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Society of American Foresters

Society of American Foresters Support FFA Forestry Competition

One hundred thirty-three kids representing 38 states competed in the national forestry activities at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana as part of the annual FFA convention. Several members of the Indiana Society of SAF were instrumental in coordinating the event.

The 4-person team from Hermitage, Arkansas took first place of the 38 teams, each representing their State's winning forestry team from across the country at the annual FFA Forestry Career Development Event. Several Indiana Society SAF members were on hand to coordinate the event or serve as judges for the teams and individuals as they competed at Fort Harrison State Park for the title of National FFA Forestry Champions.

Throughout the year any FFA chapter that can field a forestry team works with their advisor on a set of skills. Each State hosts a competition to select the winning team to represent them at the national event. Donna Rogler chaired the Forestry Career Development Event but had a team of outstanding foresters and other volunteers to assist her on a committee to help plan the national competitive event. In addition to the group of foresters who did the planning, "We had great help from foresters throughout Indiana who took time off their jobs to help coordinate each of the major parts of the contest," said Rogler. "Members of SAF were well represented and can always be counted on to help wherever they're needed."

Rogler explained each state is allowed four members on their team to compete. Some events are scored as a team, and some events are individual scores that then contribute to the team total. "Most states did bring four kids, but the teams from some states were unable to come for financial or scheduling reasons, and some teams were short a member and a few had an alternate," Rogler noted. "But they all came with enthusiasm and we were impressed with how much preparation they had done before coming."

Several foresters served as judges which is likely the best face-to-face opportunity to interact with individual students. All the judges agreed that the students they worked with were a great group of kids. SAF member, Tom Thake said, "Some of the teams were obviously more prepared than others, but I talked to a few kids who were very well versed on forestry and not only knew the terms, but were motivated and enthusiastic on managing forests. Some wanted to be loggers, others wanted to be foresters, but most of them saw themselves working in the woods."

Rogler explained that though the kids were given a list of about a dozen possible topics, they didn't know what the questions would be until they got there. The 2007 topic selected was prescribed fire. She said, "We wanted to find an issue that related to current events and something that kids across the country could identify with. We thought with all the news about California fires, that this was something they'd know something about."

Each student was given 10 minutes to answer a series of questions related to controlled fire. "A few used the entire time and were articulate in all of their answers," said Thake. "Others had a more limited grasp of options, and a couple admitted right up front that they really didn't know much about the topic. But in other cases they actually didn't have enough time to tell us everything they wanted to say about the topic."

The teams all completed a comprehensive written test the day before the field competition. The day of the competition they had a series of field events that were either individual or team events. These included tree identification, map interpretaion, scaling and volume determination, and identifying 20 different forestry tools. Various members of Rogler's committee were responsible for setting up each field event.

"For instance," Rogler explained, "Phil Wagner has taken charge and done the forestry tools. He selects 20 tools from the list that the students have to identify and most of us acknowledge there are always a couple in there that we don't even know what they are so he keeps it challenging." She said other SAF members have come forward and helped with other aspects. Sam Carman has volunteered to do the tree identification. "Since we can't cater entirely to the eastern states, we actually get trees species from local nursery that would be found out west or in the south so we have a good cross-section of trees from across the country," noted Rogler. Other SAF members coordinate the map exercise and the timber scaling. Rogler marvels at how well everyone pulls together to pull off the event.

In the 2007 competition, Arkansas took first place, Georgia second, Florida third, and Missouri forth place. The winning team and the top 22 placing individuals all receive scholarships for post-secondary education. The forestry competition is sponsored by Husqvarna.

While the kids were participating in the competition their advisors were offered a tour of Indiana wood products operations in the area including the Wooley Lumber Company and the Putnamville Correctional Facility which runs a forest management operation and sawmill. Rogler also prepared packets on forestry for each of the advisors to give their students on forestry in Indiana and careers in forestry.

"It was just an amazing day for the students and foresters alike," said Thake, "how often do we get to meet and help mentor the foresters of the future! Based on the kids I met, I think our forests will be in good hands."