Every February, Eugene, Oregon becomes a meeting place for the people and equipment that keep the Northwest’s forests working. The Oregon Logging Conference (OLC) is built around real conversations: contractors comparing notes, mill teams talking uptime, truck operators trading ideas, and families getting an up-close look at the machines they see on the highway and in the woods.

This year’s 88th show at the Lane Events Center and Fairgrounds ran from February 19–21, 2026, and we were proud to be there again.

OLC has always been about more than a lineup of iron. It’s a chance to connect with the community that fuels this industry, celebrate the skill it takes to do the work well, and share practical solutions that make the next season safer, more productive, and easier to plan.

Papé’s History With OLC: Involved from the Beginning

The Oregon Logging Conference has deep roots in the region—and Papé has been part of the story since the very beginning.

Before it was known as the Oregon Logging Conference, the event began as the Willamette Valley Logging Conference, first organized in 1938 with the inaugural meeting held in 1939.That same year—1938—E.C. Papé purchased Slate Tractor and formed Farm and Industrial Equipment Company, placing the Papé organization alongside the logging community at the very start of the conference’s history.

What’s more, E.C. Papé is noted as a member of the entertainment committee for the third conference, demonstrating that Papé wasn’t simply attending the early events—he was actively helping organize and support them.

What We Brought to the Show

Our team showed up with a simple goal: be useful. We put the right people next to the right machines, answered specific questions, and helped contractors think through applications, not specs alone.

A big part of that story lives with Papé Machinery Construction & Forestry, where John Deere forestry equipment continues to set the pace for modern logging operations. At OLC, we focused on the kinds of machines crews rely on when production matters and conditions change by the hour, along with the support that keeps them running when the season is at full speed.

We centered the discussion on a few proven workhorses and the real-world advantages they bring to daily operations. For example, John Deere swing machines like the 2956G continue to stand out for log handling and processing, with operator comfort and service access that support long shifts and consistent daily checks.

For extraction work, the John Deere 748L Grapple Skidder was another anchor at the show, because contractors don’t just want power, they want a machine that helps operators stay efficient, oriented, and comfortable through long days in demanding terrain.

Land Management, Site Prep, and Right-of-Way Work

OLC brings together more than traditional logging. Land clearing, fuel reduction, and vegetation management continue to grow across the Northwest, so we also made space for dialogue around smaller, attachment-driven solutions that contractors can use across forestry, construction, municipal, and property improvement jobs.

We highlighted a range of practical machines, including a compact track loader option like the John Deere 335 P-Tier for grading, handling, and attachment work where versatility matters.

Moving Equipment and Moving Wood

A successful operation depends on what happens between sites as much as what happens on them, and talking about hauling was a major part of our OLC week.

With Papé Kenworth, we showcased the Kenworth T800, a familiar, proven platform for Northwest work where strength, cooling capacity, and confident maneuverability all matter when the job doesn’t stop for weather or terrain.

Thanks for Visiting Us at OLC

The Oregon Logging Conference remains one of the best places to gather with other industry experts and learn more about the work, the challenges, and the opportunities ahead. If you stopped by our space, thank you.

We value the trust you place in our team, and we don’t take for granted that this event represents generations of work, relationships, and pride in the logging community. From the early days of the Willamette Valley Logging Conference to today’s OLC, Papé has been proud to stand alongside the logging community for nearly the entire history of the event.