how do you figure how many board ft of lumber in a fresh cut log

Indeed, sir. To calculate the number of board feet in a fresh-cut log, one may use the following method: measure the diameter of the log at its widest point and its length. Using these measurements, you can estimate the volume of the log in cubic feet, and then apply a conversion factor to find the number of board feet. It would seem that for a rough estimate, you might use a formula such as: $$ \text{Board Feet} = \frac{\pi \times (\text{Diameter in inches}/2)^2 \times \text{Length in feet}}{144} $$ This accounts for the circular shape of the log and converts it into board feet, which is a measure commonly used in lumber.