TIMBER
Best Management Practices are important in both the forestry division and the cattle division. Forestry BMP’s for Water Quality were implemented in the early 1980’s. Statewide, Florida enjoys a 98.9% compliance rate! In 200 I, Cow/Calf BMP’s for Water Quality were implemented.
Usher Land & Timber employs these BMP’s on a daily basis. Usher produces 3 things every single day that are important to mankind ….. food, oxygen and water. Food is produced through the cattle and farming operations. Oxygen and water, along with sequestering carbon dioxide and providing wildlife habitat, are produced through the timber crops and best management practices. Ken and Lynetta feel that it’s inspiring to get up every day and to think that the things they are doing are going to contribute to society being a better place. Their workplace is beyond beautiful, in their opinion, and that in itself makes it rewarding. They operate a family business so they get to work with family and friends who are like family. It just doesn’t get any better than that! See full details on our operation here.
Eric Handley – Forester
Eric is a 2009 graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Finance. Eric has 2 years’ experience in accounting and has been with Usher since 2011 as a Forester. Eric’s responsibilities include buying timber for Usher’s crews to harvest as well as overseeing the day to day operations of the Logging and Trucking divisions of the business. Eric is the person to contact if you are interested in selling your timber. Eric: 352-949-1058 (cell) or email: handlej11@gmail.com
John Fisher, VP, Shop Manager
John Fisher – Vice President/Shop Manager
John is a 1978 graduate of Chiefland High School and started out furthering his education at Sante Fe Community College in Pre-Med. Due to life changes, John joined Usher Land and Timber in 1979 and has been there ever since. John was a lifelong friend and classmate of Tommy Usher who was running the Usher operations when John joined the team. John is the Vice President of Usher as well as the head mechanic in the shop. John and his staff in the shop do a tremendous job maintaining all the farming and logging equipment, as well as all the trucks on the highway.
Spencer Fisher - Maintenance
Spencer Fisher – Maintenance
Spencer is a mechanic in the shop alongside his older brother, John. Spencer joined the Usher team full time following his graduation from Chiefland High School in 1989. Spencer brings a lot of mechanical ability to the shop as he can do most anything required to repair a machine or a truck. Spencer has re-built many engines and transmissions. He also has his CDL drivers license so he drives the lowboy, when needed, to move equipment around.
Johnny Kirkland - Crew Leader
Johnny Kirkland – Crew Leader
Johnny joined the Usher family in 1983 following his graduation from Chiefland High School. Johnny started at Usher as a chainsaw operator but moved up to the Feller Buncher a year later, which he still runs today. Johnny became a crew leader in 1994 and has been running a crew from his Feller Buncher ever since.
"Bubba" Mack, Crew Leader
Willie”Bubba” Mack – Crew Leader
Willie joined the Usher team in 1979 as a truck driver hauling pulpwood. He continued as a driver for 15 years before getting out of a truck and working in the woods as an equipment operator in 1990. In 1991, Bubba took over as a crew leader and has been running a crew since then. He can operate any and all pieces of equipment in the woods but prefers the Feller Buncher and the Loader.
John Hicks - Crew Leader
John Hicks – Crew Leader
John is a 1991 high school graduate of Good Shepard in St. Petersburg Florida. Following his high school graduation, John attended Florida State Fire College in Ocala and graduated with a Fire Fighter’s degree in 1993. John joined the Usher family in 1999 as an equipment operator specializing in running the Skidder, but with skills to run all three pieces of equipment. John took over as crew leader in 2002 and is still running a crew today.
Clint Tibbetts - Crew Leader
Clint Tibbetts – Crew Leader
Clint has been in the logging woods since 1993 running all kinds of logging equipment. Clint received his GED (while logging) in 1997 from Central Florida College in Lake City. Clint started his own logging business, “Dixie Logging”, in 2006 working primarily as a contract logger. While working in the woods and running his own business Clint attended Sante Fe Community College and received his AA in Business Management in 2008. Clint brought a lot of past experiences with him when he joined the Usher family in February of 2016. He immediately took over as crew leader. Today he runs the Loader on the crew that is dedicated to harvesting operations on Four Rivers Land and Timber property.