OHTS forestry students pose in front of the new John Deere tractor local companies helped them purchase.
Donations from local wood product industry partners, including Hancock Lumber, enabled Oxford Hills Technical School (OHTS) to purchase a John Deere 4-wheel drive tractor for their forestry program. An integral part of the school’s forestry program, the tractor will be used on the school’s forestry job site to simulate a cut-to-length forwarder.
Shawn Lambert, Director of Maine Vocational Region 11 school, commented, “Hancock Lumber’s donation toward the purchase of a John Deere tractor for the forestry program is a testament to Hancock’s commitment to education and to the field of forestry and wood harvesting….thank you for your generosity!”
Al Schaeffer, the OHTS Forestry program instructor added, “Support like this from forward thinking companies like Hancock Lumber demonstrates a level of commitment to education and the forest products industry that is unprecedented. The OHTS Forestry Program is committed to being an integral part of making sure there is a well-trained labor supply for the forest products industry in Western Maine. Being the recipient of support like this is incredible and we are extremely thankful and appreciative for the company’s support. Support like this will help the OHTS Forestry Program evolve as the logging industry around us changes.”
Attracting and retaining young Mainers to this industry is critical and Hancock Lumber was excited to be a part of such an important initiative to engage students in the forestry program. Kevin Raven, one of Hancock’s HR/mill managers, visited the technical school’s forestry job site to see the new tractor and interact with the students. We’re helping to keep the logging industry strong here in Maine!