Page 14 - Tree Line - North Carolina Forestry Association - Fourth Quarter 2024

Careers in Forestry:
LOGGER
By: Jeanne Harmor, Director of
Communications, NCFA
watched a show called “Ax Men,” a
program highlighting the work of logging
crews across several states. It was this
show, and the experience of cutting down
his first tree in his parents’ yard, that
inspired Jordan to pursue a logging career.
that individuals can pursue in
There are many career pathways
forestry, and they’re all vital
to our industry’s success. In this
issue of TreeLine, we sat down
with ProLogger Chris Jordan, owner of
Jordan Logging.
Early Beginnings
In his teenage years, Jordan spent his
summers working in the woods and
becoming familiar with trees and nature.
A Story About a First- Generation Logger
He had a friend whose family was in the
logging business, so he was able to observe
firsthand people managing crews and
If you meet a logger, odds are they come
running a logging operation. He fell in love
from a family of loggers and are continuing
with the equipment, the smell of wood
the tradition of filling a role that is
chips, and working outside.
crucial to the forestry and forest products
After high school, Jordan worked for
industry. It is a rare opportunity to meet
two logging companies over the course
a young logger — especially in 2024 —
of a year and a half, operating skidders
who made the decision to become the first
and getting a feel for the operation. The
logger in their family.
experience gave him the confidence to
Enter Chris Jordan.
start his own business.
Jordan, a native of Troy, NC, is a
In 2013, Jordan Logging was born, and
2010 graduate of West Montgomery
to this day Jordan can’t picture working
High School. When he was a kid, Jordan
anywhere else.
12 ncforestry.org / FOURTH QUARTER 2024
Trucking Along
Starting a business isn’t for the faint of
heart, and you need to be prepared so you
can try to see around corners as often as
possible. “At first, [it] was a lot more work
than I thought it would be,” said Jordan. “It
was tough to get everyone on the same page,
but we eventually established a rhythm, and
things started going smoothly.”
Jordan’s biggest challenge stemmed
from a lack of resources, operating with
the bare minimum needed for a logging
operation — one feller buncher, one
skidder, and one loader. He did not have a
log trailer or extra machines if something
broke down. It was important to Jordan
to be careful with his money and grow his
business strategically. “I’ve always wanted
to avoid growing the business too big or
too fast,” said Jordan. “I like to keep my
operation small and efficient — it’s what
works best for us.”
As years went by, he was able to build
his own arsenal of equipment, make
strategic investments, and increase his
profit margins. Today, Jordan Logging’s