It’s a Fluco tradition: wear flannel, stuff your face with pancakes, and maybe, chug syrup. Lumberjack Friday, celebrated on Feb. 6, is an annual activity at FCHS that gets both students and teachers in the spirit. But what is Lumberjack Friday?

Started by Joey Donahue and Jake Turner in 2008, it was originally just a friendly excuse to go to IHOP and wear flannels. That’s when student George Wall decided to make this a big, annual activity on the second Friday of every February. His senior year, he made an axe and carved his name into it. Then in 2013, Chris Markham made this festivity more organized by introducing a syrup-chugging contest for guys who wanted to be the next year’s leader, known as the Head Lumberjack. Ever since, this tradition has been passed down to whoever can chug sticky, sweet syrup the fastest and get the honor of carving their name in the axe. Last year’s Head Lumberjack, Macen Dahl, handed over the coveted axe to Matthew Bingler, who beat Joel Kesterson and Jake Mills in this year’s chugging contest.

Lumberjack Friday is an event which is unique to Fluvanna. “We definitely never had lumberjacks in Texas, so it was really cool to see the school spirit here,” said new student Shay Gustafson. “Almost everyone dressed up like a lumberjack,” he said.

For some Fluvanna students, this tradition is their favorite thing about FCHS. “Lumberjack Friday was definitely one of my favorite days. I’m sad I have to retire my red suspenders,” said senior Molly Brennan. Fortunately, many graduates continue to wear plaid every year on the day it is celebrated to remember how much fun they had back at Fluvanna County High School.

However, some students just don’t “get” the event. “I think Lumberjack Friday is interesting and entertaining, but since I have never been exposed to it, I am not as thrilled as the older kids,” said eighth grader Andrew Farruggio. There has never been an official explanation  for what Lumberjack Friday is, just that everyone does it. That’s why not many 8th or 9th graders participate- it’s something one has to learn about what it means to be a Fluco.

In the words of sophomore Craig Russo, “This event really brings the school together by showing that we are a force to be reckoned with.”