Southern Loggin’ Times magazine Associate Editor Jay Donnell travels to Range, Alabama to visit McDonald Timber Company. When Johnny McDonald was driving a log truck back in the ’80s it’s hard to imagine that he ever envisioned he would one day own and operate a big time logging company in Alabama. But while he may not have known how it would come together, McDonald had ambition. While he drove his own truck for many years, he saw others he knew start to build their own logging businesses and McDonald started leaning that way himself. In 1992, he turned that goal into a reality and started cutting trees with a chain saw. McDonald had just three employees at the time as well as a Clark skidder and an old loader. His operation was producing three loads a day, but he knew that wouldn’t last for long. McDonald realized if he was going to be successful he would have to start trading up equipment and do it fast, and overcome any obstacles.

Featured Story:  “Still Building”

Written By: Jay Donnell
Company: McDonald Timber Company
Location: Range, Alabama
SLT Issue: November 2018

Check out other featured articles in the November 2018 issue of Southern Loggin’ Times magazine.
Southern Loggin’ Timesmagazine’s November 2018 issue features Range, Alabama’s McDonald Timber Company, Huntsville, Arkansas’ Easterling Wood Products and Perry, Florida’s Rodney Schwab and Gary Brett, owners of M.A. Rigoni, Inc. The latest installment in our Historical Series highlights Electric Mills, Mississippi’s Sumter Lumber Company. Other articles cover the latest industry news, new products and upcoming events.