Lumber Slingers

Year two at the Mass Timber Conference for their 10 year anniversary and we're practically locals. We're recording live from the Union Ironworkers booth — on the second floor of a structure they built inside the Oregon Convention Center — talking show stats, Shark Tank-style investor pitches, and why every lumber person should have this conference on their radar. Then we sit down with Neveah, an architecture student we sponsored to attend, who casually mentions she designed and built a tiny home at 16. From scratch. With secondhand materials. We're fine. lumberslingers@gmail.com

It's Good Friday, lumber prices are up, and Claude personally removed Trent from the podcast for being a non-believer. (He's fine. Probably.) This week: WS Building Materials makes its debut, Mead Lumber keeps stacking locations, QXO finally closes on Kodiak, Rainier gets a new logo (the panel has thoughts), and mortgage rates are doing absolutely no one any favors. Also: Buc-ee's, Aperol Spritzes, and a CrossFit competitor repping Lumber Slingers on the world stage. It's a lot. You'll want to tune in. Got something to say? Find us at lumberslingers@gmail.com.

Natalie has laryngitis. Chelsea has opinions about the Brawny Man. Trent has mortgage rate news that nobody asked for but everybody needed. This week's episode is equal parts industry intel and chaos — the good kind. We're tracking rising lumber prices, freight rates that are giving Chelsea serious COVID-era flashbacks, and mortgage applications that just fell off a cliff. Oh, and that mystery executive departure from a few weeks back? Circle officially closed. Plus: Georgia Pacific's magazine-worthy headshots, Ashley Cribb's new gig, and a passionate debate about whether One Battle After Another was worth anyone's time. (Spoiler: it wasn't.) Drop us a line at lumberslingers@gmail.com — and if you see Natalie at the International Mass Timber Conference next week, she'll be the one communicating exclusively through jazz hands.

33.33% of us are back from the NAWLA T-100 conference in Dana Point. This week's episode covers what made T-100 different from Traders Market, why smaller and more intimate sometimes means bigger picture, and what Chelsea brought back to her company from being in a room with some of the top leaders in the lumber industry. They also celebrate a historic moment, Donna Whitaker becoming the first female recipient of the Mulrooney Award, and break down the week's biggest industry news including Canfor completing its merger with Canfor Pulp, Arclin closing its acquisition of Willamette Valley Company, Trimlight acquiring Harris Door and Millwork, and Sherwood continuing its steady expansion with a new distribution facility opening in Danville, PA. Then it's time to talk market. Mortgage rates are back up to 6.22%, applications dropped nearly 11%, and the Fed held rates steady at 3.5-3.75% in an 11-1 vote. Lumber prices cracked $500 again, is that a sign of spring momentum, or are we still in a wait-and-see market? All that plus Trent's backyard shed project, a missing Natalie, and the debut of a potential AI co-host called Natbot.138. Newswire Update: T-100, Donna Whitaker Makes History, Lumber Prices Going Up

This week Trent Johnson and Chelsea Zuccato cover: Windy city weather and atmospheric river in Oregon. Flatbed spot rates hit their highest point since October 2022, If you're buying or selling lumber on delivered pricing, this matters right now. The mood at the LMC show in Chicago was positive with no negativity on the floor. Mortgage applications ticked up but so did mortgage rates. March is going to tell us a lot! Patrick Lumber Co. is producing longer-length Alder, and yes, the product is beautiful and the industry perception that PNW hardwood trees don't grow long enough is simply not true. Ashley Townsend Cribb is stepping down as EVP of Wood Products at Rayonier, to take a CEO role elsewhere. We're keeping an eye on where she lands! Congrats to Andy Beckerman on his new VP of Vendor Relations role at Gulf Eagle. Questions Comments? Email us at lumberslingers@gmail.com

The International Mass Timber Conference is three weeks out and this year it's doing something we've never seen before. We sat down with Shelby Cherry, Show Director for the International Mass Timber Conference, to get the inside track on what's coming — and let's just say the 10th anniversary is going to be a good time! We're talking live investor pitches, a keynote from one of the most influential architects in the world, sustainability executives from two of the biggest tech companies on the planet, 225+ exhibitors, and a Women in Timber Power Hour expecting 500 attendees. Oh, and Lumber Slingers is sponsoring a student to attend this year — and we want to tell you about her. If you've been on the fence about going, this episode will push you off it. IMTC runs March 31–April 2 in Portland. Register at masstimberconference.com and email us at lumberslingers@gmail.com

Trent's back from his cruise, slightly sunburned and somehow more productive than ever. This week all three amigos are reunited — and there's a lot to catch up on. We're talking a brand new industry column making its debut, a wave of M&A activity putting the Midwest on the map, some notable personnel moves, and the market signal lumber has been waiting on for a long time. Tune in — then email us at lumberslingers@gmail.com

In this episode, Natalie and Chelsea sit down with Steve Rigdon — enrolled Yakama Nation member, former general manager of Yakama Forest Products, and current Tribal Partnership & Resource Stewardship Manager at Sustainable Northwest. Steve shares his remarkable journey from wildland firefighter to mill GM to policy advocate, and what it means to steward forests the way Indigenous communities have for millennia. The conversation covers the Portland Airport mass timber project, what "social license" really means for the timber industry, how tribes are connecting with private landowners and manufacturers, and why active forest management — not hands-off preservation — is the key to avoiding catastrophic fire and economic collapse. Steve also opens up about the personal sacrifices of running a mill and why finding balance led him to his most impactful work yet. Got questions or want to connect with a tribal wood supplier? Email us at lumberslingers@gmail.com.

Trent's on vacation, which means Natalie and Chelsea are flying solo - and things get wonderfully unfiltered. The episode kicks off with breaking news: the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling against Trump's sweeping tariffs. Spoiler: it's mostly a nothing burger for lumber, since softwood falls under Section 232. From there, the duo breaks down spring lumber inventory sentiment, covers Builders First Source's Q4 results, and takes a detour into why basis points exist (turns out there's a real reason). The conversation evolves into recursive AI, Elon Musk's Mars ambitions, SpaceX going public, alien orbs off the California coast, and what humans do with themselves when AI takes over all the work. Light Friday content, heavy existential questions. Have thoughts on the episode? Email us at lumberslingers@gmail.com.

Big week for Patrick Lumber as Chelsea Zuccato moves into VP of Sales & Marketing, plus leadership updates from Lena Jacobson and John Quast. The industry's buzzing over QXO's $2.25 billion acquisition of Kodiak Building Partners. Trent breaks down Q4 earnings from West Fraser and Interfor, and the crew debates whether it's time to drop the word "cautiously" from their market outlook. Mortgage rates flirt with sub-6%, lumber prices climb toward $500, and somehow (we know how) the conversation lands on AI manners, casino hot seats, and Bitcoin buying opportunities. Questions? Email us at Lumberslingers@gmail.com

In this episode of Lumber Slingers, Chelsea and Trent kick things off with a little pop-culture fun before diving into what’s happening across the lumber and housing markets. The conversation covers several major industry updates, including the official close of the Rainier–PotlatchDeltic merger, leadership transitions at Romack, and a production realignment announcement from Roseburg Forest Products that impacts operations in Oregon. While some of the news brings optimism around modernization and long-term strategy, the hosts also take time to acknowledge the real human impact of workforce reductions and encourage industry support where possible. On the market side, Trent breaks down the latest lumber pricing trends, mortgage rate stability, and a dip in mortgage applications, discussing how extreme winter weather across much of the U.S. may be temporarily distorting housing demand. Chelsea adds regional insight from the Pacific Northwest, where strong real estate activity suggests pent-up demand could surface as weather conditions improve. The episode also highlights positive momentum elsewhere, including 84 Lumber’s new California store opening, signaling continued investment and confidence in key markets. To wrap things up, the conversation shifts from lumber to the Super Bowl, complete with snack plans, team loyalties, playful rivalry, and a friendly swag bet on the game’s outcome. A mix of industry insight, real-world context, and lighthearted banter, this episode is classic Lumber Slingers. Questions / Comments? Email us at lumberslingers@gmail.com

Black Pink fandom, music video nostalgia, and why hawkish is apparently the Fed’s favorite bird. This week on Lumber Slingers, we cover a packed news cycle-starting with pop culture and ending deep in the lumber markets. We break down the surprise nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Fed Chair, what his historically hawkish stance could mean for inflation and interest rates, and why the Fed’s decision to hold rates steady still leaves housing in limbo. Mortgage rates hover just above 6%, applications are down, and everyone’s waiting for a real catalyst. On the lumber side, consolidation continues at full speed. We also highlight key leadership appointments across the industry and preview earnings season, including Weyerhaeuser’s latest results. To wrap it up, we check in on lumber pricing momentum, which continues to trend upward month-over-month—suggesting demand may be firmer than expected heading into February. Lets be optimistic!

Real Housewives of Boring, Oregon: confirmed by a 65-year-old waitress at brunch. Also: Trent just admitted he listens to MP3s. Yes, in 2026 Lumber news hits: a couple M&A items, production curtailments vs. closures, a James Hardie footprint optimization , and a positive expansion announcement. Then the macro corner: 30-year mortgage rates hovering up and a big jump in mortgage applications. The episode closes with a landowner fun fact: America’s biggest private landowner title shifting from Red Emmerson to Stan Kroenke after a major New Mexico purchase. Questions? Email us at lumberslingers@gmail.com

Chelsea and Trent ease into the new year catching up on holiday travel mishaps and family time to a fast-moving start to the year in forest products, this episode captures exactly how January feels: full speed, no warm-up. Inside this episode: A look at how the holidays actually went (blizzards, extended stays, Fortnite wins, and all) Early-year momentum in mergers & acquisitions across the building materials space Builders FirstSource acquiring Premium Building Components in New York Adams Group expanding through the acquisition of Millrite Woodworking in Florida Leadership updates at Patrick Industries What a “goodwill impairment” really means (explained simply) Updated operational outlook from West Fraser Brand consolidation as Palmer-Donavin transitions Diamond Hill Plywood fully under one name Mortgage application trends and where rates are sitting to start the year This episode is a reminder that the forest products industry doesn’t slow down! Even when the holiday lights come down. Grab a coffee and jump into what’s shaping the early weeks of 2026. Questions? Comments? Email Us at Lumberslingers@gmail.com

It’s a full-on hat day as Natalie, Chelsea, and Trent kick off with swag talk.. Then they run through a rapid-fire lumber news roundup: major acquisitions, mill curtailments and closures, leadership changes, mortgage data, and Madison’s Lumber Price Index—before signing off for a Christmas break and teeing up what could get interesting in early 2026. Email us Lumberslingers@gmail.com

In this special crossover episode, we’re rebroadcasting our recent appearance on Get Real with Rick Dancer. Rick flips the script and interviews us about how Lumber Slingers started, why we’re so passionate about changing the narrative around timber, and what it looks like to build a people-first culture at Patrick Lumber Company. We talk about everything from making lumber “sexy” again and attracting new talent to the industry, to friendship in leadership, networking without being cringe, and why listening and authenticity matter more than ever. If you’re curious about the Truth About Timber, how modern mills really operate, or what it’s like to help run a growing lumber company, this one’s for you. Questions or comments? Email us at LumberSlingers@gmail.com Want the video version? Check out the Lumber Slingers channel on YouTube.

Natalie, Trent, and Chelsea kick things off with some classic airport chaos. They circle through Kansas City’s new airport (featuring Patrick Lumber hemlock), detour to South Dakota’s Corn Palace, and then get into the actual news: Stella-Jones closing on Brooks Manufacturing, BlueLinx expanding, a new Mead Lumber yard, leadership changes at Roy O'Martin, mortgage-rate chatter (including portable mortgages and 50-year terms), and lumber prices dipping. Questions or comments? Email us at LumberSlingers@gmail.com Want the video version? Check out the Lumber Slingers channel on YouTube.

Live from NAWLA Traders Market, we trade booth noise for breaking news: BlueLinx buys Disdero, Chinook strikes a deal to acquire South Coast, West Fraser announces permanent closures, and Trex expands distribution in Michigan. Plus: travel chaos watch, swag report, and a lightning round on mortgage rates, apps, Madison’s prices, and (yes) the “word of the year.” Questions or comments? email us at Lumberslingers@gmail.com Want the video version? Check out our YouTube channel: search “Lumber Slingers” and subscribe.

Happy Halloween from the Lumber Slingers crew! 🎃 We open with costumes (yes, Trent’s a giant hot dog), glass vs. plastic vs. “just use your hands” for coffee, and then roll into the numbers: a fresh quarter-point rate cut, Freddie Mac’s 30-year hovering just above that magic “5-handle,” and a pop in weekly mortgage applications. Madison’s Lumber Price Index held.. We also hit earnings: UFP’s and Builders FirstSource. Plus, Trex expands distribution with Weeks Forest Products. We wrap with Traders Market hype (see you in Kansas City!) and a big congrats to Chelsea on joining the NAWLA Board of Directors. Questions or comments? Email us at Lumberslingers@gmail.com . Want the video version? Check out our YouTube channel.

122. Newswire Update: Twinsies, Traders Market, and that Commercial! by Chelsea Zuccato & Natalie Heacock