THE POSTER DESIGN for the 79th-annual Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo, set for Sept. 4-6 in Escanaba.

RHINELANDER, Wis. — The 79th-annual Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo will roll into Escanaba from Sept. 4-6, bringing more than 5,000 people to the U.P. State Fairgrounds.

The Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo is the largest cut-to-length forest products trade show in the Midwest, drawing internationally from Canada and across the U.S., according to the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association.

Fabick Cat will once again be the major sponsor.

Henry Schienebeck, GLTPA executive director, said the expo provides the opportunity for everyone to learn about new technologies in forestry and heavy equipment while networking with fellow members and colleagues.

Exhibitors can showcase their products and services to a variety of interests, including professional loggers, truckers, firewood cutters, landowners, students and families.

The expo this year will welcome the Wisconsin & U.P. Chainsaw Racing Association, which will run a chainsaw racing contest from 8 a.m. to noon Eastern time on Saturday, Sept. 6.

Chainsaw racing is a timed competition in which participants use chainsaws to cut through wood within a specific time limit, with the fastest competitor winning.

Another new addition to this year will be a Loggers Breakfast, offered by the Gladstone Knights of Columbus beginning at 8 a.m. Eastern time that same morning.

Along with viewing the exhibits, attendees and families can enjoy time together by participating in all the activities the expo has to offer.

The Komatsu and Roland Machinery Forwarder Operator Challenge demonstrates the skills of experienced operators through a challenging course while competing side by side.

The BARKO Loader Contests will once again time the skill and accuracy of log construction by the participants.

Favorites such as the tug-of-war and bowling pin toss will also welcome willing participants during the expo.

The annual Kickoff Event on Thursday, Sept. 4, will begin at 6 p.m. Eastern time in the Miracle of Life Building, offering dinner, drinks and raffles to raise funds for CMN Hospitals through Log A Load for Kids.

The Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend. The expo officially opens at noon Eastern time Thursday, Sept. 4, and will end at 1 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, Sept. 6.

Admission is $20 and is good for all three days. Children younger than 18 are admitted for free.

For more information, contact Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association at 715-304-2681 or go online to the website at www.gltpa.org.