PONSSE News 1/2011 ENG In English

logging HeroesEarl St. JOhN – ThE rOad frOmMany are sure to know the story of Einari Vidgrén, thefounder of Ponsse, who through his own hard work clearedhis way from humble beginnings through the thickestforests to become a successful entrepreneur. We will nowrecount the tale of another man quite like Einari – thefounder of St. John Forest Products, Earl St. John.Earl St. From his very first steps, Earl St.John has wandered the woods of Spalding,Michigan. Throughout his childhood, helived in cramped and modest conditions, asdid Einari. The home of four had no runningwater or electricity. In fact, it didn’teven have a bathroom. In addition to thekitchen, the house had one room, furnishedonly with a wood stove and a bed. In lateryears, Earl moved his childhood home tothe grounds of his present residence to remindhimself of what he has achieved withhis work.SaWiNG ThE BuckSAn enthusiastic young logger, Earl followedin his father's footsteps to become a forestworker and bought his own handsawas early as during his junior high-schoolyears. One winter, the industrious 17 yearold used the $25 he had earned to buy foodand supplies for the winter months and torent his very first forest machine – a horse,which pulled the logs through the winteryforest trails. His industriousness and in-46Ponsse News 1 • 2011