Southern Loggin’ Times magazine Managing Editor David Abbott travels to Bryson City, North Carolina to visit Kirkland’s Logging, Inc. Leonard Kirkland worked the hills of western North Carolina for 40 years, healthy as an ox the entire time, according to his son Jason—or Jay, as nearly everyone calls him. The father and son duo have worked together in their company, Kirkland’s Logging, Inc., for the last twenty of those years. Like a lot of loggers, Leonard never went to the doctor and never even had health insurance—he never needed it. “When he got sick, it hit him like a ton of bricks,” Jay recalls. Leonard had known something was wrong but, for whatever reason, took his time in having it checked out. Maybe he thought it was nothing or hoped it would go away on its own. Maybe he just didn’t want to know. “It was almost too late by the time they discovered it,” his son says.

Featured Story: “Not Giving Up”

Written By: David Abbott
Company: Kirkland’s Logging, Inc.
Location: Bryson City, North Carolina
SLT Issue: April 2016

Check out other featured articles in the April 2016 issue of Southern Loggin’ Times magazine.
Southern Loggin’ Times magazine’s April 2016 issue features Bryson City, North Carolina’s Kirkland’s Logging, Inc., Selmer, Tennessee’s Greg King Logging, Fitzgerald, Georgia’s Mark & Kason Lott Timber, Inc., Florence, South Carolina’s Carter Brothers Logging, and Gloster, Mississippi’s Amite BioEnergy, owned by Drax Biomass. A special article highlights Folkston, Georgia’s Big John Trailers and their steady growth since 1974. Other articles cover the latest industry news, new products and equipment, and logging business tips.