In the spring of 2020, after finishing school at Sutherlin, Hunter Strong exchanged swinging his baseball bat for a hammer. Hunter had no set plan for what he wanted to do upon completing high school, and with the abrupt end of his senior year, he was left trying to navigate a new path in life. As a child, Hunter preferred to “build stuff,” using his Lincoln logs, Legos, and train tracks, and dressing as a football player. During high school, he had no desire for a specific career. However, if the opportunity had come along to continue as a football player, he would have been interested in pursuing that.
Hunter attended school in Sutherlin from K-12 and participated in sports throughout those years. He attributes his experience in sports, such as football, where he played offensive and defensive lineman, wrestling, and at third base in baseball, as a significant factor in his people and communication skills. It was sports that emphasized the importance of being a team member, engaging with others, and the importance of listening to learn. During high school, he developed abilities to become a leader, motivating himself and others to succeed. He enjoyed the woodshop class, where he learned how to operate the CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine, an automated piece of equipment for cutting, milling, engraving, carving, and drilling on wood. He found the Spanish class to be his most challenging class.
Opportunity knocked when a family friend offered him employment. The newly graduated student entered directly into the construction field, applying the basic carpentry skills he had learned in woodshop class to a job at Zerbach Construction. During the three years he was employed by Zerbach Construction, he enhanced his basic carpentry skills with on-the-job training. He gained experience in constructing and installing building framework, floors, walls and doorways, reading blueprints, and following directions. Hunter transferred these skills to a position as lead carpenter for Smalley Sons & Construction six months ago and continues to add to his skill set. While his primary responsibilities consist of carpentry in constructing new and remodeled homes, he also operates heavy equipment moving earth with a skid steer or small and medium-sized excavators. Some memorable construction projects for Hunter include the remodeling jobs at Wal-Mart and Grocery Outlet in Roseburg. One aspect of the job he enjoys is meeting different individuals and listening to their stories.
Hunter resides in Sutherlin and participates in deer hunting, fishing for everything, riding his ATV quad on the Oregon Dunes, watching sports, and playing video games. As a member of the Smalley Sons & Construction, he has joined a group of individuals who were team members in football, wrestling, and baseball, as well as classmates. In the future, he would like to see the formation of a softball team consisting of his co-workers.