John H. Conkey, Senior of Belchertown, co-owner of John Conkey & Sons Logging, has been named the first recipient of MFA’s Douglas B. Cook Wood Producer of the Year award.
John has been a timber harvester since 1988, after a 27-year career with Chrysler as a mechanic. In business with his sons and grandsons, Conkey has earned a reputation as one of the best loggers in Massachusetts. He carries a Master Logger certification, which requires audits and site visits on an annual basis. A former President of the Massachusetts Wood Producers Association and the state Forestry Committee, he has been a leading voice in the industry and takes a great deal of pride in his work.
“John is an outstanding timber harvester who is an excellent choice for this award,” said Charlie Thompson, a board member for the Forest Alliance, who presented the award. “A Conkey job is always recognizable for how clean and well-organized it is, and he has a well-deserved reputation for honesty and careful work.”
The Douglas B. Cook Wood Producer of the Year Award is in its inaugural year. The Forest Alliance named the award for Doug Cook, owner of Cook Forest Products and a Forest Alliance board member, who passed away unexpectedly last year. The award is presented to a timber harvester, sawmill operator, or forest products professional who exemplifies Cook’s spirit of innovation and leadership in the industry.
Doug Cook’s wife Diane and daughter Katie presented Conkey with the award at the Massachusetts Forest Alliance Annual Meeting in Greenfield on October 26.