4-H Forestry Competition Handbook

Introduction

General Information

The Forestry Competition is conducted at junior- and senior-aged levels, but only seniors may compete at the state and national levels.

The Junior Competition is conducted only at the district level and comprises three events.

1. Tree Identification
2. Tree Measurement
3. Forestry Knowledge

The Senior Competition is held at the district and/or state level and comprises four events.

1. Tree Identification
2. Tree Measurement
3. Forestry Knowledge
4. Forest Insect and Disease Identification

Goals and Objectives

1. Develop leadership talents, achieve character development, and make new friends.
2. Appreciate the need and importance of conserving forests as a source of products, services, values, and benefits necessary for quality living.
3. Acquire information and understanding of practical skills in forest management, utilization of forest products, and appreciation of forest ecology.
4. Realize that privately owned forest products provide most of the raw material used by forest products manufacturers in Mississippi.

General Rules

1. The forestry competition will have at least three parts: Tree Identification, Tree Measurement, and Forest Knowledge (seniors will also compete in Forest Insect and Disease Identification).
2. This competition is a team event. A team will have three or preferably four members. Individuals may compete, but they will not be eligible to advance in district and state competition. Senior teams that place 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the district competition, if one is held, will advance to compete in the state competition, with a chance to represent Mississippi at the National 4-H Forestry Invitational.
3. Each contestant must bring a pencil, clipboard, and tree scale stick. It is also suggested that contestants wear appropriate field clothes (jeans and boots), since part of the contest is held outdoors.
4. Calculators are permitted.
5. In scoring, the lowest combined score of a four-member team is dropped and the top three combined scores used as the team total. If a team has only three members, the low score is not dropped.
6. Ties are broken with the highest scores in (1) forest knowledge, (2) tree identification, and (3) tree measurement.

Junior Competition

Tree Identification

1. The junior participants are required to identify 20 trees from leaf mounts. Any species listed in Know Your Trees, Extension Publication 146, may be included in this portion of the contest.
2. The contest is conducted indoors like a "lab practical." Participants will be given no more than 1 minute per station to identify each leaf mount. The contest will have a time limit of 30 minutes.
3. The correct answer for each tree is the common name shown on the Official 4-H Forestry Tree List. This list is derived from the common names in bold print under the leaf photograph in Know Your Trees, Extension Publication 146.
4. The answer given must be the complete, correctly spelled common name as given in on the Official 4-H Forestry Tree List. One-half credit is given if the name is incomplete or misspelled. Example: If the species is "River Birch," then "Birch" will receive ½ credit for an incomplete common name. If "Birch" is also misspelled, then no credit is given.
5. A total of 100 points is possible in this event; each answer is worth 5 points. In the case of a tie, the winner is the participant with the greatest number of correctly identified oaks, then pines, then elms.

Study References

• Know Your Trees, Extension Publication 146.
• 4-H Forestry Project No. 3, Know Your Trees, Extension Publication 1242.
• Official 4-H Forestry Tree Identification List.
• Sample Score Sheet.

Tree Measurement

1. Tree measurement participants will measure three trees using a tree scale stick. For each tree, participants will identify the common name, measure the diameter at breast height (DBH) in inches, measure merchantable height in logs, and figure the total timber volume in the measured trees. The time limit for this event is 45 minutes.
2. DBH is measured in two-inch, even-numbered-diameter classes. For example, the correct answers for the DBH on the contest score form are even numbers, such as 10, 16, 22, and so on. A tree in the diameter range 9.1 to 11.0 inches is tallied as DBH 10 inches. In timber cruising for management purposes, it is common to tally trees in 2-inch-diameter classes.
3. Merchantable height is measured in 16-foot logs and estimated to the nearest full ½ log. For example, if a tree measures 2¼ logs, it should be tallied as 2 logs, because the ¼ log is too short to make another full ½ log. When measuring logs, always round down, not up. Measure merchantable height up to an 8-inch top or a major fork in the trunk. Deciding where to "cut the tree off" can be a judgment call based on species and log quality. However "controversial" trees will be avoided, and 4-H'ers will be given trees that will challenge their abilities to measure diameter and height only.
4. DBH and merchantable height are used to determine volume of lumber in each tree by using a volume table given at the contest. 4-H foresters should know how to find a log volume from a volume table before coming to the contest. A volume table will be given at the contest.
5. All individual tree volumes are added together to arrive at a "plot volume" that will be entered on the score sheet. Calculators are permitted.
6. A total of 100 points is possible in this event. The common name, DBH, merchantable height, and volume for each tree will be valued at 5 points each. A possible maximum of 40 points will be given for the "plot volume" estimate. The "plot volume" will be scored as follows:

   If the contestant's estimate of plot volume is within:

   ±	5% of official volume	=	40 points
   ±	10% of official volume	=	30 points
   ±	15% of official volume	=	20 points
   ±	20% of official volume	=	10 points
   >±	20% of official volume	=	0 points

7. The common name given in Tree Measurement is the same as required in Tree Identification. The same scoring rules as Tree Identification apply.

Study References Know Your Trees, Extension Publication 146. 4-H Forestry Project No. 7, Measuring Standing Sawtimber, Extension Publication 1473. Build Your Own Biltmore Stick, Extension Publication 1686. Measurement of Standing Trees Study Guide Sample Tally Form Sample Volume Table

Forest Knowledge

1. The competition will be a test consisting of 50 multiple choice or true-false questions on forestry subject matter taken from the listed references. The time limit for the event is 45 minutes.
2. A total of 100 points is possible in this event, with each question worth 2 points.
3. Forest knowledge is designed to test the 4-H contestant's general knowledge of important forestry concepts.

Study References Welcome to 4-H Forestry, Extension Publication 1205. Know Your Trees, Extension Publication 1242. Attract More Wildlife Through Timber Management, Extension Publication 1446. National 4-H Forestry - Unit A (Member's Manual). Available through National 4-H Council, 7100 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, MD 20815. (301) 961-2934. The cost is about $.85 each. Forestry Knowledge Sample Questions, Extension MTN 1-L Youth Forestry. The Continuing Forest, 28-minute video. Available from Extension audio visual library. Forestry: An Intricate Balance, 13-minute video. Available through Extension audio visual library. Mississippi Foresters: A Closer Look, 15-minute video. Available through Extension audio visual library.

Forest Insect and Disease Identification

1. The contestant will be asked to identify the common name of 10 forest insects and 10 forest diseases. All species listed on the Official 4-H Forest Insect and Disease List may be used in this event.
2. The competition consists of two sections, with each section given in a "lab practical" situation. Each contestant is required to identify 10 insects or insect-damaged specimens and 10 diseases or disease-damaged specimens. Pictures of the insect or disease specimen may also be used. The contestant is given no more than 1 minute per station to identify each specimen. The time limit for this event is 15 minutes maximum per section.
3. The correct answer for each specimen is the common name shown on the Official 4-H Forest Insect and Disease List.
4. The answer given must be the complete, correctly spelled common name as given in the Official 4-H Forest Insect and Disease List.
5. The answer given must be the complete, correctly spelled common name as given in the Official 4-H Forest Insect and Disease List. One-half credit will be given if the name is misspelled or incomplete. Example: If the species is Nantucket pine tip moth, the tip moth will receive ½ credit. If it is also misspelled, then no credit will be given.
6. A total of 100 points is possible in this event, with each answer worth 5 points. Ties are broken using the participant with the greatest number of correctly named insects, then correctly named diseases.

Study References 4-H Forest Insects and Disease Study Slide Set, Extension MTN 3L Youth Forestry. 4-H Forest Insects and Disease Study Slide Set, available for checkout through the Extension audio visual library. Identifying Forest Insects and Diseases, Extension Publication 1687. A Guide to Common Insects and Diseases of Forest Trees in the Northeastern United States, USDA Forest Service Publication NA-FR-4 (1979). Insects and Diseases of Trees in the South, USDA Forest Service Publication GR-RA-GRS (1985). Oak Pests: A Guide to Major Insects, Diseases, Air Pollution and Chemical Injury, USDA Forest Service Publication SA-GR-11 (1980). Official 4-H Forest Insect and Disease List. Sample Score Sheets.

Appendix

Measurement of Standing Trees

STUDY GUIDE

Purpose

Products

Method

Tools

Diameter Measurement

Figure 1 shows how the tree scale stick is used to find tree diameter.

• Use the flat side of the stick labeled "Diameter of Tree (in inches)."
• Hold the stick level against the tree at a height of 4½ feet above the ground, 25 inches from your eye. Practice is needed to find both the 4½-foot point in relation to your height, and the 25-inch distance to your eye.
• When the stick is placed against a tree, close one eye, sight at the left or zero end.
• The zero end of the tree scale stick and the tree bark should be in the same line.
• Do not move your head. Glance across the stick to the right-hand edge of the tree. Read the tree diameter from the stick to the nearest inch.

Height Measurement

• Pace out 66 feet from the base of the tree, to a point where the entire tree can be seen.
• Hold the stick so that the "number of 16-foot logs" side faces you. The zero end should point toward the ground.
• Plumb the stick, at 25 inches from your eye.
• Sight the zero end to appear to rest at the stump height (stump height is 6 inches above the ground). Do not move your head or the stick.
• Look up the stick to the point where the top of the last merchantable cut would be made in the tree, an 8-inch-top diameter. Read sawlogs to the nearest full one-half log off the tree scale stick.

Practice on pacing is needed to find the 66-foot distance. The 25-inch distance from eye to stick is still the same as in measuring tree diameter.

Official 4-H Forest Insect and Disease List