Students cruise toward forestry contest honors

CAREYWOOD — North Idaho is an ideal place for students to learn the importance of forest management, as well as the tools they need to do it.

As such, the Idaho State Forestry Contest provides youth with an opportunity to learn about an “age-old profession that is still alive and well in Idaho,” said Karen Sjoquist, forest legacy coordinator with the Idaho Department of Lands and public information officer for this year’s contest.

“At the Idaho Department of Lands, it is part of our mission to teach our citizens how to use, protect and sustain our natural resources, and that includes our kids,” she said. “We are grateful to have the opportunity to join with our professional partners to make it all happen.”

When the event started in 1982 as simply the Forestry Contest, there were about 35 youngsters who participated. Now in its 37th year, more than 700 students, from Bonners Ferry to Plummer, were registered for Thursday’s event, held at Delay Farms in Careywood.

“This is the biggest year that we have ever had out here,” Sjoquist said.

There were also more than 300 volunteers from numerous agencies, forest industries, local businesses, organizations, schools, and private individuals who donated their time to help run the contest.

The contest has three divisions for students in grades one through 12. The non-competitive novice course for elementary students was by far the largest group with 415 youngsters registered — about 100 more than last year. The course provides hands-on activities and a walk through the woods guided by a professional forester. The kids learn about some of the skills used in the competitive divisions, such as timber cruising, log scaling map reading and more. Because of the growing popularity of the novice division, however, the course itself has grown to 10 stations this year, Sjoquist said. One of the new additions this year was an unmanned aerial vehicle station.

The rookie course is an introductory competition for sixth graders with five test stations, including tree identification, compass and pacing, map reading, timber cruising and log scaling, as well as an introductory silviculture station

The junior/senior division is for students in grades seven through 12, challenging the contestants in 10 areas of forestry and resource management expertise.

Many schools that enter the contest have foresrty programs in place for the students, so even first-time participants like Sandpoint High School senior Garrett Bamer are ready for the competition.

“I feel prepared for it — it’s pretty fun,” Bamer said.

SHS teacher John Hastings teaches a forestry class, which Bamer said is based around preparation for the contest.

Jordyn Teal, a Timberlake High School junior, said it is her first time doing the contest as well, though she did participate in an FFA forestry contest last week. There was a lot more to the Idaho State Forestry Contest than the FFA contest, she said. It did help prepare her for the larger event, however, in addition to a forestry class she takes at school.

“It’s interesting,” Teal said of forest management. “I like doing it, but I wouldn’t make a career out of it.”

Someone who did make a career out of it, for nearly 20 years as a forest service ranger, is Sandpoint’s Homeschool Academy director Melinda Rossman. This was the second year Rossman has brought a group of students to the forestry contest, and said what is exciting for her is being able to grow the kids’ passion and understanding of forest management. The contest is in line with what Rossman teaches the kids weekly at the academy, which is “everything environmental.”

“Appreciation for the environment, and how we are stewards of the environment — it is so important that we continue that,” Rossman said.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on twitter @MaryDailyBee.