History

The Deming Logging Show was the idea of Finley Hays, first president and Bull of the Woods. He gathered some local loggers together to promote the idea of having a logging show in Deming. At the first show the public was charged the small fee of one dollar per person to raise funds and donate the proceeds to an injured logger named Leon Van Brocklin.

Frank Mullen, 1969 Bull of the Woods, donated the use of his land starting in 1963, for the first four Deming Logging Shows. It was a forgone conclusion that the show was going to continue for many years. As such, the decision was made to purchase land and create permanent showgrounds. The forty acres that the show is on today was purchased, and the monumental task of creating this showplace in a park like setting began. The land was cleared, the arena was created and the rest rooms and kitchen/ BBQ area were built. The first show held here was in 1967.

In 1972 the first of many forty foot wide sections of permanent steel bleachers were installed. In 1975 the ground was broken to build the Museum building which is also used as a community hall. The building can be rented and is used for weddings, funerals, fund raising events, dances, and family gatherings.

When the men first started having monthly meetings, just about everyone in attendance was employed in the timber industry. Now the meetings are attended by some members that have never worked in the industry. Throughout the years the Ladies Auxilliary has assisted the men with their many endeavors and have become a very important and integral segment of the DLS.

It would be hard to have the continued success of this organization without the dedicated members that volunteer countless hours to keep these grounds and buildings in great condition. The property, buildings, permanent displays, equipment, and ongoing & continued improvements are the result of dedicated members volunteering their labor and talents for the Deming Logging Show to be able to boast that we have the finest and best orchestrated logging shows in the world.

The Deming Logging Show has for 59 years donated funds to individuals in need of assistance and has been entertaining audiences , showing how wonderful this great Log Show has become.

This is a condensed version of a history of the DLS written by the 2016 Bull of the Woods Brian Pederson