FORESTRY CAREER DEVELOPMENT EVENT

1. FORESTRY CAREER DEVELOPMENT EVENT Georgia FFA Association Written by John Allen Bailey Central Region Agriculture Education Office June 2003 Published by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Georgia Department of Education

2. OBJECTIVES • Teach the practical applications of natural resource management practices • Learn management skills through hands-on activities and competitions • Teamwork • Decision making skills • Environmental impact of management decisions • Importance of conservation and sustained yield

3. ELIGIBILTY • FFA members in grades 9-12 • 9th graders that participated in Area or State Natural Resources CDE will be ineligible for the same year • 11 members per team • Top 2 Area Forestry CDE Teams advance to state • Team Activity Members can’t be members of other state winning teams

4. RULES • All General Rules apply • 11 members with 4 designated for the Team Activity (State CDE ONLY) • Participants should be prepared for adverse weather conditions • Judges will be assigned to the 10 events. Contestants should stay with their group the entire time. • Written material will be furnished at the CDE

5. RULES • Members are not to remove any of the material from the event site. • A member can only participate in 1 event • Time Limits • Area CDE – 45 minutes • State CDE – 60 minutes • Team Activity – 90 minutes • Decision of the judges is FINAL

6. EQUIPMENT • Each Participant will need: • 1 Clipboard (free of notes) • 2 pencils • Non-programmable calculator (optional) • His/Her Measuring Devices

7. STATE FORESTRY TEAM ACTIVITY • Only at State CDE • 4 eligible members • If exam is given the top 3 scores will be added for the team score • 90 minutes allowed for this part

8. INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIESReforestation • Participants plant a designated number of seedlings at a designated spacing • Judge gives spacing at event • Planting is graded on the following factors: (10 points each) • Removing seedlings from bag or bale • Keeping the seedling’s roots moist • Placement of seedlings in hole

9. Reforestation • Depth of planting • Straightness of seedlings • Time taken to plant • Minus 1 point per minute and ¼ point per 15 seconds • Spacing (20 points) • Usually 2 rows of 5 • 10 measurements taken • 2 points for each seedling within 3” allowance • 10 question test (20 points)

10. Reforestation • Common Mistakes • Errors on Exam • Incorrect planting depth • Incorrect Spacing • Not Closing Planting Hole Properly • Tiebreakers • Time deduction then oral questions

11. Timber Stand Improvement • Students are given a situation concerning the management objective. The situation will include: • Markets Available • Wildlife and Aesthetics Considerations • Present Condition of Stand • Final Goal of Plan • 20 Trees will be marked • Students will decide whether to Harvest, Leave or Deaden each tree

12. TSI • A Reason is given for each tree • Future Crop Tree – Leave • Non-merchantable – Deadened • Wildlife/Aesthetic – Leave if that is part of management objective • Insect Infestation – Harvest • Disease – Harvested if Canker covers 50% of circumference of tree • Lack of Vigor and/or Growth, Suppressed and/or Restricted crown or Spacing - Harvested

13. TSI • Crooked, Forked, Malformed or Leaning – Harvested if the above is severe • Other • Lightning Struck Trees • Wind Damaged • Mechanical (If there is a question of the survivability of the tree until the next scheduled cut – Harvest) • More than 1 reason can be given

14. TSIScoring • Each tree is 5 points • 3 points for correct Harvest, Leave or Deaden • 2 points for correct Reason • Tiebreakers are the 3 Best Seed Trees, Crop Trees or Wildlife Aesthetic Trees • Common Mistakes • Removing too many trees • Not examining the entire tree • Mechanical injuries diagnosed as diseases

15. Timber Cruising for Cord Volume • Students will measure the Total Height and Diameter of 10 trees to determine the volume for this activity • D-tape, Logger’s Tape and Clinometer can be used in this activity • Volume Tables and a Weight Factor will be given • Diameters are rounded to the nearest inch (example 8.4” = 8” 8.7”=9”) • Total Heights are rounded DOWN to the nearest 5-foot increment. (74’=70’)

16. Cord Volume Scoring • 100 points for this activity • 3 points for each correct diameter • 3 points for each correct height • 35 points for correct volume in cords with a 1 point deduction for each 1% + or – the correct volume • 5 points for correct tonnage with a 1 point deduction for each 5 percent + or – the correct tonnage

17. Cord Volume • Tiebreakers • Tonnage • Number of Correct Diameters • Number of Correct Heights • Oral Reasons • Common Mistakes • DBH not taken at 41/2’ • Not Rounding Correctly (Diameters and Heights) • Not using Terminal Bud for Height Measurement • Misreading Volume Table • Mathematical Errors

18. Timber Cruising for Board Feet Volume • Students will measure 10 trees for this activity • Logger’s Tape, D-Tape and Clinometer can be used • Volume Table, Weight Factor, acreage cruised and DIB at first 16’ log will be given to students • Diameters are rounded to nearest inch • Heights should be measured from a 6” stump height to an estimated 8-inch diameter cut off for the merchantable height. Disregard all defects except forks. • Heights should be rounded DOWN to the nearest 8’ or ½ log (example: 46’ = 2 ½ logs)

19. Board Foot Volume Scoring • 100 points for this activity • 3 points for each correct diameter • 3 points for each correct height • 5 points for correct Form Class • Example: dib at the top of the first 16’ log is 11.5” and the dbh is 15” 11.5 divided by 15 = .766 rounded to .77 .77 X 100 = 77 Form Class

20. Board Foot Volume • 30 points for correct board foot volume per acre. 1 point will be deducted for each 1 percent + or – from the correct volume. • 5 points for the correct tonnage/acre. 1 point will be deducted for each 5 percent + or – from the correct tonnage. • Tiebreakers • Total tons • Correct diameters • Correct heights

21. Board Foot Volume • Common Mistakes • Measurements of dbh not 4 ½ feet • Diameters not rounded to nearest inch • Heights not rounded down to nearest ½ log • Inaccuracy of 8’ top • Mathematical errors • Leaving Form Class in decimal form

22. Tree Identification • Participants will be required to identify, by common names, a designated number of specimens from the official tree list found in the GA FFA CDE Handbook. • Specimens can be full trees, freshly cut foliage, limbs, fruit, pressed leaves, photographs of leaves, fruit, nuts, cones, by-products or any other part of the tree.

23. Tree Identification Scoring • 100 points for this activity • The complete common name should be reproduced exactly as the official list with capital letters where appropriate. No credit for partially correct names. Clearly correct, but misspelled names receive half credit.

24. Tree Identification • Tiebreakers • Samples from the Official List will be used • Oral questions • Common Mistakes • Incorrect spelling • Poor handwriting • Capitalization • Confusing oaks and pines

25. Ocular Estimation • 10 Trees will be selected for this activity • No Instruments can be used • Participants will estimate the diameter to the nearest inch and the total height to the nearest 5 foot (Round DOWN) • Students cannot be closer than 5 feet to tree • Each tree should be classified in one of the following classes: • Pulpwood Minimum 6” dbh

26. Ocular Estimation • Chip-N-Saw 9” – 12” dbh with a clear log • Sawtimber 13” and over dbh with a clear log Scoring • Total of 100 points for this activity • 4 points for correct diameter • 2 points for diameter +/– 1 inch • 3 points for correct height • 2 points for height +/– 5 feet • 3 points for correct product

27. Ocular Estimation • Tiebreakers • Correct diameters • Correct heights • Correct products • Mistakes • dbh not taken at 4 ½ feet • Not rounding heights down to nearest 5 foot • Terminal bud not used for height • Looking at trees from only one side

28. Land Measurement • Participants will determine acreage and draw a map of a plot to the nearest .001 of an acre by pacing • Graph paper will be furnished • Students need a hand compass and non-programmable calculator • All computations should be shown on the graph paper or score sheet • Directions should be expressed as bearings and distances should be to the nearest foot

29. Land Measurement Scoring • 100 total points for this activity • 1 pointwill be deducted from 90 for each .01acre deviation from the correct acreage • 10 points for map drawing • 2 points for North orientation • 2 points for drawing to scale • 2 points for labeling (distances and bearings)

30. Land Measurement • 2 points for closure • 2 points for neatness • Tiebreakers • Nearest .001 of an acre • Common Mistakes • Slope while pacing • Pacing factor not accurate • Reading wrong arrow on compass • Reading wrong quadrant

31. Land Measurement • Un-level compass • Metal objects near compass • Declination not set • Map not to scale • Mathematical errors

32. Hand Compass Practicum • Participants will use a bearing hand compass and pacing to determine the bearings and distances of four designated lines. • The compass course will have 4 different starting and ending points designated by numbers 1-4 and different colored flagging • Azimuth compasses are not allowed • Azimuth will be calculated by students • Direction should be paced and expressed to the nearest foot

33. Hand Compass Practicum • Directions should be expressed in bearings Scoring • 4 stations worth 24 points each • 1 point deduction for 1 degree deviation from correct bearing • 1 point deduction for each foot deviation from correct distance • 1 point added at each station for correctly converting bearing to azimuth

34. Hand Compass Practicum Scoring • No more than 24 points can be deducted at any station. (12 points for distance & bearing each) • Tiebreakers • Bearings • Distances • Azimuths

35. Hand Compass • Common Mistakes • Slope while pacing • Pacing factor not accurate • Reading wrong arrow on compass • Reading wrong quadrant • Un-level compass • Metal objects near compass • Declination not set • Map not to scale • Mathematical errors

36. Forest Management • Students will be given a management objective for the stand • This is a 2 person event worth 100 points • Tools needed: • 10 factor Prism • Logger’s tape • D-tape • Clinometer • Calculator

37. Forest Management • Participants will be required to address the following concerns of the designated stand and the following points will be allowed. • Stand Classification – 10 points • Tree Species – 10 points • Basal Area – 30 points • Volume per Acre – 10 points • Problems in the Stand – 15 points • Cultural Operations Needed – 15 points

38. Forest Management • Reproduction Method – 10 points • Tiebreakers • Tons • Oral reasons

39. Tree/Forest Disorders • Students will have to correctly identify 10 – 20 examples from the Official Disorder List found in the GA FFA CDE Handbook. • The complete common name should be reproduced exactly as it is given. • Questions concerning alternate hosts, damage, habits, life cycle and control may be asked • Activity is worth 100 points

40. Team Scoring • The total scores from all 10 events are added together. The team with the highest total score is declared the winner. • 2 teams from each Area Forestry CDE advances to State Competition • Only the 1st place team at State advances to National Competition • Only 4 members from the State Team can compete at National

41. Equipment List • 75’ or 100’ Logger’s tape (3) • Diameter tape (3) • Clinometers (3) • 10 Factor Prism (1) • Quadrant Compass (2) • Planting Bar or Dibble (1) • Planting Bag (1) • Cruiser Vest (3) • Land Measuring Compass (1) • Ruler marked in 1/10 (1) • Magnifying glass (1) • Calculators (6) • Clipboards (10)