About
If you’re tired of going to the lumber yard and having to pick through a pile of twisted, warped lumber, look no further than BackCountry Wood Products for your next build!
Born and raised in Quibell, Ontario, Canada, Ben got his start in the Canadian forestry industry at the young age of 16.
To say he knows a bit about cutting, sawing, and building with wood is an understatement!
After working at the local sawmills and as a millwright at Colenso Lumber, he started his own logging company in 1980 where he supplied wood and wood byproducts to the local pulp and paper mills.
In 1990 he took over his uncle’s sawmill in Quibell and since then ‘Ben Leutschaft’s Sawmill’ has remained a family run business with the help of his wife, Susie, and more recently their son, Ryan.
Ben, being a jack of all trades, not only built the the mill still used to this day, but still works in the bush cutting all the saw logs used for lumber production with the old machines he’s fixed up and kept running for decades.
All wood is locally sourced and purchased from privately owned wood lots— a great opportunity for local land owners who’d like to clear some trees from their property using a more holistic approach than ‘big industry’ and still bring in an income.
Using selective logging practices, Backcountry Wood Products helps to minimize environmental impact and guarantees harvesting of choice trees to make that high quality “Leutschaft lumber” that locals have come to appreciate over the years!
Just by buying their wood products, you’re helping to ensure a small community and local wildlife habitats continue to thrive!
Ryan took some time away from the family business to work in exploration drilling in places like Ferguson Lake, Nunavut and Webequie, Ontario as a drillers assistant.
This position included depositing the mining samples into core trays for transport to testing facilities.
It was here that he realized he could combine his love of woodworking and the knowledge he gained working in the exploration sector to make industry standard core trays himself, while being able to carry on the family business.
With the recent rebranding to Backcountry Wood Products, the traditional logging and sawing practices remain, just with some added product offerings.
Now you can get your rough or planed lumber, a variety of timbers, bundled slabs for your wood stove or DIY projects, sawdust or shavings for poultry and livestock bedding, industry standard core trays, and more—all in one place!
Both soft and hard woods are available for your next project!
And if you have any special requests or fun ideas, let Ben or Ryan know and they can help you choose the best products for the job! Custom requests are welcomed!
With over half a century of experience between the two of them, you’re sure to find the expertise and quality craftsmanship you need for your next project!