Log-A-Load auction benefits WVU Children’s Hospital
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ELKINS – Each year during the Mountain State Forest Festival, local residents involved in the logging industry come together to raise money for WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital in Morgantown.
The annual Mountain Loggers Group Ted Harriman Memorial Log-A-Load for Kids takes place at Newlons International Sales, where those participating bid on loads of logs.
This year’s event, on Thursday, featured a strong turnout, as bidders from multiple states took part in the auction conducted by Kaufman Realty and Auctions.
“Everybody here that knows anything about the wood industry knows that we are kind of in a hard time right now for loggers, sawmills and the whole industry,” Mountain Loggers Group President Danny Sines said. “So to see everybody here to support the Mountain Loggers Group and the Children’s Hospital, I just want you guys to know we appreciate you showing up every year and supporting this cause.”
Sines told those in attendance, which included Maid Silvia LXXXVIII Emma Grace Snyder and her Maids of Honor, Kendall Rayann Corley and Grace Elizabeth Parsons, that the event raised $158,155 last year.
“That number puts us right around, since 1997, $2,834,982 donated to Children’s Hospital,” Sines said. “The goal before our 30th year was to hit $3 million, so if we want to do it a year early, we need $165,000 raised today to hit our $3 million mark.”
A team from WVU Medicine Golisano was also on hand at the event. Dr. Jeff Lancaster, associate Chief Medical Officer for WVU Medicine Children’s, spoke to those in attendance.
“Thanks to you guys, 2025 was a good year,” Lancaster said. “When you run a Children’s Hospital, it’s hard to say you had a good year when you were busy. That means kids were sick or injured. But the way we have to look at it is, if we weren’t there, those kids would be more sick and more injured.
“Our emergency department saw almost 16,000 kids in 2025. We did 58,000 imaging appointments, CAT scans, x-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds, so clearly the need for healthcare for children is there. And with your support, we have been able to keep growing and expanding to meet it.”
Sines announced the top contributors from 2024, with the top three were Fredonia Forest Products (third place), JC Lumber (second place), and Heritage Hardwoods (first place). This year’s Mountain Loggers Group President’s Award went to Clint Manns.
Sines also thanked this year’s corporate sponsors which included WVU Medicine, Newlon’s International, JBEA Logging, Leslie Equipment, Heritage Hardwoods, Acrisure, Boggs & Company Wealth Management, West Virginia Split Rail, Mel’s Truck Sales & Service, Dixon Contracting, Rigidply Rafters, Big Timber and A&P Trucking.