LAKE PARK — The Langdale Company is continuing to encourage forestry among today’s youth, while hosting the 26th Annual Forestry Field Day Tuesday in Lake Park.

Held in conjunction with the Georgia FFA Association and the Georgia Department of Education, The Langdale Company welcomed FFA groups to participate in the annual event, from 10 surrounding area schools. Approximately 180 students took part in the wide range of competition activities which called for them to perform the actual tasks of professional foresters. Activity stations were set throughout the Southwind Sporting Clay Reserve, and ranged from tree identification and ocular estimation, to compass and pacing, to land measurement, reforestation, cruising for board foot volume, and more.

“We’ve been hosting this event for 12 years and it has grown substantially over that time,” said Hal Rowe, Langdale Forest supervisor. “We have a lot of students who return year after year.”

This year, high school FFA members came from Quitman, Statenville, Folkston, Nahunta, Waycross, Pelham, Rochelle and Valdosta, to test their skills and knowledge in the area of forest management. In addition, the local event also provides practice for students hoping to compete on higher levels.

“A lot of these kids who come and are successful are the ones who do these throughout the year,” said Rowe. “Some go to a dozen or so forestry competitions in a year in preparation for state and national competitions.”

As many of the high schoolers look toward graduation, Forestry Field Day also helps to network students and forestry professionals.

The Langdale Company was joined in sponsorship of the event by Southwind Sporting Clays, Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Forestry Commission, Canal Wood, Packaging Corporation of America and Franklin Staten. Also assisting in the event was Forestry Resource Specialist Justin Sealy, of South Region Agricultural Education.

The Langdale Company’s Forestry Field Day is one of many educational activities offered through the Georgia FFA Association. Each of these events are designed to promote the application of classroom knowledge to real-life situations.

The Georgia FFA Association is a youth organization of more than 26,000 student members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture with 250 chapters in Georgia.

Participating High Schools: Atkinson County, Brooks County, Charlton County,

Clinch County, Echols County, Lanier County, Lowndes County, Pelham and Wilcox County.



The Langdale Company Forestry Field Day Winners

Land Measurement

First: Echols County High School - Chance Maine

Second: Echols County High School - Jared Corbett

Third: Clinch County High School - Olen Hulett



Tree / Forest Disorders

First: Charlton County High School - Zeke Bryant

Second: Echols County High School - Chelsea Lehman

Third: Atkinson County High School - Aaron Cox



Hand Compass Practicum

First: Charlton County High School - Ashley Jacobs

Second: Thomas County Central High - Wesley Cooper

Third: Charlton County High School - Lindsay Wilson



Ocular Estimation

First: Echols County High School - Rob Permenter

Second: Lowndes High School - Matt Clark

Third: Echols County High School - Rolando Canelon



Tree Identification

First: Thomas County Central High School - Cody Palmer

Second: Atkinson County High School - Masin Cribbs

Third: Echols County High School - J D Isgro



Reforestation

First: Atkinson County High School - Brandon Morris

Second: Pelham High School - Justin Pollock

Third: Lowndes High School - Cody Campbell



Timber Cruising for Board Foot Volume

First: Thomas County Central High School - Heeth Brinson

Second: Echols County High School - Jordan Culpepper

Third: Lanier County High School - James Gilliard



Timber Cruising for Cord Volume

First: Thomas County Central High School - Maxx Dupree

Second: Lanier County High School - Thomas Landenberg

Third: Atkinson County High School - Shawn Riggins



Timber Stand Improvement

First: Brooks County High School - Ashley Exum

Second: Atkinson County High School - Luke Joyner

Third: Thomas County Central High School - Brittany Smith



Forest Management

First: Pelham High School - Christy Findley & Hollie Harrell

Second: Wilcox County High School - Cameron Clark & Jeffrey Harden

Third: Thomas County Central High School - Maci Powell & Matt Freeman