2026 North Carolina Logger of the Year Award

2026 North Carolina Logger of the Year Award

It is with great pleasure that FMIC Insurance Company announces the North Carolina E. K. Pittman Safety Award 2026 Logger of the Year Award. The award is named in honor of the first Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Forestry Mutual and presented to those companies chosen by the President and staff of FMIC based on their safety record and continued emphasis on safety in the workplace.

This is FMIC's most prestigious award. The award's namesake, Mr. Pittman, served from 1971-1984 and was a strong proponent of Safety Training & Education and the use of personal protective equipment. This safety award recognizes businesses that show a genuine concern for the safety of their workers by going above and beyond to ensure a safe and productive workplace.

Eight to ten operations are nominated each year. FMIC's awards committee must zero down to that one operation that excels above all. 

The criteria for selecting a winner:

• Safety record ∙ Demonstrated safe work environment.
  
  Based on:
  
  

• Loss ratio.
• NCCI Experience Mod.
• Onsite announced & unannounced inspections.
• Implemented Safety Best Management Practices (BMP’s). These BMP’s are in line or exceed industry standards.
• Awareness, training/education & accountability of all employees & contractors.
• Documentation of OSHA required annual training is maintained.
• Involvement in relevant associations such as VLA, VFA, etc.
• Leadership and crew’s approachability by Safety/Loss Control inspectors and application of recommendations made.
• A genuine understanding of what strategic relationships are and the importance of fostering those relationships to benefit their own operation and the perception of the entire logging community.
• An attitude of taking true ownership of the business; makes no excuses.
• A mind-set of proactive vs. reactive; ahead of the game.
  

2026 Recipient 

The operation that most fully represents those attributes and embodies the commitment to safety that this award represents, is “Jeffers Logging Inc.” out of Sanford, North Carolina in Lee County.

Owned and operated by Dale Jeffers along with his son Curtis Jeffers, from the Central North Carolina Region. Dale has a great reputation forged from experience. Dale is a true, roll up your sleeves, hardworking American.

Delmer Jeffers, Dale's father, founded Jeffers Logging in 1975. Dale began working with his father in 1986, after completing his military service, and eventually took the company reins in 1992. Dale Jeffers is a 4th generation logger, with his grandfather and great-grandfather owning portable sawmills that would move on-site to tracts of timber and log and process them. After selling the sawmill business and fully transitioning to logging in 1975, Jeffers Logging began with a short tandem truck, hand felling with chainsaw, and truck mounted knuckleboom with no cab.

Over the last 51 years, Jeffers Logging has grown from humble beginnings into a substantial fully mechanized chipping and pine sawtimber logging crew - consisting of a Tracked FellerBuncher, Tracked Knuckleboom, 6-wheel Bogie skidder, and on-site chipper. The company currently operates with 4 employees and has an outstanding safety record. Dale Jeffers works closely alongside his son Curtis Jeffers, both of whom are present daily, with active roles on logging jobs where a strong safety culture is their top priority. Jeffers Logging Utilizes the NC Logger Safety Checklist Booklet to assist in maintaining their active and on-going safety program. Their Company Safety Rules and Drug & Alcohol Policy are current, and the company holds regular monthly safety meetings utilizing FMIC's safety topics that are distributed quarterly as well as additional safety topics Dale and Curtis deem relevant to their operation

It takes more than a bunch of seedlings to do the job right. Any company is only as great as its people and Jeffers Logging is proud to employ individuals with great personal integrity, professional know-how and commitment to exceeding customer expectations. This team produces 12 to 14 loads a day, providing markets for Canfor-Southern Pines, Edwards Wood Products, and Enviva Pellets.

FMIC and Jeffers Logging began our working relationship in January 2003 and Jeffers Logging continues to be a valued policy holder with a current Loss Ratio of 0% and Experience Modifier of .80

How do they do it?

• Jeffers Logging accepted the challenge to enhance their safety programs and daily routines.
• In the Quest for QUALITY of higher safety standards Jeffers Logging is committed to raising the bar in regard to training and educating their entire workforce.
• Quality of the total package includes service and product to their customers, and to themselves, in the form of Safety.
• One hundred percent of logging employees utilize the “North Carolina Loggers Safety Checklist” booklet and stay current in annual OSHA required training.
• Monthly company safety meetings are conducted with mandatory employee participation.
• All chainsaw operators participate in on-the-job training, which reviews chainsaw safety, PPE, manual felling and topping/bucking hazards, conducted by FMIC’s Certified Chainsaw Trainer

FMIC is very pleased with Jeffers Logging's achievements and their appreciation for the cost savings associated with quality, safety, and embedding those values in the culture of their company. Jeffers' hard work and safety mindedness continues to pay dividends making Jeffers Logging a great ambassador for the forestry industry.

When Dale is not working, he enjoys riding horses and spending time with his family; Dale’s son Curtis is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing when not working.

As Previously mentioned, Dale Jeffers served his country in the military before taking over the family Logging business in 1986. FMIC greatly values our country’s veterans and wants to thank Dale Jeffers for his service.

What does Dale have to say?

Dale wants to give the credit to the great people around him and recognize his fantastic crew. Dale States “I’m always thinking about the people around me. I’m very blessed to have a great son who helps me with the business and a fantastic crew. Great people and employees are what make a successful, safe, and productive logging business, I couldn’t do it without them.”

~ Congratulations ~

Jeffers Logging Inc.

2026 Logger of the Year