St. Agatha arborist wins Maine Game of Logging competition

GREENVILLE — When it comes to speed cutting, precision felling and sawing of trees, there is no better arborist in Maine than Andrew Marquis of St. Agatha, according to the results of the Game of Logging at the 28th annual Forest Heritage Days, which took place in Greenville on Saturday, Aug. 10.

Marquis, 42, proprietor of Marquis Tree Works in St. Agatha, took first place in the competition this year.

“It’s a good skills test basically,” Marquis said. “It’s a really tough competition, extremely difficult, but also, I enjoy going down there. It’s a lot of fun.”

Photo courtesy of Marquis Tree Works
GAME OF LOGGING WINNER — Andrew Marquis of St. Agatha competes in the Game of Logging at the 28th annual Forest Heritage Days in Greenville on Saturday, Aug. 10. Marquis took first place in the event.

Marquis is a 1995 Wisdom High School graduate who has operated Marquis Tree Works for 11 years.

He earned an associate’s degree in science of forestry in 2001 and a bachelor’s degree in public safety in 2003, both from the University of Maine at Fort Kent.

Marquis Tree Works serves clients from Allagash to Van Buren to Portland to Boston, although the majority of their clients are in the St. John Valley.

“A lot of people think we just go in and cut trees, but there is so much more to it than that. You need to know what you’re doing. If you screw up a little bit, you’re going to screw up a lot,” Marquis said. “I’m pretty proud of what we do and how well we do it.”

Marquis, an Eagle Scout who served in the U.S. Army 1995-1999, said he enjoys his job because he loves meeting people and being outdoors.

“I’ve been very, very lucky and blessed that it has gone the way it has; without my clients I wouldn’t be here doing what I do,” he said. “I can’t thank the people enough in the community. I’m very fortunate that they call me and are willing to hire me to do what we do. Who doesn’t like to play with trucks and chainsaws and tractors?”

“I am also very thankful for my family because they put up with the many long days and long mornings I work, just like any logger or farmer,” Marquis added.

Marquis and his love of 16 years, Tonya Michaud, are the proud parents of sons Tanner, 10, and Drew, 7. Golden retrievers Timber and Tucker are also beloved members of the family. Andrew Marquis’ parents are Robert and Odette Marquis of Frenchville.