A first look at the fallen tree alongside “Van’s Logging” pickup. Partially burned, the tree had fallen of its own accord in the summer of 2022.

To appreciate the massive size of this sequoia, look to the guy standing on top for scale.

Harvesting a tree of this size — 246 ft. tall and 9.5 ft. in diameter at the base — requires effort to match its incredible magnitude.

A section of the trunk cut in half lengthwise. Approximately 500-700 slabs of sequoia wood will be cut from this tree into pre-ordered sizes for signmaking, VanderKraats says.

Work underway, including a tractor employing “single-lane extraction” — one lane in and out to minimize damage to the young sequoias surrounding the site.

Phil VanderKraats, Jeremy’s father, who is also involved in Old Growth Lumber Co., standing in front of a section of the trunk, again demonstrating the nearly 10-ft. reach from one side to the other.

One of the signs traded with the Tule River Yokuts, appropriately enough, touting the area’s giant sequoias.

Giant feathers made of redwood to embellish Chicken Scratch Flats, a restaurant located on the reservation.

Like the sign marking the entrance seen earlier, Signs by Van’s trade includes municipal signs such as this for a Tule River Yokuts fire department.

Signs aren’t the only things one can make from sequoia. How nice would it be to gather around this conference table?

More signs are planned, such as this 32-ft.-wide, eagle-topped archway-entrance sign.

Within this truly beautiful setting an even larger sequoia has recently fallen naturally and further cooperation between Old Growth Lumber Co. and the Tule River Yokuts is underway.

Click here to read the full article on this new company and project.