Ax Men TV Shows Mike Pihl, 2010 Sierra Cascade Logging Conference speaker

Mike Pihl to Headline 2010 Sierra Cascade Logging Conference Kickoff Breakfast, Redding, Calif Feb 11

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Ax Men TV Shows Mike Pihl to Headline 2010
Sierra Cascade Logging Conference Kickoff Breakfast
February 11th, 2010

Holiday Inn, Hilltop Drive, Redding, CA ($25 Ticket required - get your tickets early as it will sell out)

Mike Pihl, has always loved getting up early in the morning, a habit that has served him well over time. Mike, his twin brother and four sisters were raised in Banks, Oregon. As an ambitious youngster, Mike worked summers bucking hay for the local farmers to earn money. After finishing high school, Mike jumped at the opportunity to log in Alaska. Mike learned a lot about logging during those three years and was able to save every paycheck he made, all toward the dream of starting his own business.

At 22, Mike and brother, Matt established Pihl Brothers Logging in 1982. They ran a lean crew with Mike running the yarder and Matt working in the brush. Eventually they were able to hire additional men and the company grew at a steady pace for a few years. In 1986, Matt left the company to pursue other business opportunities and Mike Pihl Logging, Inc. was formed. The company continued to grow and now employs over 40 people.

With seven children, Mike understands what being a good provider means. Providing for his family first, his employees receive benefits and his community knows they can always count on him in times of need.

Mike is a humble man who prefers to talk about his family and adopted hometown of Vernonia. Vernonia, prefers to talk about Mike Pihl. His community has seen a number of natural disasters in recent years. A devastating flood, featured in Season 1 of the Ax Men and more recently, when the town was virtually cut off from the world by a blizzard during Christmas.

Have you heard what Mike did during the emergency? Vernonia Police Chief Mike Kay asks, talking about the Blizzard of '08. Mike spent two full days running around felling trees that were threatening to fall on peoples homes, and he didn't charge a thing. And that, Chief Kay notes, was after Mike had volunteered hours of his time driving around with Son-in-law Kelly in front of emergency responders to clear the hundreds of downed trees that blocked local streets and highways.

Mike's son Daniel, is a United States Marine who served in Iraq. Mike swells with pride when he talks about Daniel. "I'm not bragging," Mike says, although one suspects he is, "But Daniel became a sniper, then an advanced sniper, all through hard work." Separated by thousands of miles, father and son stay connected through identical tattoos on their right arms. "Never Give Up," the tattoos say.

Back in Vernonia, you learn that Never Give Up is more than just a slogan to Mike. Times are tough in Oregon logging communities. When times were better, Mike shared his good fortune with everyone in Vernonia. A couple of years ago, Police Chief Kay recalls, he bought all of the youth football uniforms.

When the Vernonia police needed a K-9 unit, Mike Pihl helped fund it. When Vernonia needed a community emergency response team, Chief Kay remembers that it was Mike Pihl who helped make it happen.

Additional Information

Web Site: http://www.sierracascadeexpo.com/

Category: Forestry>People in the news

Region: California

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