Rabyn Ratliff
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
