4-Hers show off knowledge at state Forestry Field Day

Oconee County’s team took first place in this year’s state forestry contest. Pictured are (left to right) Henry Walker, owner of Walker Tree Farm; coach April McDaniel, team members Robie Lucas, Lexi Pritchard, Alyssa Haag and Thomas Stewart; Telfair County Agricultural and Natural Resources Extension Agent Colby Royal, and Oconee County 4-H Educator Daniel Queen.

Oconee County’s team took first place in this year’s state forestry contest. From left, pictured are Henry Walker, owner of Walker Tree Farm; coach April McDaniel; team members Robie Lucas, Lexi Pritchard, Alyssa Haag and Thomas Stewart; Telfair County Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent Colby Royal; and Oconee County 4-H Educator Daniel Queen.

Georgia 4-Hers participated in the 2022 State Forestry Field Day recently at the Henry Walker Tree Farm here.

The Georgia 4-H Forestry Program teaches students to identify up to 70 Georgia tree species, as well as common pests and diseases that impact those trees. The forest field day competition allows students to test their science-based knowledge, critical thinking skills and skills with specialized forestry tools. Participants can be a part of a county team or compete individually in the state forestry judging contest.

“The Walker Tree Farm was the ideal setting for our state contest,” University of Georgia Cooperative Extension 4-H specialist Craven Hudson said. “The Walkers led our youth and coaches on a farm tour after the competition concluded. Our 4-H members were able to see real multiple resource management on a working farm. The setting, the weather and our gracious hosts made for a perfect day.”

The state contest consists of five stations: insect and disease identification, volume estimation, compass and pacing, tree identification, and site evaluation. All county teams prepared for the state contest by competing in one of four Area Forestry Field Days held earlier in August and September. Site evaluation is added at the state level and requires participants to consider landowner objectives and make forest management recommendations.

Each county was allowed to bring up to 20 senior contestants from ninth through 12th grades, and 34 Georgia 4-Hers competed individually and as team members in this year’s contest. The first-place senior team winners will represent Georgia at the National 4-H Forestry Invitational in August 2022 at the Jackson’s Mill State 4-H Conference Center in Weston, W.Va.

This year’s State Forestry Field Day winners were:

First-place team: Oconee County — Alyssa Haag, Robie Lucas, Lexi Pritchard, Thomas Stewart

Second-place team: Bulloch County A — Callie Barger, Dorothy Mortimore, Ann Parker, Jackson Thigpen

Third-place team: Burke County — Emmaline Cunningham, Tony Gray, Abbie Morgan

Senior high individual: Alyssa Haag, Oconee County.

Special Photo: UGA/CAES