Ever since Josh Kindred got out of high school and started working in the woods with Matt Samuelson, he said that he was going to win the all-around logging competition at the Clatsop County Fairs logging show.

That was five years ago. This year, Kindred finally did it, just beating two seasoned veterans, Kevin Dunnavin of Cottage Grove and Josh Stoken of Hoquiam, Wash.

For Kindred though, more important than winning Saturday was just being able to compete in front of his father, Scott Kindred, who is suffering from cancer.

While Josh Kindred was tossing the ax, felling poles and running chokers, his father was watching from a wheelchair on the hillside surrounding the logging event.

This is a big for me to win today. It would never have been possible without my family, especially my dad who taught me everything I know in the woods. Hes a timber faller himself, Kindred said, holding onto the six awards he won on the day, including the brand new Stihl chain saw for best all-around.

Besides the awards, Matt Samuelson who coordinates the annual logging show at the fair, donated $50 to Kindreds father, every time Kindred won or placed in an event.

The final tally was a $250 bonus on the day.

That was something else, said Kindred. Everybody gets together and takes care of each other in small towns like this. It is unreal how people come together to support someone in need.

Dunnavin and Stoken were happy for Kindred. They have been competing against each other for years.

Both celebrated seeing the big smile on Kindreds face and seeing him hold the trophy saw high in the air.

I really like coming here and competing, I really do, said Dunnavin, who was leading for much of the show. My favorite events are any of the hot saw events. The secret to winning is lots of practice and lots of nitro-methane.

This is so much fun, said Stoken. I really enjoy these little events.

Stoken owns a logging firm in Hoquiam. He competes in 10 to 12 logging shows a year and hopes that one day the Clatsop County Fair logging show will have some of the events seen in the larger shows.

I like the chopping and the hand sawing events, too. They might get a bigger draw of people coming here if they added these events. Its a lot more work, but I think that people would step up and donate wood and help set it up. Were definitely looking for more chopping competitions on the West Coast, Stoken said.

At the preshow meeting, Samuelson urged the competitors to tell their friends to come out of the woods and compete.

If you want this event to continue, you need to tell your friends to sign up next year, Samuelson said.

Although small, the logging show at the Clatsop County Fair gave more than 100 spectators an afternoon full of entertainment in one the areas most exciting and dangerous occupations.

It also made one father very proud of his timber-falling son.