33.33% of us are back from the NAWLA T-100 conference in Dana Point. This week's episode covers what made T-100 different from Traders Market, why smaller and more intimate sometimes means bigger picture, and what Chelsea brought back to her company from being in a room with some of the top leaders in the lumber industry.

They also celebrate a historic moment, Donna Whitaker becoming the first female recipient of the Mulrooney Award, and break down the week's biggest industry news including Canfor completing its merger with Canfor Pulp, Arclin closing its acquisition of Willamette Valley Company, Trimlight acquiring Harris Door and Millwork, and Sherwood continuing its steady expansion with a new distribution facility opening in Danville, PA.

Then it's time to talk market. Mortgage rates are back up to 6.22%, applications dropped nearly 11%, and the Fed held rates steady at 3.5-3.75% in an 11-1 vote. Lumber prices cracked $500 again, is that a sign of spring momentum, or are we still in a wait-and-see market?

All that plus Trent's backyard shed project, a missing Natalie, and the debut of a potential AI co-host called Natbot.138. Newswire Update: T-100, Donna Whitaker Makes History, Lumber Prices Going Up

This week Trent Johnson and Chelsea Zuccato cover:

Windy city weather and atmospheric river in Oregon. Flatbed spot rates hit their highest point since October 2022, If you're buying or selling lumber on delivered pricing, this matters right now. The mood at the LMC show in Chicago was positive with no negativity on the floor. Mortgage applications ticked up but so did mortgage rates. March is going to tell us a lot! Patrick Lumber Co. is producing longer-length Alder, and yes, the product is beautiful and the industry perception that PNW hardwood trees don't grow long enough is simply not true. Ashley Townsend Cribb is stepping down as EVP of Wood Products at Rayonier, to take a CEO role elsewhere. We're keeping an eye on where she lands!

Congrats to Andy Beckerman on his new VP of Vendor Relations role at Gulf Eagle.

Questions Comments?

Email us at [email protected]

The International Mass Timber Conference is three weeks out and this year it's doing something we've never seen before. We sat down with Shelby Cherry, Show Director for the International Mass Timber Conference, to get the inside track on what's coming — and let's just say the 10th anniversary is going to be a good time!

We're talking live investor pitches, a keynote from one of the most influential architects in the world, sustainability executives from two of the biggest tech companies on the planet, 225+ exhibitors, and a Women in Timber Power Hour expecting 500 attendees.

Oh, and Lumber Slingers is sponsoring a student to attend this year — and we want to tell you about her.

If you've been on the fence about going, this episode will push you off it.

IMTC runs March 31–April 2 in Portland. Register at masstimberconference.com and email us at [email protected]

Trent's back from his cruise, slightly sunburned and somehow more productive than ever. This week all three amigos are reunited — and there's a lot to catch up on.

We're talking a brand new industry column making its debut, a wave of M&A activity putting the Midwest on the map, some notable personnel moves, and the market signal lumber has been waiting on for a long time.

Tune in — then email us at [email protected]

In this episode, Natalie and Chelsea sit down with Steve Rigdon — enrolled Yakama Nation member, former general manager of Yakama Forest Products, and current Tribal Partnership & Resource Stewardship Manager at Sustainable Northwest. Steve shares his remarkable journey from wildland firefighter to mill GM to policy advocate, and what it means to steward forests the way Indigenous communities have for millennia. The conversation covers the Portland Airport mass timber project, what "social license" really means for the timber industry, how tribes are connecting with private landowners and manufacturers, and why active forest management — not hands-off preservation — is the key to avoiding catastrophic fire and economic collapse. Steve also opens up about the personal sacrifices of running a mill and why finding balance led him to his most impactful work yet.

Got questions or want to connect with a tribal wood supplier? Email us at [email protected].

Trent's on vacation, which means Natalie and Chelsea are flying solo - and things get wonderfully unfiltered. The episode kicks off with breaking news: the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling against Trump's sweeping tariffs. Spoiler: it's mostly a nothing burger for lumber, since softwood falls under Section 232.

From there, the duo breaks down spring lumber inventory sentiment, covers Builders First Source's Q4 results, and takes a detour into why basis points exist (turns out there's a real reason). The conversation evolves into recursive AI, Elon Musk's Mars ambitions, SpaceX going public, alien orbs off the California coast, and what humans do with themselves when AI takes over all the work. Light Friday content, heavy existential questions.

Have thoughts on the episode? Email us at [email protected].

Big week for Patrick Lumber as Chelsea Zuccato moves into VP of Sales & Marketing, plus leadership updates from Lena Jacobson and John Quast. The industry's buzzing over QXO's $2.25 billion acquisition of Kodiak Building Partners. Trent breaks down Q4 earnings from West Fraser and Interfor, and the crew debates whether it's time to drop the word "cautiously" from their market outlook. Mortgage rates flirt with sub-6%, lumber prices climb toward $500, and somehow (we know how) the conversation lands on AI manners, casino hot seats, and Bitcoin buying opportunities.

Questions? Email us at [email protected]

In this episode of Lumber Slingers, Chelsea and Trent kick things off with a little pop-culture fun before diving into what’s happening across the lumber and housing markets.

The conversation covers several major industry updates, including the official close of the Rainier–PotlatchDeltic merger, leadership transitions at Romack, and a production realignment announcement from Roseburg Forest Products that impacts operations in Oregon. While some of the news brings optimism around modernization and long-term strategy, the hosts also take time to acknowledge the real human impact of workforce reductions and encourage industry support where possible.

On the market side, Trent breaks down the latest lumber pricing trends, mortgage rate stability, and a dip in mortgage applications, discussing how extreme winter weather across much of the U.S. may be temporarily distorting housing demand. Chelsea adds regional insight from the Pacific Northwest, where strong real estate activity suggests pent-up demand could surface as weather conditions improve.

The episode also highlights positive momentum elsewhere, including 84 Lumber’s new California store opening, signaling continued investment and confidence in key markets.

To wrap things up, the conversation shifts from lumber to the Super Bowl, complete with snack plans, team loyalties, playful rivalry, and a friendly swag bet on the game’s outcome.

A mix of industry insight, real-world context, and lighthearted banter, this episode is classic Lumber Slingers.

Questions / Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Black Pink fandom, music video nostalgia, and why hawkish is apparently the Fed’s favorite bird. This week on Lumber Slingers, we cover a packed news cycle-starting with pop culture and ending deep in the lumber markets.

We break down the surprise nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Fed Chair, what his historically hawkish stance could mean for inflation and interest rates, and why the Fed’s decision to hold rates steady still leaves housing in limbo. Mortgage rates hover just above 6%, applications are down, and everyone’s waiting for a real catalyst.

On the lumber side, consolidation continues at full speed. We also highlight key leadership appointments across the industry and preview earnings season, including Weyerhaeuser’s latest results.

To wrap it up, we check in on lumber pricing momentum, which continues to trend upward month-over-month—suggesting demand may be firmer than expected heading into February. Lets be optimistic!

Real Housewives of Boring, Oregon: confirmed by a 65-year-old waitress at brunch. Also: Trent just admitted he listens to MP3s. Yes, in 2026

Lumber news hits: a couple M&A items, production curtailments vs. closures, a James Hardie footprint optimization , and a positive expansion announcement. Then the macro corner: 30-year mortgage rates hovering up and a big jump in mortgage applications. The episode closes with a landowner fun fact: America’s biggest private landowner title shifting from Red Emmerson to Stan Kroenke after a major New Mexico purchase.

Questions? Email us at [email protected]