We’d about bailed out of going to the show in St. Joe. They were predicting ice, sleet, snow and a poor road conditions. But Wednesday evening ol’buddy Chris Hooten of Wood-Mizer called and asked if we could bring a few logs to the show. So, Thursday Mary loaded on 6 cedar, 1 white oak, 1 red oak, and one cherry log. About 4:30 Friday morning we were on the road – arriving about 9:30.
Something new for us! The new LT40SHD42 Super was set up on the sidewalk in the entrance of the convention center right smack downtown. We parked on the street and rolled the logs onto the sidewalk and offbeared back onto the truck.
Down the street a couple of blocks is where Jessie James was assassinated by a friend. (some friend). Just below that is where the start of the Pony Express.
Wood-Mizer had an LT15 set up inside along with their display material. They didn’t saw on it.
As the was a farm show, there wasn’t much about forestry there. Wood-Mizer was the only sawmill manufacture represented. From talking to a good number of people, I get the idea St. Joseph is not a Mecca of the forest industry – although American Walnut is just down the street.
We did talk to a number of Wood-Mizer owners from Kansas and Nebraska that came in to get blades, parts and visit. Larry Copas showed up about 11:00 and visited with us until after lunch.
The weather, although only barely above freezing, was not nearly as bad as they had predicted – most of the “bad stuff” going south. Mary and I grabbed a room in the Holiday Inn just one block away and just left the truck parked on the street in front of the convention center. After dark we did get a little dusting of snow but it only whitened the grass and rooftops and left the streets wet.
Next morning, Will Baugh, Mary and I walked up to Papa Joe’s and had breakfast together. Quite a place. Paneled in weathered barn siding and trimmed out and all kinds of custom made benches, shelves, and tables. The food was great too!
I picked up some real inside scoop stuff on what’s going on with Wood-Mizer. I’ll post it under the Sawmill thread.
