Moss Sawmills Supplies GF Hardwoods' Raw Lumber

Tucked onto the campus of GF Hardwoods is the Moss Sawmills. It is the close collaboration of these businesses that assures that GF Hardwoods lumber has the characteristics you’ve come to expect from when you purchase lumber from GF Hardwoods’ inventory. Sizes produced are 4/4, 5/4, 6/4 and 8/4 with lengths between 6’ – 14’ long. Occasionally, 16’ lengths are available.

Moss Sawmills was established in 1968, and across five decades has made a practice of training and fostering expertise in its employees, most of whom are area residents who have grown up in the very region from which the logs they process were harvested.

Moss Sawmills owns obtains logs from company-owned tracks of timber and also leases standing timber from other landowners in a 30-50 mile radius of its facility. Over time, it has also developed relationships with area loggers who are committed to the same sustainable logging practices as Moss Sawmills’ employees. Logs area selected for Moss Sawmills that are at least 16″ in diameter at an average person’s chest height. Harvesting these trees allows the smaller saplings to grow, creating a sustainable supply of hardwood timber.

The grading staff at Moss Sawmills is trained in the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) grading system, and continuing education is provided. An onsite visual grade is assigned to each and every cut of wood as it leaves Moss Sawmills for GF Hardwoods. Once at GF Hardwoods, the wood is placed in the dry kiln and then each piece of lumber is once again assigned a grade by the GF Hardwoods NHLA-certified grading staff after drying and before packaging for shipping.

The sawdust from Moss Sawmills is used to fire the kiln, and the bark is collected for transport to the sister company, Barky Beaver, for use in mulch, playground chips and other landscaping materials. This zero waste policy is part of a commitment to by sustainability Moss Sawmills and all its companion companies.

How We Began

The late Doug Smith, GF Hardwoods’ founder, developed an appreciation for wood products from his father, Lemuel, who operated a sawmill to supplement income from the family farm.

“Dad put the sawmill in during the 1940s,” recalled Doug, who grew up not too far away from the wood industry complex the Smith companies now occupy in Clay County, Tennessee. “It wasn’t much but just enough to keep some money coming in during the off-season. By the time I was 11, I found myself in the mill, working with dad and the few people we had on-hand to mill the lumber.”

By the time Doug earned a degree in engineering from nearby Tennessee Technological University, his father had stopped operating the mill. After a few years in the professional world, Doug decided to return home to start up the sawmill again. Moss Sawmills was founded in 1968. Additionally, Green Forest Wood Products, a service company, started with only a handful of employees, focusing on supplying milled products for area businesses.

Customers are invited to visit our operations for a guided tour. Arrange a tour by calling GF Hardwoods at (931) 258-3944

The Team at Moss Sawmills

Alvis Scroggins

Alvis works here at the saw shop. He has been with us around a year.

Jonathan Collins

Jonathan is our yard truck operator and has been with us a little over 3 years.

Willy Cherry

Willy is our head edgerman and has been with us for a year.

Juan Gomez

Juan works as our Re-saw off bearer and unscrambler. He has been with us around 5 years.

Terry Rich

"Mikey" is our lumber inspector and lead sorter operator. He has been with us for over 20 years.

Kyler Lynch

Kyler is our Re-saw off bearer and edgerman. He has been with us for a few months now.

Shane Smith

Austin Baleer

Austin has been working with us for one year and hopefully, many more to come.

Cesar Aguilar

Cesar has worked in maintenance and as a backup Sawyer for four years. He enjoys dealing with car parts and car competitions.

Brayden Moss

Brayden is our Master Logger, Timber Property and Land Manager.

Kevin Newberry

Kevin is one of our edger operators and sawyer here at the sawmill. He enjoys riding 4-wheelers and cheering on the Vols.

Tuffy Adams

Tuffy has been with us for five years working as a loader operator. Some hobbies of his include golfing and fossil hunting.

Edd Hammock

Edd has been with us for a total of ten years as a manager of Moss Sawmills.

Roger Dyer

Roger Dyer as a loader operator for a little over 4 years now. Some hobbies of his consists of horse shoes, softball, and hunting.

Bobby Huckabee

Ed Blakley

Ed has been working in resaw for 26 years. Some hobbies of his are nascar racing, fishing, and hunting.

Tony Rybolt

Roger Perdue

Roger has been working as a loader operator for 22 years.

Rexal York

Rexal has worked as a Sawyer for 33 years. He enjoys fishing.

Ricky Trobough

Ricky has spent 26 years at the sawmill working as a manager and saw filler. Some of his favorite sports are hunting, golf, and volleyball.

Tony Trobough

Tony works as the Vice President for both Moss Sawmills and GF Hardwoods. He enjoys golfing, hunting, and fishing.

Tim Smith

Tim Smith has been with us for 50 years! He works as a sawyer here at the sawmill.

DeWayne Rich

Shawn Kendall

Shawn is Yard Manager and Log Buyer here at Moss Sawmills. He enjoys hunting and horse back riding.

Bob Grace

Bobby Collins

Bobby has been with us for 7 years and operates the debarker in the sawmill. When he isn't working, he likes to spend his time fishing.

Calvin Smith

Perry Scott

Eric Rich

Eric has been with Moss Sawmills around 15 years and enjoys hunting, fishing and riding 4-wheelers.

Dwight Rich

Dwight is Manager of Logging and Trucking.

JR Key

Jr. is our Master Logger, Timber Property and Land Manager. Read an interview with Jr. HERE.