Timber Talk: The Paul Bunyan Show, America's Original Forestry Show – Ohio Ag Net

By Jenna Reese, Executive Director, Ohio Forestry Association

The Paul Bunyan Show, the Ohio Forestry Association's trade show, showcases the size and scope of the forest products industry and highlights the need for active management of Ohio's forests. With a focus on safety, it is one of the few shows in the United States that features live demonstrations of equipment and technology. At the show you will find demonstrations of whole tree chippers and grinders, tree felling and trimming demonstrations, and safety training for everyone who operates forestry equipment, from professional loggers to landowners. Entertainment such as the Great Lakes Timber Show and state and international logging competitions take place throughout the weekend.

Emmett Conway Jr. was 9 years old when he attended the very first Paul Bunyan show in McArthur, Ohio in 1957. His father was the chairman of the committee, so he grew up watching the show. In addition to being an industry trade show, the event first served to educate and illustrate to the public that the process of logging is a natural part of the life cycle of forests. Over time, trees mature and must be removed before they die and pose a threat to safety and wildfires. Mature plants must be harvested, which will then produce beautiful lumber and other hardwood products.

In 2006, the Ohio Forestry Association made a conscious move and moved the Paul Bunyan Show from its longtime location in Nelsonville to its current location at the Guernsey County Fairgrounds in Cambridge. Conway's leadership was critical to the success of the transition. The Paul Bunyan Show's move helped secure Husqvarna, the show's title sponsor for the past 18 years, and has helped the show grow to its current size of 16,000 attendees. Each year, people from all over the continental United States and Canada attend The Paul Bunyan Show and learn about the forestry industry and the industry that supports it.

There are many volunteers who help make The Paul Bunyan Show the incredible success that it is, but Conway has been there from the beginning, volunteering his time, expertise, equipment, additional manpower and resources. He was the driving force behind the show's reputation as one of the largest and oldest forestry shows in the country.

Conway loved Ohio's forest resource and placed great emphasis on stewarding it well. His father, Emmett Conway, Sr., was inducted into the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Hall of Fame in 2013 for his contributions and love for the forest resources of southeastern Ohio. This love was passed on to his son, who spent much of his career, time with family and free time outdoors. Emmett Conway Jr. was posthumously inducted into the ODNR Hall of Fame by Governor Mike DeWine on July 31, 2024.

Like his father, Conway Jr. took his children to the Paul Bunyan Show and instilled this passion in them too. They now own and operate the family business, advocate for sustainability and proper management of Ohio's forests and timber, and are patrons of The Paul Bunyan Show.

Join us at America's Original Forestry Fair at the Guernsey County Fairgrounds in Old Washington, Cambridge, October 4-6, 2024. Show hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All wood processed at the fair (firewood, lumber, etc.) will be sold to the highest bidder at the wood auction on Sunday, October 6th at 2 p.m. To purchase tickets, view the event schedule and learn more about the entertainers and exhibitors at thepaulbunyanshow.com.