The sputtering of diesel engines, roars of chainsaws, and the thumping of felled trees create a symphony of sound that shakes the silent valley. High above highway 6 near Tillamook, in the swirling fog and unrelenting rain, a crew of 7 cling to a steep muddy hillside as the weather conditions of the Pacific Northwest continue to test their mettle. Ken Risseeuw stands above them, surveying the scene from atop a fallen Douglas fir. It was 36 degrees, the rain spilled down his back, and his snowy chest hair burst from his partially buttoned flannel.

Risseeuw Logging Inc. based in Grand Ronde, OR, has a number of crews that operate in Oregon; the age range varies from fresh out of high school to the upper 50s. At its core, Risseeuw’s job is to ensure his crews work effectively and act sustainably by following the Forest Practices Act (FPA), when working logging sites throughout Oregon.

Risseeuw began logging in 1974, following in his father’s footsteps to manage timberland. He opted out of college and jumped into the logging industry where he started setting timber chokers, felling trees, and loading logs. He began his own business in 1979 with the idea that he was going to make enough money to retire in a few years and live comfortably with his wife, however that was not the case.

Risseeuw experienced a debilitating injury in 1982. A 410 Prentice log loader tipped over and caught his body underneath. Soggy snowmelt cushioned his body as the 17-ton piece of equipment crushed him from just above the pelvis down. He broke his back, pelvis, legs, right arm and shoulder, and ribs. Risseeuw was hospitalized for over 3 months, with surgeries every Monday, he recalls. His body was unable to recover fully. With age Risseeuw began managing crews and overseeing sites, rather than physically working on them himself.

Retirement is on the horizon for Risseeuw, but before he goes he would like to continue guiding his crew to sustainable standards. “I love these kids like they’re my own, sometimes I’d like to wring their necks but you know, they are a bunch of good, hard workers. Most of them made a few bad choices in their life and I think I can be a positive role model in their life,” he says.