Alexis Halstead, Lumber Jill, at this year’s Apple Festival in Newark Valley

If you speak with Alexis Halstead over the phone, she sounds like a typical young woman, but put a chain saw or an axe in her hands.

Alexis Halstead will be at this year’s Apple Festival in Newark Valley on Oct. 7, only, with demonstrations at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. 

Alexis was not an early participant in timbersport activities, although her contact with the culture and business of the timber industry began at an early age.  Her father and uncle own and operate the Halstead Lumber sawmill. After she entered the culinary arts program at Finger Lakes Community College, she learned that the college had a timbersport activity club consisting of 10 females and 15 males. It looked like something fun to do.

Completing her degree in the culinary arts, she entered SUNY Cobleskill, completing a degree in agricultural business management, while continuing her timbersport related activities. She is currently enrolled in the graduate program at Ithaca College for agricultural education.

Alexis competes in log chopping, vertical tree chopping, two-person saw, one-person saw, and chain saw use. She is part of the Axe Women Loggers of Maine who bring their skills to various venues around the world. Visit their website at www.axewomen.com.

Alexis was the 2016 Stihl Collegiate Timbersports National Champion. In April 2017 she competed with the USA Team in the Women’s International Relay held in Sydney, Australia. She is ranked third in the NYS Lumberjack Association and has moved up the ranks, now being referred to as an “IronJill.” Alexis also does chainsaw carving.

Having females competing in timbersports is still a novelty to many people. Although she feels that the “lumberjills” are not getting the respect they deserve at the college level, she feels better about the treatment of females at the national and international level. There are some “glass ceilings” being broken.

Come watch and marvel at a female in a traditional male role as NYS and the Newark Valley Historical Society celebrate the centennial of women’s suffrage in the Empire State. Alexis will be demonstrating the skills of log chopping, two-person saw, one-person saw, axe throwing, and fire-kettle burning at this year’s Apple Festival on Saturday, Oct. 7 only, with demonstrations at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. She will have a female competitor and possibly a male competitor.  

Since the Newark Valley Apple Festival focuses on the traditional crafts of the 1800’s, her chain saw will stay in the trunk of her car!

The Apple Festival is scheduled for Oct. 7 and 8, and runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at the Bement Billings Farmstead located on Route 38 in Newark Valley. Watch for the signs.