
Creekside Logging has felt the impact of retirements acutely. In 2018, Gannon’s company had tasks ready to be tackled and machinery on hand, but lacked the workforce to execute the jobs. This prompted him to reach out to Shasta College, which provides degrees and certifications in forestry and heavy equipment operations, to explore the possibility of training students to fill these roles.
This initial discussion led to a strategic alliance between Shasta College and 19 timber firms to establish a pre-apprenticeship program in Heavy Equipment Logging Operations. Shortly thereafter, the partners launched the California Registered Apprenticeship Forest Training initiative, with Shasta College allocating $3.5 million in grants to acquire the necessary machinery for students.
Logging education takes place on land owned by Sierra Pacific Industries, a lumber firm that does not employ its own loggers, relying instead on businesses like Creekside to harvest and transport logs to processing mills.
Each semester, a new group of 10 students like Knight participates in the pre-apprenticeship course at Shasta College, and nearly all find employment immediately upon graduation. After securing jobs, these students advance as apprentices through the forest training program in collaboration with employers like Gannon. State-funded apprenticeship programs assist businesses in offsetting training costs for novices.
The partnership is crucial for small firms like Creekside Logging, which employs 22 individuals. Gannon highlights that training inexperienced workers is financially burdensome; he previously faced repeated setbacks when new hires left shortly after being trained. Each new employee can cost the company tens of thousands of dollars in training, and Creekside could not bear the continual financial strain of uncertain commitment. Now, however, they benefit from a reliable stream of dedicated workers, trained at the college and well-prepared for the demands of the job.
Workers graduating from the program generally seek a long-term career rather than a transient, seasonal position. “You get individuals who show up consistently,” Gannon noted. “They’ve had their first taste of the career and know they enjoy working with heavy machinery in the outdoors. The college’s structure has bridged that gap for us.”
The apprenticeship model is advantageous for the workers as well. Those who have not previously been immersed in the trade can experience it firsthand, leading to more informed decisions about pursuing a career in logging. Kyra Lierly, who grew up approximately 30 miles from Shingletown and previously served as a firefighter with the California Department of Forestry, found finding her way into logging daunting due to the lack of clear pathways. Many logging companies operate informally, relying on word-of-mouth referrals, with minimal online presence or formal recruitment processes.
“A lot of logging operations can be quite sketchy, and I wanted to ensure I was working in a safe environment,” explained Lierly, 25. She completed an apprenticeship with Creekside Lumber but is currently pursuing an internship with Sierra Pacific Industries while seeking a certificate in natural resources at Shasta College. “The apprenticeship eased my entry into forestry because I knew the college wouldn’t partner with any untrustworthy companies.”
While apprenticeships have long existed in trades and unions, their prevalence in the less formal realm of logging has remained limited. However, there has been a growing interest in state and federally registered apprenticeships across various sectors, including health care, cybersecurity, and telecommunications, particularly in light of substantial federal funding increases to support diverse training programs.
Federal investments in apprenticeship models increased from $145 million in 2018 to over $244 million during the later years of the Biden administration. These funds have been used to bolster apprenticeship opportunities in both traditional and nontraditional fields.
This shift is critical in addressing the growing shortage of skilled labor. The mismatch between the workforce and skilled job openings has been exacerbated by the pandemic, particularly in rural areas where industries like logging have a significant impact on local economies. For niche crafts such as logging, having just a handful of apprentices can be the deciding factor between sustaining business operations or shutting down entirely.
“There’s a common misconception that registered apprenticeships are exclusive to the building trades, while they span a variety of sectors,” noted Manny Lamarre, who previously held a position as deputy assistant secretary for employment and training within the Labor Department during the Biden administration. Since 2021, over 5,000 new occupations have registered to offer apprenticeships, he added. “We can specifically assist unique small trades in rural environments where many workers are entering retirement.”
Education Secretary Linda McMahon has expressed her support for apprenticeships, although current funding cuts have clouded the potential federal role in these initiatives going forward. Nevertheless, experts like Vanessa Bennett, director at the Center for Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning at Jobs for the Future, emphasize that collaborative efforts to expand apprenticeship access are vital, particularly in rural regions. “Fostering partnerships between employers and community colleges or nonprofits that can sponsor apprenticeships is key,” Bennett explained.
Once Knight completes his training in heavy equipment operations, he plans to return to his hometown of Oroville, approximately 100 miles south of Shingletown. There, he will join a newly established logging crew formed by his tribe, the Berry Creek Rancheria of Tyme Maidu Indians, becoming one of just two individuals skilled in managing complex logging machinery.
“This program has been fantastic,” Knight, 24, remarked. “It’s incredibly hands-on, and having supportive instructors enhances the learning experience.”
In Maine, a community college is also addressing labor shortages by training apprentices for jobs in heritage aquaculture, focusing on oysters, mussels, and kelp. These sectors have historically struggled to secure sufficient labor to meet rising demands. Often categorized as seasonal work, aquaculture roles are increasingly becoming stable career opportunities for those equipped with skills in harvesting and seasonal planning.
“I love farm work and am confident that I can build a sustainable career in this field,” asserted Gabe Chlebowski, who completed a yearlong apprenticeship at Muscongus Bay Aquaculture in Damariscotta, Maine. After high school, Chlebowski, a farm boy from rural Pennsylvania, had ventured into construction and masonry but sought an opportunity to work on the water once his parents relocated to Maine. With no background in aquaculture, he eagerly applied for and was accepted into an oyster farming apprenticeship.
“I was the youngest by five years and the only one without prior water experience,” remarked Chlebowski, 22. “Growing up in a landlocked area surrounded by cornfields, while I had a strong work ethic, I was unfamiliar with any maritime work.”
In 2023, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, in collaboration with the Maine Aquaculture Association and Educate Maine, introduced an apprenticeship program that includes classes in shellfish biology, water safety, skiff operation, and basic boat maintenance. Financial support facilitated the acquisition of necessary materials like boots and jackets for the apprentices.
“The workforce was strained, and new hires with degrees in marine biology were often leaving after starting, leading to wastage of time and resources for farms,” explained Carissa Maurin, aquaculture program manager for GMRI. Chlebowski completed his apprenticeship in September and continued on as an employee at Muscongus Bay, working on the Damariscotta River, renowned as New England’s oyster capital. The firm specializes in two oyster varieties: Dodge Cove Pemaquid and Wawenauk.
Chlebowski noted that oyster farming is a source of local pride, highlighting community events like an annual shucking festival and local establishments that celebrate oyster farmers. “While pursuing a career in farming can be challenging, it aligns with any trade,” he explained, emphasizing that there is work available year-round. “Fields like welding and HVAC have established training programs and apprenticeships. Why shouldn’t aquaculture follow suit?”
Chlebowski’s apprenticeship transformed into a permanent career opportunity. Meanwhile, the students in Shingletown’s logging program hope to achieve similar outcomes upon completion of their training.
Until then, they dedicate their Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to outdoor training in machinery operation and maintenance, while Tuesdays and Thursdays involve attending classes at Shasta College, covering topics such as construction equipment operation, an introduction to forestry and wood products, and milling practices.
At the semester’s end, students showcase their skills in a demonstration held in the woods of Shingletown, where representatives from logging companies scout for potential hires. Offers are typically extended during this event, and thus far, 50 students have completed the pre-apprenticeship program, with most transitioning into full apprenticeships. Currently, 15 individuals have completed their full apprenticeship and now earn between $40,000 and $90,000 annually as professional loggers.
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Central to the success of these apprenticeships is effective mentorship. New employees are paired with seasoned loggers who impart valuable experience and supervise their development as they learn the trade’s realities. Pre-apprentices at Shasta College benefit from instruction by Jonas Lindblom, the program’s heavy equipment and logging operations educator.
At the logging site, Lindblom observes as a tall sugar pine dramatically descends with a loud crash. His connection to the industry runs deep, as his family has a long history of involvement in logging through multiple generations.
Lindblom describes the Shingletown site as an ideal learning environment, allowing apprentices to progress at their own pace and gain confidence in handling machinery without falling into bad habits.
Having majored in agricultural education at Chico State University, Lindblom devoted his college breaks to logging work. He collaborates closely with the affiliated timber companies to ensure his instruction includes contemporary practices, emphasizing that training new loggers in this outdoor setting is advantageous compared to traditional job immediacy.
“A significant number of our students come from backgrounds without logging traditions,” he noted, recognizing this as a unique chance to impart industry knowledge and inform students about modern developments.
Source
hechingerreport.org