Forest Service plays host to FFA contest
MILTON, Fla. – Every year, the Florida Forest Service partners with Future Farmers of America chapters at schools throughout the state to facilitate the FFA’s Forestry Career Development Events. This year’s District 1 event was held Tuesday at Bear Lake on Blackwater River State Forest.
These contests allow students from schools with FFA chapters to test their skills through a general forestry knowledge exam, tree identification, timber cruising, forestry equipment identification, forest disease and disorders identification, and map interpretation. Through the contest, students learn about skills used in forest management that they then can go on to use in forestry careers or in a college forestry program.
Milton High School (Santa Rosa County) took first and third place in the team competition with two entries in the high school division while Poplar Spring (Washington County) placed second. Poplar Springs Middle School then took first and second in the middle school division with Ransom Middle (Escambia County) placing third.
The winning schools advance to the statewide contest to compete again.
Each year a county in District 1 is the host county and the FFS county forester for that county is the coordinator for the contest. This year Santa Rosa County was the host county and County Forester Ian Stone was the contest coordinator. County Foresters from Escambia, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes and Washington counties along with personnel from Blackwater River State Forest served as judges and assisted in grading and running the contest. A total of seven high schools and middle schools brought teams to the contest, with a total of 72 students and agriculture teachers participating. Lunch was sponsored by donations from the following area businesses: Oser Forestry Services, Precision Forestry Services, Tree Longevity Corporation, Timber Creek Services LLC., Tractor Supply-Milton Store, Cabinet Depot, and Farm Credit. At the conclusion of the contest the awards for the winning teams and individuals were presented to the schools and students.
The complete contest results are as follows:
District 1 FFA Team and Individual Placements
High School
Teams:
1st-Milton High School Team A
2nd- Poplar Springs High School
3Rd-Milton High School Team B
1st Place Individuals
Overall- Christian Feliberty, Milton
Forestry Knowledge Exam- Christian Feliberty, Milton
Tree Identification- Christian Feliberty, Milton
Timber Cruising-Zach Stokes, Milton
Forest Disorders-Christian Feliberty, Milton
Equipment Identification-Christian Feliberty, Milton
Map Interpretation-Christian Feliberty, Milton
2nd Place Individuals
Overall- Joseph Godwin, Poplar Springs
Forestry Knowledge Exam-Joseph Godwin, Poplar Springs
Tree Identification-Joseph Godwin, Poplar Springs
Timber Cruising-Molly Graham, Tate
Forest Disorders-Bill Holly, Vernon
Equipment Identification-Jayden Merit, Poplar Springs
Map Interpretation-Joseph Godwin, Poplar Springs
3rd Place Individuals
Overall- Zach Stokes, Milton
Forestry Knowledge Exam-Molly Graham, Tate
Tree Identification-Jayden Merit, Poplar Springs
Timber Cruising-Madison Parker, Milton
Forest Disorders-Warren Ganey, Vernon
Equipment Identification-Zach Stokes, Milton
Map Interpretation-Molly Graham, Tate
Middle School
Teams:
1st-Poplar Springs Middle School Team A
2nd-Poplar Springs Middle School Team B
3rd-Ransom Middle School
1st Place Individuals
Overall- Peyton Henson, Poplar Springs
Forestry Knowledge Exam-Austin Snoddy, Ransom
Tree Identification-Peyton Henson, Poplar Springs
Timber Cruising-Peyton Henson, Poplar Springs
Forest Disorders-Peyton Henson, Poplar Springs
Equipment Identification-Peyton Henson, Poplar Springs
Map Interpretation-Andrew Blevins, Poplar Springs
2nd Place Individuals
Overall- Andrew Blevins, Poplar Springs
Forestry Knowledge Exam-Zach Blocher, Ransom
Tree Identification-Wesley Viers, Poplar Springs
Timber Cruising-Lilly Loche, Ransom
Forest Disorders-Wesley Viers, Poplar Springs
Equipment Identification-Andrew Blevins, Poplar Springs
Map Interpretation-Wesley Viers, Poplar Springs
3rd Place Individuals
Overall- Georgia Fletcher, Poplar Springs
Forestry Knowledge Exam-Andrew Blevins, Poplar Springs
Tree Identification-Georgia Fletcher, Poplar Springs
Timber Cruising-Sophia Swenson, Ransom
Forest Disorders-Georgia Fletcher, Poplar Springs
Equipment Identification-Wesley Viers, Poplar Springs
Map Interpretation-Michael Johnson, Poplar Springs
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages 37 state forests on more than 1 million acres of public forest land while protecting 26 million acres of homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire.
