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Every year, the Florida Forest Service partners with Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapters at schools throughout the state to facilitate the FFA’s Forestry Career Development Events. This year’s District 1 event was held Tuesday at Bear Lake on Blackwater River State Forest.

These contests allow students from schools with FFA chapters to test their skills through a general forestry knowledge exam, tree identification, timber cruising, forestry equipment identification, forest disease and disorders identification, and map interpretation. Through the contest, students learn about skills used in forest management that they then can go on to use in forestry careers or in a college forestry program.

Milton High School (Santa Rosa County) took first and third place in the team competition with two entries in the high school division while Poplar Spring (Washington County) placed second. Poplar Springs Middle School then took first and second in the middle school division with Ransom Middle (Escambia County) placing third. The winning schools advance to the statewide contest to compete again.

Each year a county in District 1 is the host county and the FFS county forester for that county is the coordinator for the contest. This year Santa Rosa County was the host county and County Forester Ian Stone was the contest coordinator. County Foresters from Escambia, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes and Washington counties along with personnel from Blackwater River State Forest served as judges and assisted in grading and running the contest.

A total of seven high schools and middle schools brought teams to the contest, with a total of 72 students and agriculture teachers participating. Lunch was sponsored by donations from the following area businesses: Oser Forestry Services, Precision Forestry Services, Tree Longevity Corporation, Timber Creek Services LLC., Tractor Supply-Milton Store, Cabinet Depot, and Farm Credit. At the conclusion of the contest the awards for the winning teams and individuals were presented to the schools and students.

From the Pensacola News Journal: https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2015/10/08/future-farmers-test-forestry-skills-blackwater/73604836/