National Hardwood Magazine - March 2022

Hazlehurst, GA–The Beasley Group, headquartered
here, is a vertically integrated forest products
company, which starts with growing the trees to
shipping the lumber. The company’s story is a story of
rapid growth and success built on family, faith, and foresight
over the last 50 plus years. From the beginning the
company has grown into an organization operating six
different business segments utilizing the entire tree.
In 1968, the founder of Beasley Timber, Rabun Beasley,
decided he wanted to make a career change from
selling insurance and made the decision to move into the
logging business selling timber. In the beginning,
Mr. Rabun and his wife, Jo Claxton Beasley,
operated the company and built lifelong
relationships with others in the industry, many
that the company still enjoys today. To look at
the business today it is hard to believe it all
started from a few chainsaws and a log truck.
Mr. Rabun developed a harvesting method
used in low lying areas that eventually became
known as “Swamp Logging.” Today, this area
of the company still operates as Beasley Timber
Company, led by family member Zachary
Johnson. Other operations within this division
include Logistics, Logging and Timber Management.
In 1997 the shuttered Louisiana Pacific
sawmill located in Hazlehurst was purchased
This is the Beasley Forest Products’ location in Hazlehurst, GA.
The Beasley Group – Three Generations Deep
Committed to Quality, Sustainability and Vertical Integration
by the family and in 1998 began operations as Beasley
Forest Products (BFP). Rabun’s son, Darrell, became
President and CEO of BFP and a new chapter of the
business began. Darrell’s vision has been, and continues
to be, growth through diversity and synergy. Beasley
Forest Products has grown to be recognized as one of
the largest Hardwood sawmills in the United States. Darrell
stated, “The key to our continued success is with our
team of 1,500 employees, my family, faith and the hard
work of each and everyone who works with us. We have
a lot of great people that are dedicated to our customers
The Beasley Group is a family-run company, with leaders including: (from
left) Zachary Johnson, Deborah Johnson, Rabun Beasley and Darrell Beasley.
and to our Hardwood and softwood business.”
The Beasley Group continues to be a family-owned
business moving into the third generation. In addition
to several of Darrell’s children, Grant, Jordon, Truss,
Christin and Daniel, his sister, Deborah Johnson, and
her husband Zachary also have key roles in the ongoing
business success.
In 2018 a major woodyard and sawmill expansion and
optimization project launched, and the new operations
started up in mid-year 2020. This expansion allows BFP
to utilize the latest optimization equipment, allowing the
operation to more than double the previous board footage
produced in a more cost-effective and efficient manner.
With the additional volume, more jobs were created
throughout the value stream from logs to lumber.
The manufacturing segment includes five sawmills located
in Hazlehurst, GA (2), Sandersville, GA, Denmark,
SC and Ashland, WI. These operations are very diverse
in the species used and the products produced. Nine
different species are cut – Ash, Red Oak, White Oak,
Poplar, Hickory, Maple, Cypress, mixed Hardwood and
pine. The company serves many different domestic and
worldwide customers by supplying grade lumber, pallet
stock, cross/switch ties, and access mats. Products are
Grade lumber is stored in the distribution center.
The Beasley Planer/Sorter and Distribution Building takes in approximately
300,000 square feet.
“The key to our continued
success is with our team of
1,500 employees, my family, faith
and the hard work of each and
everyone who works with us. We
have a lot of great people that are
dedicated to our customers and
to our Hardwood and softwood
business.
24 MARCH 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE MARCH 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 25
“
–Darrell Beasley,
President and CEO,
Beasley Forest Products
sold kiln-dried, green, and heat-treated.
Other operations within the manufacturing segment
are Beasley Flooring, producing both solid and engi-
Please turn to page 34
Here is an example of Beasley’s mats being utilized in the field.
The sales team includes: (from left) Linwood Truitt, John Stevenson,
Brandon Cox, Ryan Collins and Truss Beasley. Not pictured:
Ray Turner.