NYS Woodsmen's Field Days

Throughout the weekend be sure to visit the Rev. Frank A. Reed Memorial Rest Area located under the Grandstand.

Local authors Nancy Pulling Best and Bob Elinskas, Sr. will be signing their books throughout the weekend (Book signings begin at 10 AM daily)

Adirondack author Robert J. Elinskas will be at the NYS Woodsmans Field Days with all nine of his books available. His latest book, “Adirondack Clubs and Camps” was just published in May. Clubs and Camps records the history and adventures of several prominent camps with locations near Tupper Lake, Blue Mt. Lake, Still Water, Indian Lake and Johnstown. The complete history of the Iconic Gooley Club is also recorded. Bob’s books are among the best ever written for the Adirondack sportsman. Bob will be available to autograph his books from 10-3 every day at the event. He and the other authors will be located underneath the white Grandstand in the Rev. Frank A. Reed Rest Area.

Page Wildlife Center presents Birds of Prey
Free EDUCATIONAL Daily Shows
Located in the Forest Industry Exhibit Hall (Blue & White Building)
Eagle Owl • Barn Owl • Barred Owl • Sparrow Hawk • Turkey Vulture • Screech Owl
A combination of the various birds will be on display.

The first Woodsmen’s Field Days was held in Old Forge, N.Y. in 1948. Conducted to raise funds for the benefit of the Woodsmen’s Club founded by Rev. Frank A. Reed of Old Forge. The Woodsmen’s Club, still in existance today, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping woods workers and maintaining cemetery lots in several Adirondack communities for Woodsmen without families. The Club also funds substantial scholarships to students attending Paul Smith’s College in Paul Smith’s, N.Y.
The fledgling Field Day was a great success with over 1,300 attendees and a profit of $600. The profit was later used to further promote the Woodsmen’s Club program in Old Forge, N.Y.
In 1949, because of the lack of adequate facilities in Old Forge, a decision was made to hold the annual Woodsmen’s Field Days in Tupper Lake, N.Y. It was held there for the next thirteen years.
Tupper Lake was fortunate in having dedicated men who promoted, produced and improved the Woodsmen’s Field Days for participants, exhibitors and spectators. In 1962, the Woodsmen’s Field Days were moved to Boonville, N.Y. (from Tupper Lake), with the understanding that it would be sponsored every other year by the two north country communities. Boonville was chosen because of the excellent facilities available at the Boonville Oneida County Fairgrounds. Until 1971, the event was hosted by Tupper Lake and Boonville. However, in 1972, the Tupper Lake Chamber of Commerce found it impossible to sponsor the 25th Annual Field Days. On being notified of Tupper Lake’s decision, the Boonville Area Chamber of Commerce elected to sponsor the Field Days on an annual basis rather than let the Field Days lapse.
Due to its size and work involved in planning the Field Days, the event was segregated from the Boonville Area Chamber of Commerce and became incorporated as a nonprofit organization. Thus the NYS Woodsmen’s Field Days, Inc. was established. Today, the Corporation employs three personnel – two full-timers and one part-timer throughout the year. In 1982, the Corporation purchased a building on Main Street in Boonville and through the efforts of volunteers and donations from forestry related businesses and organizations, total restoration was completed. Today, the Rev. Frank A. Reed Memorial Building is home for the offices of the Boonville Area Chamber of Commerce; the NYS Timber Producers’ Association and the NYS Woodsmen’s Field Days Inc.
A history of the NYS Woodsmen’s Field Days would not be complete without recognizing the dedicated volunteers who have given freely of their time to help produce the annual event. Today, over three hundred persons make up the “Field Days’ family” of volunteers. The Corporation business is conducted by a twelve member Board of Directors, all of whom are volunteers. Meetings are held each month throughout the year. The Woodsmen’s Planning Committee consists of over 25 volunteers – each responsible for some part of the weekend. The Planning Committee meets in February and then again starting in June, through September.
Held annually the third weekend in August, the three day action packed event now attracts over 40,000 spectators to the Village of Boonville. It is billed as one of the top three lumberjack shows in the United States by professional lumberjacks who compete in fierce competition throughout the weekend.
During the Field Days, you can mix business with pleasure. Exhibitors throughout the United States and Canada display and demonstrate the latest forest industry tools, technology and equipment to attendees. A visitor to the event can witness the art of wood carving and visit wood-related businesses in the area during scheduled tours. In-between-time activities include forestry related seminars, a wood crafts show; a foot race; beards contest; a parade; horse skidding competition; greased pole climb; dinners; dancing; musical entertainment; fireworks and much, much more!
Through the generous support of sponsors; donations from forest industry businesses and the untiring efforts of the volunteers producing the weekend, the NYS Woodsmen’s Field Days, Inc. is able to further its goals and objectives. The proceeds from the Field Days are used to further promote the forest industry. The Corporation hosts a number of scholarships in area schools for students majoring in forestry and/or conservation. In the past, a host of seminars, “safety days”; brochure and safety video; hosting workshops for the purpose of training future limberjacks are just a few of the projects that have been completed and carried out by members of the Corporation.
For information regarding the annual NYS Woodsmen’s Field Days and/or the Corporation, individuals may write or call the office. Correspondence and/or requests can be mailed to: NYS Woodsmen’s Field Days Inc., PO Box 123, 118-120 Main Street, Boonville, NY 13309. The phone number is (315) 942-4593 or email us at fielddays@aol.com

Dedication

THIS SPACE IN MEMORY OF OUR DEDICATED BOARD MEMBERS AND LONGTIME VOLUNTEERS

JACK TOMPKINS OF BOONVILLE, NY

JACK WAS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE NYS WOODSMEN’S FIELD DAYS AND A CHAIRMAN OF THE CAMPING COMMITTEE FOR OVER 40 YEARS

CARL GOLAS OF GLENFIELD, NY

CARL WAS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE NYS WOODSMEN’S FIELD DAYS AND HE WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF INSIDE EXHIBITS, AS WELL AS CO- CHAIRMAN AND CONSULTANT FOR THE FORESTRY SEMINARS.  CARL SERVED AS A VOLUNTEER FOR OVER 25 YEARS

REST IN PEACE CARL AND JACK

The Rev. Frank A. Reed Memorial Building is headquarters for the NYS Woodsmen’s Field Days office, as well as the offices for the NYS Timber Producers’ Association and the Boonville Snow Festival II Committee.

The NYS Woodsmens Field Days Inc. successfully completed the following: Funded three area Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) Schools with Conservation Scholarships and Employability Awards. Six students from Oneida, Madison, Lewis and Herkimer County schools benefited from the program.

Funded two Adirondack Central School Scholarships in 2018.

Helped to organize and support Boonville’s Relay For Life event this past June, 2018.

Funded the 2018 Frank A. Reed Scholarship.

NYS Woodsmen’s Field Days’ Corporation is a proud member of:
The Northeastern Loggers’ Association
The Tupper Lake Woodsmen’s Association
The Woodsmen’s Club
The NYS Timber Producers’ Association
The Boonville Area Chamber of Commerce
Empire State Forest Products’ Association
The Oneida County Convention & Visitors’ Bureau/Oneida County Tourism

All of the above contributions and accomplishments are made possible through the proceeds received annually from the hosting of the NYS Woodsmen’s Field Days.

This year’s Parade Marshal is Steve Pfendler

2024 Parade Marshal was Mark Mowrey

Past Parade Marshals

2026	Steve Pfendler
2025	Dedicated to Past Parade Marshalls
2024	Mark Mowrey
2023	Dick and Sue Fogarty
2022	Jack Thoden
2021	Event Cancelled due to Covid
2020	Event Cancelled due to Covid
2019	Jack Swancott
2018	David Scott
2017	John & Omar Massoud
2016	Bruce Turck
2015	Newell F. Wagoner
2014	Norm & Les Fey
2013	Kenneth A. Lyndaker
2012	George Getman
2011	Bob Sauer
2010	Warren Mathis
2009	Joe Rivers
2008	Ray Spann
2007	Marilyn Lahah
2006	Lloyd E. Zehr
2005	Allen C. Yauger
2004	Bruce Denslow
2003	Ralph & Carol Martin
2002	Richard Rennie
2001	Chester & Henry Kwasniewski
2000	Ernest L. Portner
1999	Euan Greene
1998	J. Claude LeCours
1997	Robert S. McKinley
1996	Robert M. Coscomb
1995	Edwin Yauger
1994	Verner C. Hudson
1993	Frank Bencze
1992	Harry Martin
1991	Ralph Marmon
1990	Pat O’Brien
1989	Samuel R. Parmelee
1988	Elwin Rowell
1987	Charles McHale
1986	William Rutherford Jr.
1985	Frank E. Parsons
1984	Fred C. Simmons
1983	Stanley Freeman
1982	Gerald Laramie
1981	Dewitt Wiley
1980	Lester C. Fey
1979	Gardner Blake
1978	Otto Mathis
1977	Dave F. Short
1976	Gould J. Hoyt Jr.
1975	Olney Failing
1974	Herbert McGee
1973	Francis Moulton
1972	Charles Kirk
1971	Robert White Sr.

Thank you Carol Johnson of Boonville, NY. Carol has volunteered over 50 years at the NYS Woodsmen’s Field Days.

PRESIDENT – CARL E KALK JR – TABERG, NY

VICE PRESIDENT – STEVE FREEMAN, BOONVILLE, NY

TREASURER – PATTY GRENIER – BOONVILLE, NY

STEVE SANFORD – BOONVILLE, NY

RICK GAETANO – BOONVILLE, NY

BILL LEE – BOONVILLE, NY

RUSTY YAUGER – BOONVILLE, ny

JIM WRIGHT – FULTON, ny

RAY SPANN – UTICA, NY

ED RYDER – BOONVILLE, NY

MIKE CAMPBELL – CAMDEN, NY

JUDIE DELLERBA – BOONVILLE, NY

2025 CHAIRPERSONS – NYS WOODSMEN’S FIELD DAYS, INC.

Admissions – Judie Dellerba

Advertising, Non-Exhibitors – Lisa Galligan

Auction – Presented by Messier’s Auction Service

Beards Contest – Joy & Arielle Kranbuhl

Budget & Finance – Patty Grenier

Camping –Steve Freeman & Christie Kornatowski

Church Service – George Stevens

Contests –Jim Wright Sr., Mike Campbell & Eric Gaetano

First Aid – Dean “Rusty” Yauger

Foot Race – Under the Management of the North Country Toe Path Trekkers

Forestry Seminars –Brendan Kelly & Katie Malinowski, NYS Tug Hill Commission

Greased Pole Climb –   Lori Kwasniewski with assistance from Chris Myers

Grounds – Carl Kalk, Jr, D J Kalk & Kyle Hyde

Horse Skidding – North Country Draft Horse Club with assistance from Jennie Hatch

Inside Exhibits – Ed Ryder

Outside Exhibits – Eric Gaetano

Parade – Michelle Bartelotte

Parking – Louie Price and Connor Daskiewich

Rev. Frank A. Reed Rest Area – George Stevens

Sawdust Hill Dig – Members of the Muha Family

Souvenirs – Linda Lee

T-shirt Stand – Claire, Carly & Mary Miller  

Trams – Bill Lee

Tug of War – Lori Kwasniewski with assistance from Chris Myers

The NYS Woodsmen’s Field Days is assisted by a dedicated group of AWESOME VOLUNTEERS—OVER 700!!   THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! TO ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS!

Office Staff

PHYLLIS W. WHITE – EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR

DEBI W. RYDER – EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Phyllis & Debi immediately start planning 2026’s event on Monday, August 19, 2025. They both are employed year-round. In May of each year, the are ASSISTED by Long-time office volunteers

• Marilyn Fowler
• Judy Spann
• Linda Lee
• Linda Sillick
• Barb Sanford
• Pat Flansburg
• Naomi Williams
• Barb Price
• Raemencia & Victoria Williams
• And many, many hands thorughout the summer months that visit the office.