MEXICO — What causes teenage boys to talk about love and passion? Believe it or not, it’s the Region 9 School of Applied Technology forestry/wood harvesting/heavy equipment program.

“I chose forestry because I love to be outdoors,” said Dirigo junior Julian Baldinelli, who is in the first year of the two-year program.

Second-year student Travis Jackson, a Telstar senior, echoed, “I chose this program because I love the outdoors and I knew this program was for me.”

“I have a passion for cutting wood,” said Dirigo junior Jeremy Grignon.

First-year students in the program learn how to identify common trees, maintain and operate a chainsaw, skidder, crawler and pulp loader, properly fell a tree, estimate timber stand volume and scale logs. Second-year students learn more about maintaining heavy equipment and work with simulators for tree processors and forwarders.

Instructors Dave Mason and Mark Beaudoin receive rave reviews from their students.

Travis Jackson, a Telstar senior, said, “In this program, the teachers are excellent and have taught me everything I know.”

“I love how we go outside every day,” Teddy McLaughlin, a sophomore at Mountain Valley High School, said. “I like the teachers; they’re probably the best two people for this program.” 

The big equipment impresses some. Dirigo junior Nathan Letarte noted, “They have a good skidder. The teachers are nice. They help you when you need it.”

As with other Region 9 programs, this one stresses certification.

According to Mason, “At the end of the two-year program, students may obtain commercial driver’s license Class A or B licenses, and sit for the Certified Logging Professional certification examination.”

To earn the CLP, students must pass a worksite evaluation and written exam. They need to master first aid/CPR, forest management and silviculture, safe and efficient wood harvesting, and business.

As a new addition to the program, “we are looking into adding a wood scaling curriculum where the students will be eligible to obtain their apprentice wood scalers’ license,” Mason said. “A student that completes the two-year program will be able to sit for the state test.”

A licensed wood scaler is a person who measures wood. An apprentice wood scaler completes a training program and then works under the direction of a licensed wood scaler for a period of time.

Grignon, like most of his classmates, has a goal. “I’m hoping to get my CLP certification and more knowledge on managing money and wood.”

Dirigo junior Garrett McPherson emphasized safety in his goal. “I hope to get my CLP and learn to safely and effectively log.

McPherson is also taking the truck-driving course through Region 9 to earn his Class B license. With that and his CLP, he will have some valuable skills to offer a future employer

The students are the best spokesmen for a program they love and would highly recommend.

Grignon said, “If someone asked me if they should come to this program, I would say it would be the best decision you ever make in high school.”

“But only if you are cut out for it,” added McLaughlin. “If you love the woods and want to learn how to use a chain saw or drive a skidder, then this is the program for you.”

In the future, the program may add some more equipment. Mason said, “We are presently working with the board on purchasing an excavator for the program.”

The first-year students will learn to run the excavator and use it in the yard as a loader. The second-year students will get into more detailed use of the machine, where they will ditch and make roads, make landings, build brook crossings, dig rocks, level dirt and pile wood.