Arkansas Team Earns Top Honors at National 4-H Forestry Invitational

Arkansas placed first among 17 states that competed in the 37th annual National   4-H Forestry Invitational from Sunday, July 31, through Thursday, August 4. Teams from Tennessee and Florida placed second and third, respectively. Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin were also represented at this year’s Invitational.

Arkansas was represented by Ethan Boykin, Hunter Saunders, Cade Wilkerson, Connor Wilkerson all from Hermitage.  The team was coached by Taylor Gwin and Joe Don Greenwood.

The invitational was held at West Virginia University Jackson’s Mill State 4-H Camp and Conference Center near Weston, West Virginia. The event is sponsored by Farm Credit System, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc., USDA Forest Service State and Private Southern Region, West Virginia University Extension Service, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Forest Foundation, Southern Regional Extension Forestry, Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals, and National Woodland Owners Association.

While at the Invitational 4-H members competed for overall team and individual awards in several categories. Events included tree identification, tree measurement, compass and pacing, insect and disease identification, topographic map use, forest evaluation, the forestry quiz bowl, and a written forestry exam.

Second place high individual award was given to Cade Wilkerson from Arkansas and fourth place high individual award was given to Connor Wilkerson also from Arkansas.