Craig Rygaard is an American logger and reality television personality, born on April 17, 1950, in Port Angeles, Washington.
He built his name on the History Channel series Ax Men. His family business, Rygaard Logging, became one of the show’s most recognized crews.
Who is Craig Rygaard?
Craig Rygaard is a logger from Port Angeles, Washington. He founded Rygaard Logging in 1992 and ran it for years with his sons.
He joined Ax Men starting in Season 2. The series followed his crew through the dangers of logging in the Pacific Northwest.
Craig later stepped back from daily operations. He passed leadership of the company to his son Gabe in 2013.
His son Jason continued the business with him after that. The Rygaard name remained tied to the show for several more seasons.
Early Life of Craig Rygaard
Craig Rygaard grew up in Port Angeles, Washington, a small coastal city on the Olympic Peninsula. The area sits close to dense timberland, which shaped much of his upbringing.
He reportedly attended school within the Sequim School District. Logging was already a common trade in the region during his youth.
Craig entered the logging industry at a young age. He learned the trade through direct, hands-on experience rather than formal training.
That early exposure to timber work stayed with him for life. It eventually led him to start his own company decades later.
Craig Rygaard Age
Craig Rygaard is 76 years old as of 2026, born on April 17, 1950. His zodiac sign is Aries.
He founded Rygaard Logging at age 42, a milestone that later defined his television career. By the time Ax Men premiered in 2008, he was already an experienced crew leader.
Craig Rygaard Ethnicity and Nationality
Craig Rygaard is American by nationality. He was born and raised in Washington state and has lived there for most of his life.
He is of Caucasian ethnic background. His family has deep ties to the logging communities of the Pacific Northwest, a region where timber work shaped generations of local families.
Craig Rygaard Height and Weight
Craig Rygaard stands at an estimated height of 5 feet 10 inches, or about 178 centimeters. His exact measurements have not been officially confirmed.
His weight has been estimated at around 180 pounds, or roughly 82 kilograms. That build suited the physical demands of logging work.
Craig’s rugged frame and steady presence became part of his identity on Ax Men. Viewers often noted his weathered, no-nonsense appearance on camera.
Craig Rygaard Education
Craig Rygaard reportedly attended the Sequim School District growing up near Port Angeles. Detailed records of his schooling are not publicly available.
He did not pursue logging through formal vocational training. Instead, he learned the trade on the job, working alongside experienced loggers in the region.
That practical education shaped the rest of his career. It also became the foundation he later passed on to his own sons.
Craig Rygaard Career
Craig Rygaard spent decades working in logging before television brought him wider attention. His path started small and grew into a respected family operation.
Breakthrough Role / Career Start
Craig founded Rygaard Logging in 1992, basing the company in Port Angeles, Washington. The firm took on jobs in some of the most difficult terrain in the region, including steep slopes and dense old-growth forest.
He built the crew around family, working directly with his sons Gabe and Jason. That hands-on structure became a defining trait of the business.
In 2008, the History Channel launched Ax Men, a docuseries following several logging crews across the country. Rygaard Logging joined the show in its second season and quickly became a recurring presence.
Notable Films and Projects
Rygaard Logging appeared on Ax Men for multiple seasons, according to Craig’s IMDb page. Craig was credited both as the company’s founder and, later, as a co-owner alongside his sons.
He handed day-to-day leadership of the business to his son Gabe in 2013. Gabe went on to expand the operation and became a central figure on the show in his own right.
The series highlighted real dangers faced by the crew, including equipment failures and treacherous weather. Craig himself suffered a leg injury on set during Season 8, yet he continued to support the crew in the seasons that followed.
Recent Work
Tragedy struck the family in September 2016, when Gabe died in a car accident near Port Angeles. He was 45 years old.
Following that loss, Craig and his son Jason worked to keep Rygaard Logging running. Ax Men returned for a tenth season in 2020, with Rygaard Logging still competing on screen after a three-year gap in production.
Craig has largely stepped away from the spotlight since then. His sons Jason and Burt now lead the family business going forward.
Craig Rygaard Filmography
- Ax Men (History Channel, 2008 to 2020) — Self, Owner and Co-owner, Rygaard Logging
Craig Rygaard Wife
Craig Rygaard is married to Kathy Rygaard. The couple has largely kept their relationship out of the public eye.
Details about how they met or when they married have not been publicly confirmed. Kathy has stayed away from the cameras throughout her husband’s time on Ax Men.
She has remained a steady presence behind the scenes. Her role supporting the family business is often mentioned by relatives, though rarely discussed by Craig himself.
Craig Rygaard Children
Craig Rygaard has three sons: Gabe, Jason, and Burt. All three worked within the family logging business at different points.
Gabe led Rygaard Logging starting in 2013 after Craig stepped back. He died in a car accident on September 16, 2016, at age 45, leaving behind his wife and three children.
Jason took over leadership of the company after his brother’s death. Burt has also remained connected to the family’s logging operations.
The Rygaard sons grew up learning the trade directly from their father. That same hands-on approach later defined their own careers in logging.
Craig Rygaard Net Worth
Craig Rygaard’s estimated net worth is $3 million as of 2026. His wealth comes primarily from decades running Rygaard Logging, along with income from his years appearing on Ax Men.
The company’s steady work in the Pacific Northwest timber industry built the bulk of that fortune. Television exposure through the History Channel added to his public profile and earning potential.
The Bottom Line
Craig Rygaard founded Rygaard Logging in 1992 and led it through some of the most demanding terrain in the Pacific Northwest. His crew’s work became a central storyline across multiple seasons of Ax Men.
He raised three sons within the family business, passing down a trade he learned firsthand rather than in a classroom. His steady, hands-on style shaped how the crew operated both on and off camera.
Rygaard Logging continues today under the leadership of his sons Jason and Burt. Craig’s decades in the industry remain the foundation the company still stands on.
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