New Fluco family members might have been confused when they saw upperclassmen adorned in flannels, jeans, and boots on Feb. 6. However, Lumberjack Friday, as the day is called, is actually a long-standing–although unsanctioned–tradition for Fluco students.

Lumberjack Friday was first introduced to Flucos by former students Joey Donahue and Jake Turner in 2008. On a Friday at the end of January or early February, upperclassmen arrive at IHOP in Zions Crossroads dressed in their finest lumberjack attire to feast upon buttermilk pancakes and ready themselves for what has become known as “the lumberjack challenge.”

According to Fluco lore, by 2013, former Fluco Chris Markham, who now teaches at Fluvanna Middle School, had added the idea of having juniors battle by chugging a bottle of maple syrup. Whoever managed to chug the rich, sticky syrup the fastest earned the title of “Head Lumberjack.”To this day, the annual victor receives an axe, given by the previous head lumberjack, and becomes the new head lumberjack for the year to come.

Several weeks ago, senior Henry Jefferies, the 2025 Head Lumberjack, undertook the responsibility of bestowing the legacy to the next generation. This year’s Lumberjack Friday on Feb. 6 had an abnormal schedule in comparison to years past. Due to snow, Fluvanna County and fellow districts operated on a 2-hour delay, allowing lumberjack to take place at 10 am, rather than the usual 5 am.

Junior Kenny Klein won this year’s lumberjack contest. “Winning Lumberjack Friday was pretty fun, except for how I felt afterwards. Glad to know I’m the best syrup chugger in the school, though,” said Klein.

Junior Maddox Quilling suggests there’s more behind the event than just pancakes and flannel. “It’s an experience that embodies what it means to be uniquely Fluvannanian,” said Quiling.

For more information on this unofficial event, see this past Beat article from 2024.