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NEWPORT – Students from all over the region turned out for the Pend Oreille County Forestry Contest, a hands-on contest for middle and high schoolers educational and career-exploration event for high school and middle school students held at the Indian Creek Community Forest Monday, Oct. 12.
Schools that participated included Newport, Cusick, Riverside, Medical Lake, Davenport and Kettle Falls. Contest categories include compass and pacing, timber measurement and cruising, tree and plant identification, map reading and topography, equipment and tool identification, forest health and log scaling.
Medical Lake was the overall points winner, scoring the highest in compass and pacing, tool identification and cruising stations. Riverside got second place overall, winning the map interpretations stations. Cusick took third place overall, winning tree identification.
The forestry contest returns after it was shuttered for several years during the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteer and retired United States Forest Service employee Olivia Giannasi said. It is organized by the Kalispel Tribe Natural Resources Department and Pend Oreille Conservation District and sponsored by donations from individuals and area businesses. Pend Oreille County Sheriff Glenn Blakeslee attended to help pass out awards.
The competition is recognized by the National FFA (Future Farmers of America) Organization as a Career Development Event, but students need not be FFA members to participate.
Courtesy photos by Olivia Giannasi.
