Still rolling at 30: A history of the Irrigation Festival’s Logging Show

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Thirty one years ago, the Grand Parade once marked the end of the Sequim Irrigation Festival. Gone was the Demolition Derby due to expenses and liabilities and the much anticipated festival’s fun of Saturday was over as the crowd walked away from the parade route.

However, Kevin Kennedy felt the community needed and deserved more options for continuing the fun and the sense of community the festival created, so he went to work trying to reestablish the Derby.

As Kennedy worked with local groups to bring back the Derby, Dave Bekkevar suggested they include logging activities as he had connections to make it happen.

As the Derby continued to hit roadblocks, a logging show became more feasible to Bekkevar and Kennedy. The pair received permission from Margaret Blake to use her property behind her home and the Sequim Valley Lion’s Club agreed to help with the show as long as Kennedy served as chairperson.

When the Grand Parade ended 30 years ago, Bekkevar and Kennedy remember wondering where all the people were going until they realized they were going to the first Logging Show.

Their first thoughts were practical — they’d need more bleachers, more than one sanikan, and more than one keg of beer for the beer garden the next year. As years went by organizers added new events and attractions with some still continuing and some fading away.

Early years

The early years showed a lot of competition between the Sequim and Deming loggers in events and relays and we still welcome the many Deming loggers that come and support the show and participate.

The Lawn Mower Races were a big hit for a number of years, as were motorcycles and firewalls.

No matter what the show offers, it’s encouraged hometown participants and welcomed out of town competitors.

In the late 1990s, the Logging Show became a two day event on Friday and Saturday.

Kennedy and Bekkevar wanted the community to have a way of kicking off the weekend with fun so they started the Truck and Tractor Pulls sponsored by Les Schwab Tires, which continues this year thanks to organizer Matt Shackelford. It’s followed by music and dancing at the Loggers Ball on Friday night.

In 2008, after many permits and shaking of politicians hands, organizers began the Friday night fireworks display (starting at 9:30 p.m. this year).

The Logging Show continues to offer an array of activities, including a 4-H petting zoo; car show; antique equipment show; newer equipment on-site offered by sponsors and local businesses; helicopter rides; food and vendor booths; and chainsaw carving art with Steve Bakkus recruiting artists to share their skills.

In 2007, the Sequim Strongman Competition began and continues going “strong” today.

Kennedy and Bekkevar partnered with the late-Jesse Marunde to establish the event, which continues to grow and see athletes from around the world compete.

John Allen stepped up after Jesse’s passing and Nate Bolling recently stepped up to keep the event going.

It runs from 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 11.

Honorary Logger

Each year, Bekkevar and Kennedy said one of the privileges of organizing the show includes selecting the Honorary Logger, someone who has lived in the valley for more than 50 years and has been involved in the timber industry or agriculture in some way. Art Rogers, a 2015 festival Grand Pioneer, was chosen this year.

He is the name behind Art’s Barber Shop and started barbering in 1958. Rogers served in the US Army for three years and worked in the timber industry before and for some time while barbering. He also served as a volunteer fireman for nearly 30 years.

Thank you’s

Organizers of the Logging Show say there are countless volunteers to thank. They appreciate everyone and want to also recognize Scooter Chapman who was the voice of the show for 20 years, the Blake family for the continued use of the land, Randy Wellman for all the years of food support, all the participants that travel near and far, and all the sponsors and the community for continued support.

“The best thing over the years has been meeting all the people involved and all the sponsors that have stood behind to support the show,” Kennedy said.

“I have many lifelong friends I’ve made doing this.”

Bekkevar said he’s enjoyed working with the volunteers and it wouldn’t happen without them.

“They are the reason it has been and continues to be successful,” he said. “There’s no way we could’ve done it without all the volunteers and sponsors and I thank them from my heart. It’s always a special thing in my heart to work on and I never thought I’d be working on it this long.”

Bekkevar said the show is “one thing I can share with the community that means so much to me.”

In 2014, Kennedy stepped down from chairing the event and Dave Blakesly stepped in to help Bekkevar lead it.

The two Dave’s say they worked well together and enjoyed continuing to find ways to grow the show while incorporating local people and groups. They continued to use the idea that trying something new is the only way to know if it will enhance the community’s experience.

This year Blakesly stepped down and Shellie Torrence stepped in last year to see a seamless transition.

Bekkevar passed the torch of running the actual event to his son Ole Bekkevar and Brandon Surguy with help from their friends.

Kennedy and Bekkevar said “the younger generation stepping up to help ensures the Sequim Logging Show will continue to keep rolling for years to come.”

The Logging Show opens at 10 a.m. Friday, May 11; and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Friday; and the Strongman Showdown going 6-8 p.m. Friday.

Some of the events include truck and tractor pulls, axe throwing, pole falling and more.

For more on the Irrigation Festival’s Logging Show, visit www.irrigationfestival.com.

Matthew Nash contributed to this report.