Clinkingbeard: Loving father, devoted son guns for 10th Log Show win

Corrections: Baratyah and Mila’s name were spelled incorrectly, Clinkingbeard’s father’s death was reported incorrectly, and his father has nine siblings, not six. The Courier-Herald regrets these errors. The article has been updated.

In the heart of Carbonado lives a local logging legend and his family.

William “Billy” Clinkingbeard, nine-time winner of the Buckley Log Show’s prestigious title of “All Around Logger”- and aiming for his tenth – spends this time of year doubling down to prepare for the upcoming 50th Annual Buckley Log Show.

“I work out in my garage and have a speed climb setup to practice,” Clinkingbeard said. “I also use a chainsaw, and my neighbors haven’t complained… yet. In fact, one of them even practices with me sometimes.”

His home, a stone’s throw away from the Carbonado school founded in 1878, is also the place where he met his now-wife, Baratyah, a few decades ago. Walking up to their modern rambler, visitors will see children’s shoes scattered near the teal front door. Family portraits hang in their entry way, and their four little dogs enthusiastically say hello.

A live-edge bar top made of old growth cedar, which Clinkingbeard crafted, warms the kitchen.

“I’ll never live anywhere else,” he said. “This is home.”

The couple has two children. Mila is nine, and Liam, whose full name is also William, is seven. Everyone in the family competes in the Buckley Log Show . Baratyah and Clinkingbeard participate in the Ma and Pa Bucking event, working a double saw as a team to slice a log in half.

“It’s hard work, but I support him,” she said, adding that her arms are sore the day after the log show.

When she’s not competing or rooting for her husband, Baratyah spends her time at the show pouring drinks from their coffee cart business, Clink, and soaking up family time with their children. Mila and Liam were inspired by their dad to participate in the Buckley Junior Log Show, the same show Clinkingbeard first entered at the tender age of three.

“My dad inspired me,” Clinkingbeard said. “I remember watching him compete and thinking, ‘I want to do that, too.’”

Clinkingbeard’s father, a logger and competitor who was also named Billy (William) had nine siblings, some of whom were also loggers.

In 1978, he won the title of “All Around Logger” in Buckley. He passed away in 1999 at the age of 42, and his son honors his father each time he speed climbs wearing the same harness his father once wore.

In true small-town fashion, friends and family stepped up to offer support, allowing Clinkingbeard to continue down the path of becoming a career logger and log show competitor.

Carbonado resident and Baratyah’s cousin, Jeff Carlson, is credited with teaching the then 13-year-old Clinkingbeard how to climb. By 14, he was eligible to climb in the Junior Log Show. Passion was his driving force, not money.

“The prizes when you win are fun, like a Carhartt jacket, coolers, and things like that,” he said. “There are also the bragging rights.”

While he felt pulled to go into logging, Clinkingbeard said there was one point during his senior year of high school when he questioned following in his father’s footsteps. The day after turning 18, he received a call to fill in for an absent logger, offering his first exposure to working in the trade.

“That one day was the worst experience. At the end of it, I didn’t think I’d do it again,” he said. “I didn’t do any logging until after I graduated from White River then received a phone call offering another opportunity. That time was different, and I haven’t looked back since.”

High school sports provided Clinkingbeard with a taste of hometown competition, and after graduation, he needed a new outlet. Enter the Buckley Log Show. Since his show debut, he’s picked up some tricks-of-the-trade which he attributes to his success.

“You can’t over think it. When I was first learning, I tried to strategize how to win events, but I realized it holds me back,” Clinkingbeard said. “Now, what I heard in my head is, ‘go faster, go faster,’ and that’s how I win most of the events.”

While most of the events are speed-based, there is one that requires a different approach.

“Axe throwing is like golf,” he said. “I must stop, calm my mind, concentrate and take my time. It’s hard to slow down when I’ve spent the rest of the day focusing on my speed.”

Clinkingbeard’s talents inspired more than just his own children. The family tradition continued to Carlson’s son, 19-year-old Bo Carlson. Bo is a fierce competitor, taking a close second place in many events. In 2023’s show, Bo lost to Clinkingbeard by just five points.

Jeff Fetter, Buckley Log Show announcer, competitor, and “groundskeeper” as he calls himself, agrees that Clinkingbeard has a solid rivalry with Bo.

“Billy has been ‘the guy’ for nine years now,” Fetter said. “Bo is the best competition Billy has had, and he’s next in line for that title.”

Winning the “All Around Logger” title in 2023, Clinkingbeard broke the previous record of eight titles held by Dave Flanders. With a new record set, Clinkingbeard puts aside any nervousness and feels excited to compete, partially due in part to the opportunity to face Bo.

“Things have really come full circle having Bo into this,” Clinkingbeard said. “He’s going to have to earn it if he wants to beat me.”

Fetter is familiar with losing to events to Clinkingbeard. A competitor since 1982, Fetter refers to himself as the “always the bridesmaid and never the bride.”

“They call me the biggest loser,” Fetter said. “I was even gifted a Yeti cup with that on it.”

Since the beginning of his career, Fetter earned second place spot 24 times. When asked what makes guys like Clinkingbeard take the lead, Fetter surmised, “the winners were just better on those days.”

Joking aside, Fetter did secure two “All Around Logger” victories.

Fifteen of his family members also compete. He has a deep passion for the Buckley Log Show as well as shows throughout Washington State without plans to quit anytime soon.

“When I’m too old for the faster events like climbing up 75-80 feet and topping, I’ll just stand there and do the axe throwing,” Fetter said. “Some guys like Billy have practice areas at their home. I don’t because logging for work is my everyday exercise. I’ll continue to do it for as long as I can.”

As Clinkingbeard attempts to hold on to his “All Around Logger” title for the tenth year in a row, he already knows how he’s going to celebrate after the event on Sunday. What started out as a small group of four or five friends has grown into a crowd of about thirty who accompany Clinkingbeard to his father’s grave in Buckley. There, the grave’s flower vase serves as the vessel to hold a Corona.

“We take the trophy to the cemetery and have a beer to celebrate with my dad,” Clinkingbeard said.

Competitors in the Buckley Log Show choose from 17 events over the course of two days. The six people with the highest number of points move on to Sunday’s final competition. The show is free to the public and takes place June 29 and 30.

Photo by Ashley Britschgi Bo Carlson, pictured here competing in the tree topping event, is Billy Clinkingbeard’s biggest competition. Last year he fell behind by five points for the “All Around Logger” title, but he bested Clinkingbeard in the horizontal block chop, and was also first in the single bucking and Ma and Pa bucking events.