Click above to watch a video from the Raymond, Wash., Willapa Harbor Festival, where the company continued celebrations of our 125th anniversary.
Every summer, hundreds of thousands of people drive Highway 101 through Raymond, Washington, on their way to Pacific Ocean beaches. These visitors are often delighted by the more than 200 metal statues that line Raymond’s streets and docks, giving it the nickname the “Town of Metal People.” But what isn’t as obvious to passersby is the deep local support residents say they can rely on.
“There’s a saying that once you move to Raymond, you stay in Raymond — I moved here when I was five, so I’m proof!” says George Daniel, head saw filer at our Raymond lumber mill. “It’s a great place to raise a family, with the good small-town feel of having neighbors who are always willing to help one another out.”
That neighborly spirit is especially on display during the annual Willapa Harbor Festival.
“The festival is always something to look forward to,” says Kayla MacIntosh, city clerk and treasurer. “It’s one of our main events of the summer, and my kids look forward to it just as much as I did when I was their age.”
This year’s festival, which took place Aug. 1 – 3, received a huge assist from our own Chrissy Doyle, safety manager. She stepped up to co-chair the festival in addition to her work on the Willapa Harbor Chamber of Commerce and the Raymond City Council.
“There’s such a sense of community here,” Chrissy says. “Whenever there’s a need, the whole town really steps up to help.”
Weyerhaeuser was present throughout the festival. Multiple mill employees entered their vehicles in the car show, which was hosted by the motorcycle club George co-founded. Our lumber wrap was added to the stage where local musicians performed. Dozens of employees participated in the parade; our entry included a forklift, a loaded log truck and a float carrying employees tossing candy to spectators. Employees, retirees and family members proudly wore Weyerhaeuser shirts and hats while perusing goods from local vendors.
At a booth where our employees were handing out information, an elderly gentleman stopped to thank them — and our company — for being part of the community.
“Your log truck drivers are very safe drivers,” he said, explaining he lives next to a road our log trucks frequently use. “They’re the best in the world.”
A team from Weyerhaeuser was on hand to help capture the festivities as part of our 125th anniversary celebrations this year, and you can check out the video above and photos below to learn more about Raymond!
