Business
Through his involvement in extracurricular events provided by his local California Farm Bureau chapter, Zane Peterson was able to be a part of logging industry conversations that provided him with the opportunity for legislative involvement that would shape his future career. A young forester, Zane’s parents were involved in the California timber industry via the operation of saw mills and power plants. While an industry that he had always been involved in, Zane is paving his own way in the timber industry today! Most loggers want trees that are 10” in diameter and up while Zane is dealing with trees that are 10” in diameter and down. Chipping is the stuff that “no one wants to do” because it’s harder, costs more, and is less efficient. Zane has used his resources and education to make chipping efficient and, as a result, has very few competitors. Asking the veteran’s what they would have done differently and blending those responses with the opportunity in front of him, he was able to set himself for success. Hiring skilled labor has been one of the biggest challenges for Zane, whose goal is to not pirate employees from fellow loggers. Zane’s team uses the most efficient and most comfortable equipment, which, as a result, allows him to hire the best of the best in the industry. “A lot of people think of entrepreneurs that throw risk to the wind but you have to have very calculated risk,” says Zane, who believes that being calculated in everything that you do is a great advantage. In order to not steal top caliber laborers from his friends in the industry, Zane is involved with Shasta College where, upon graduation, he went back to develop a school specifically for heavy equipment operators. From hands on training experience with field trips to his operation, students get a hands on opportunity to learn more about operating the heavy equipment required in logging. “We have a lot of awesome employees now that wouldn’t have if that program hadn’t been available,” says Zane. Zane firmly believes that community colleges are underrated as they provide useful, practical and career-focused courses and opportunities. Make sure to subscribe to the https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClJpE4tdH2NN6Plj1UIWNwA (AgGrad YouTube Channel )to learn more about career opportunities in agriculture and follow along on the special “https://aggrad.com/introducing-aggrad-30-under-30/ (30 Under 30 in Agriculture)” series! Interested in nominating someone under 30? Nominate them https://aggrad.com/30-under-30/ (here)!