Forestry Field Day gets 4-H’ers outside learning fundamental skills that foresters use each day to manage our forests to provide wood products, wildlife habitats, clean air and scenic views.
Youth learn to identify up to 70 tree species found in Georgia and learn about some of the most common insects and diseases that impact our forests. Pacing and compass skills are honed. These skills, along with using specialized forestry tools, allow youth to estimate timber volume. Participants have the opportunity to be a part of a county team and complete in area and state forestry judging contests.
Day Camp
Hosting a Forestry Day Camp is an excellent way to offer an introduction to Forestry Field Day and recruit 4-H’ers to be a part of your Forestry Team. It gives potential team members a chance to experience Forestry Judging without committing to be a member of the team while serving as a great refresher course for last year’s team members. Day camps can be done as whole or a half day event to introduce the basic concepts of Forestry Field Day.
Field Day Competition Guidelines
Objectives
- To develop abilities and attributes for better citizens and leaders of tomorrow.
- To acquire knowledge of trees and forests.
- To develop skills in forestry related activities.
- To gain a better understanding of and appreciation for our forest resources and how they contribute to our economy and quality of life
Competition Guidelines
- Participate in a Forestry Field Day county training.
- Select county winners on basis of tree identification, insect and disease identification, compass and pacing, and volume estimation.
- A county may bring a maximum of twenty Juniors (grades 4 – 8) and twenty Seniors (grades 9 – 12) to the area contest. The total score of the high three members will constitute the team score. Counties wishing to have three separate teams must designate them before the contest. Contestants from a county with less than three entries may participate as individuals.
- The State Forestry Field Day Contest is open to Senior 4-H members only. A county may enter a maximum of 20 participants. State competition is an open contest and teams do not have to qualify at an area event. Teams for the purpose of awards are the top 4 participants in the age division with the top three scores counting.
- Ties in individual completion will be broken based on saw timber volume estimation, followed by tree identification then insect and disease identification and compass and pacing.
- Ties in team completion will be broken site evaluation (state contest only) then by the aggregate score of the top three team members in saw timber volume estimation, then the team with by the team member with the high score in saw timber. If a tie remains, tree identification, insect and disease identification and compass and pacing scores will be used.
Awards & Recognition
- Each participant will receive a special events lapel pin.
- Area Field Day Junior and Senior Team members on 1st-3rd place teams will receive a certificate.
- Area Field Day Junior and Senior High Individuals will get certificates.
- The County Senior Team placing first at the State Field Day will receive a plaque and will be invited to represent Georgia 4-H at the National 4-H Forestry Invitational in West Virginia.  An educational tour may be offered if the team cannot attend the national match. Some expenses will be covered for the national trip.
- State Winning Team Members may compete in future years as individuals. State Winning Team Members cannot compete again as a team. State High Individuals may compete in future years and if placing first, gain Master status until Georgia 4-H eligibility is completed.
Resources
- Field Day Manual
- Score Cards
- National 4-H Forestry Website
- Tree Identification
- Insects & Diseases
- Compass & Pacing
- Sawtimber Volume Estimation
Events
- Northwest District – Tuesday, September 5, 2023
- Camp Westminster, Conyers, GA
- Northeast District – Thursday, September 7, 2023
- Sandy Creek Nature Center, Athens, GA
- Southeast District – Wednesday, September 13, 2023
- Vidalia Research Station
- Southwest District – Thursday, September 14, 2023
- Reed Bingham State Park, Adel, GA
- State Contest – Saturday, September 30, 2023
- TBD
For more information contact your local county Extension Agent or
Craven Hudson at 706-542-4H4H
The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (working cooperatively with Fort Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the counties of Georgia) offers its educational programs, assistance, and materials to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status and is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action organization.