Elk Creek Forest Products: From Sawdust To Success
“We remain deeply engaged in shaping the future of the lumber industry―not just through innovation, but through care, collaboration and an unshakeable belief in doing things the right way,” – Brett Slaughter, president and founder, Elk Creek Forest Products
Elk Creek’s Douglas Fir No.1 Common & Better kiln-dried timbers provide superior strength and appearance for exposed beam construction projects.
The Legacy And Expansion Of Elk Creek Forest Products
Inspired Vision. Relentless Commitment. These are more than just words at Elk Creek Forest Products—”these are the values that drive every decision, every relationship and every board foot of lumber that moves through our hands,” stated Brett Slaughter, company founder and president of Elk Creek Forest Products.
Elk Creek Forest Products has grown from a family legacy into one of the most respected full-service distributors and lumber processors in the Pacific Northwest. But the story starts long before the first order was ever shipped.
“I grew up surrounded by it,” said Slaughter. “My grandfather and father were in the business—from driving log trucks to working in a veneer and plywood mill in Eugene. I remember wanting to fish on Saturday mornings with my grandpa, but we had to walk through stacks of lumber before heading to the river. I was immersed in wood and sawdust before I even understood what it was.”
That early exposure planted the seed for what would eventually become Elk Creek Forest Products—a company deeply rooted in tradition, but with its eyes firmly fixed on the future.
Elk Creek supplied timbers to construct the frame of this custom-designed airplane hangar built by Ellington, CT-based, The Barn Yard.
A Vision Grounded in Integrity and Growth
Headquartered in McMinnville, OR, Elk Creek is proudly family-owned and operated. The 25-acre processing facility employs over 100 people across two shifts and handles roughly 115 million board feet annually, with 30 million board feet of premium Douglas Fir from some of the best sawmills in British Columbia, the Pacific Northwest and California in process or customer-ready at any given time.
The plant is equipped with a tray sort line, four resaws for fine textured custom cuts, a PET line for precision-end trim studs and a high-speed twin resaw for both green and dry premium rough lumber. Elk Creek offers anti-staining, custom packaging, licensed WCLIB grading and is FSC-certified. With 25 forklifts in operation, the Elk Creek team handles everything from boards to massive timbers in lengths ranging from eight to 40 feet and longer.
A robust, on-site inventory at Elk Creek’s McMinnville, OR, headquarters ensures rapid and reliable nationwide lumber deliveries.
Serving Customers with Heart and Excellence
Slaughter stated, “We consider our team part of the family, and we strive to treat our customers the same way. We don’t just sell wood—we listen, collaborate, educate and solve. Whether it’s a straightforward order or a complex, custom request, we are committed to doing what’s best for the customer, even if it means referring them elsewhere.” That’s what makes Elk Creek stand out: putting long-term trust over short-term profit. The business is built on integrity, quality, service and the belief that success is only real when it’s shared.
All-Coast Forest Products in Cloverdale, CA, showcases precision hand-cut corbels, tailored to meet custom architectural specifications.
Strategic Expansion with Purpose
“Our growth has been intentional and values-driven, rooted in the strength of our vendor partnerships. Our key lifeblood is supporting the vendor,” said Slaughter. “We’ve invested in the ability to merchandise grades out of others’ production so we’re not in competition with our partners—we want them to succeed.”
That mindset recently led Elk Creek to become the exclusive sales distributor for The Buse Mill Company in Everett, WA—a timber cutting mill focused on Douglas Fir and Hemlock. In addition to taking over all Buse sales, last year Elk Creek also acquired McGriff Lumber in Boring, OR, known for supplying green Doug-Fir boards to the South Pacific region, adding resaw, planing and correctional trim capabilities to meet growing demand.
Elk Creek is honored to have acquired All-Coast Forest Products earlier this year, which strengthens both companies’ distribution channels and widens its product offerings.
Most recently, Elk Creek expanded further by acquiring 42 acres and the full manufacturing lines of All-Coast Forest Products in Cloverdale, CA. Steve Bernardi, All-Coast’s chief operating officer and a 47-year veteran, explained the operation’s specialty: “We handle timbers and other products—Douglas Fir, Redwood, WRC and Pine. We’re also a West Coast distributor for Boise Cascade’s engineered products like LVL and I-Joists. Our strength is service—we’re a next-day operation and we always find a way to get the customer what they need.”
It takes a large fleet of forklifts by skilled team members to move over 115 million board feet annually on the 25-acres of property in McMinnville, OR.
A Bright Future Fueled by Passion
As Elk Creek Forest Products continues to grow in size, knowledge and impact, the vision remains clear: commitment to creating meaningful connections—between people, processes and products—and ensuring that everyone wins together.
“We remain deeply engaged in shaping the future of the lumber industry—not just through innovation, but through care, collaboration and an unshakeable belief in doing things the right way,” said Slaughter.
Elk Creek Forest Products provided the nearly 35,000 BF of 3×6 Douglas Fir beams that constitute the lattice frame of the newly installed, mass timber roof at the redesigned Portland International Airport.
Elk Creek’s Team
In addition to company President Brett Slaughter and Vice President Mark Kelly, the executive team is made up of seven dedicated individuals. Beyond this group, Elk Creek has a broader leadership team of approximately 15 people who help drive day-to-day operations and strategic direction.
At the McMinnville headquarters, the sales department includes a team of 12 traders supported by skilled sales assistants. Slaughter emphasized that one of the company’s greatest strengths lies in its unique organizational structure, which empowers departmental leaders with significant autonomy and responsibility. This streamlined approach has allowed Elk Creek to remain agile and responsive without the need for a traditional middle management layer.
Slaughter also shared that two of his three sons are actively involved in the company—one with a decade of experience and the other recently returning to a full-time role. “They’re both passionate about the business,” he said, noting that their future with the company will be shaped by continued learning and growth. “Leadership at Elk Creek will always be about having the best people in the right roles, based on capability and fit—not just family ties,” added Slaughter.
Elk Creek Forest Products is a proud member of the North American Wholesale Lumber Association, the Portland Wholesale Lumber Association, and the Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau. In addition to its active involvement in these organizations, Elk Creek regularly participates in and supports a wide range of industry and customer events. The company believes that meaningful engagement within the lumber community is best achieved through active participation, fostering strong relationships and staying connected to industry developments.
Learn more at elkcreekforest.com.
