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