Even though Jeff Skirvin won the title for best all-around logger at the eleventh annual Clatsop County Logging Show at the fairgrounds Saturday, it was his 17-year-old son Warren who had the enthusiastic support of the crowd.

For the first time, Warren beat his father at one of the main events of the logging contest, the modified saw. 

Its feels great. After all these years of having him beat me, and then to finally beat him at something! said Warren. Modified saws are normal chainsaws that have been tweaked with special fuels and accessories to make them run faster. Contestants are paired and timed to see how fast they can cut through a log approximately 24 inches in diameter. 

Darn it, he beat me in one of my favorite events, the elder Skirvin said. I think Warren is going to have to sharpen his own chain from now on!

Skirvin teaches forestry and art at Knappa High School. Participating in logging shows is one of his favorite pastimes. 

Its great to come out with your family and have a good time. Thats whats fun about the logging shows; everyone can get involved. Skirvin said. Besides bringing his family to the show, he also brings his young proteges. 

Some of my students were here today. Its good for them and theyre a lot of fun. Its great seeing them have fun and get better at the events. Its better than having them play Nintendo or XBox, Skirvin said.

Not to be outdone, 13-year-old Allen Skirvin won two youth events and will soon be a rival for his brother and father. 

I had a blast today. I won the ax throw and the choker set, said the youngest Skirvin. 

Dave Cramsey, a forester from Veneta, and his 17-year-old son Sean also threw, sawed and felled at the logging show, entering most of the events, including the ax throw, the power saw events and the logger relay. 

The weather was great today, Cramsey said. This is mainly a power saw show, and that is a lot of fun. Most of the shows we go to there are axes and handsaws and there is a lot of sawing and chopping. The big power saws are a kick. The best part though is watching Sean, and Jeff Skirvins kids and the other young people get into it. 

One logger who has been a competitor in the show since in 2000 is Astoria resident Pat Nolan. 

Ive been here every year since it started, Nolan said.  Ive been logging since 1977 a few years. Today was a lot of fun. It was really good for the kids. The logging show gets everybody out doing something different. 

I am very happy with how I did today, said Jeff Dunnivan, a logger from Cottage Grove. Ive been doing logging shows all over the United States for 11 years now.

Dunnivan did well in all the events he entered and won the log felling event, where the participants have to fall a tree for both time and accuracy.

Taking your time and making sure your cuts are clean and geometrically perfect, thats the whole key to fall, said Dunnivan, who was a logger for 32 years. I love the camaraderie and the competition. I also have a really good sponsor, he added.  

The logging show has been a part of the Clatsop County Fair for 11 years and is coordinated by Jewell resident Matt Samuelson, with the help of dozens of local volunteers and sponsors.