Did you know that a forest management plan only becomes reality through the skill of a professional logger?
- Maryland Forests
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Meet Jack Mills
Meet Jack Mills, Master Logger and owner of Jack Mills Logging. At the core of Jack’s work is a dedication to the forest and the wildlife that call it home. Before cutting any trees, Jack stands in the woods and visualizes the outcome of the harvest. He pictures the gaps in the canopy, what will grow to fill them, and the wildlife that will benefit. He strives to balance maximizing timber value with creating quality wildlife habitat in every harvest. Aside from the landing, the harvest’s operational hub—you’d hardly know Jack had been there; he leaves as little trace as possible.
Jack’s harvests are one-man operations. He has a fleet of equipment that he maintains in top-notch condition, but because Jack has a knack for buying big, high-grade timber, he oftentimes prefers to use a chainsaw to minimize potential damage to high-value wood from machinery. And because he learned from a young age, Jack just feels more comfortable with a saw in hand. As a child, Jack spent every spare moment with his Uncle Tom Mitchell—hunting, fishing, and cutting firewood. When Tom expanded from firewood into logging, he put 10-year-old Jack on the skidder. They’d walk through the woods together discussing how and why to cut certain trees. By making mistakes under his uncle’s watchful eye, Jack gained the confidence and judgment that still guide him today.
As a young man, Jack began to forge his own path. He attended Frostburg State University before starting a business as a dirt contractor, building roads and ditches and installing ponds and pads for poultry houses. When his Uncle Tom was killed by a drunk driver in July of 2014, Jack found himself drawn back to the woods. Tom taught Jack nearly everything he knows about logging, and that mentorship continues to shape both his business and his approach to forestry today.
Jack recognizes that every landowner is different and that many may only see one major harvest in their lifetime. He walks them through every step, never rushing a decision, and ensures that each harvest aligns with their management goals. When bringing a plan to life, Jack does the job the way he’d want it done for himself. He takes pride in his work, and it shows. His business has grown largely through word-of-mouth referrals—a testament to the trust he builds through good communication and quality workmanship.
In addition to changing with each landowner, Jack’s harvests change with the markets. He specializes in hardwood but will cut pine depending on management plans and sawmill needs. The relationships he has built with local sawmills are a big part of his ability to adapt. Those relationships are built on trust. At times, mills will accept lower-quality material knowing that Jack will later deliver exceptional hardwood when it becomes available.
Relationships like these—between mentor and mentee, logger and landowner, and logger and sawmill—are integral to the forest products industry. In Jack’s words, “The industry depends on all the cogs in the wheel.” He believes long-term relationships matter just as much as the timber itself, treating both landowners and mills with honesty and respect. Whether maintaining his equipment or carefully planning each harvest, safety—for himself, the landowner, and everyone on the job—is always a priority. He puts in long hours, from sunup to sundown most days, to bring management plans to life while ensuring his family can continue to thrive.
Jack’s commitment to safety, sustainable forestry, and craftsmanship has earned both regional and national recognition. Earlier this Year, the Maryland Forests Association (MFA) and the University of Maryland Extension selected Jack as the 2025–2026 Maryland/Delaware Logger of the Year, an award recognizing outstanding logging professionals across both states for their commitment to safety, professionalism, and sustainable forestry. More recently, the Forest Resources Association named Jack the Appalachian Regional Logger of the Year, advancing him to the national competition. Jack says the recognition reassures him that he’s doing things the right way and serves as a tribute to his Uncle Tom, whose guidance helped shape the logger—and the person—he has become.
Forest management plans don’t implement themselves. They rely on skilled professionals like Jack who understand that every harvest is an investment in the next forest. Through thoughtful planning, trusted relationships, and a deep respect for the land, Jack brings those plans to life—one tree, one landowner, and one healthy forest at a time. Loggers like Jack understand that every harvest is an investment in the next forest.
Fun Facts about Jack & the Mills Family
One of Jack’s most memorable harvests was a 46-inch diameter white oak that yielded an incredible 2,700 board feet of lumber—so large it would take more than four adults with outstretched arms to wrap around it.
The Mills are a very musical family. Jack’s wife is a music teacher, his daughters are active in band, and Jack himself plays the tuba.
Jack’s oldest daughter once drove the skidder to school for Tractor Day—and took home the Judge’s Choice award!
Jack accepting his awards at the MFA Logger Appreciation Dinner held on June 24, 2026, at Breckenridge Barn in Dorchester County, Maryland. He is pictured below with past Logger of the Year recipients. Nearly 180 people gathered to honor the hardworking loggers who keep our forests healthy and productive!
Photo Credit: Edwin Remsberg, Remsberg Inc., Maryland DNR Forest Service, & Delaware Forest Service
Written By: Charly Sager, Natural Resource Planner- Maryland Forest Service
Project Support: Maryland DNR as part of the Delmarva Woodland Stewards Grant
Jack Mills pictured receiving the Forest Resource Association 2026 Regional Outstanding Logger Award at the Joint Appalachian Region/West Virginia Forestry Association Meeting on July 18th at the Canaan Valley Resort in Davis, WV. Read the press release here. Jack is now in the running for the 2027 National Outstanding Logger of the Year, which will be selected in early next year.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE:
MFA is Maryland's voice for forest, wildlife, and natural resource management. We believe that there's more to our forests than trees and that forest conservation is best accomplished through education, for ourselves and for all who benefit from our forest resources. Our "Faces of Forestry" public perception campaign aims to increase awareness and understanding of the benefits of sustainable forest management in Maryland. All of the profile stories can be found on our BLOG.
Maryland's Forests- Great for the Environment and the Economy
Why Join MFA?
MD / DE Master Logger Program
Eastern Shore Land Conservancy
How do we keep forests on Maryland's Eastern Shore? Steve Kline, President & CEO of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, says: "Put them to work!" Watch this video featuring a Jack Milss logging site to learn more.
We will be accepting nominations for our next MD / DE Logger of the Year soon! For more information, contact Nicole Zimmerman, UMD Extension Master Logger Coordinator, nzimmer2@umd.edu
Click here to learn more about MFA's Faces of Forestry project.
If you are interested in becoming one of our "faces," contact Beth Hill at 410-463-1755
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