Laramie company turns local snow fences into international lumber

This holiday season, Wyoming drivers braved wintry weather and sometimes treacherous roads to see family or take a vacation. On the worst stretches of highway, the ubiquitous snow fence plays a key role in minimizing drifting and ensuring the road remains open.

Snow fences have limited lifespans, but just because the wood has served its purpose standing sentinel over Wyoming travelers doesnt mean its ready for the burn pile. John Pope founded Laramie-based Centennial Woods 15 years ago after realizing he could put that wood to further use.

Every year, his company contracts with the Wyoming Department of Transportation to construct, maintain and demolish snow fences across the state.

Popes hunch was right, and companies all over the world are enamored with the look of Wyoming-aged wood. Pope was out of the country on business, but the Star-Tribune wrangled CEO Ed Spal for a look at Centennial Woods and where the company is heading.

CST: How did the company get its start?

Spal: The company was founded by John Pope and his extended family in 1999.

He saw a black plume of smoke, so he went to see what was burning in the field. It was old wood. There was no purpose for it once it was replaced he saw this plume and thought, why are we getting rid of perfectly good wood?

CST: What is the process of turning a tree into snow fence and a snow fence into lumber?

Spal: The contract comes up every year, we go through a bid process and we provide better value than others who have attempted to bid on the work.

Weve done our darnedest to be sure we win the bid.

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Laramie company turns local snow fences into international lumber