Umpqua Community College hosted students from across the state at the Oregon FFA Forestry Career Development Event May 23.
Staff Writer | Communities For Healthy Forests | 6-21-2022
Umpqua Community College hosted students from across the state at the Oregon FFA Forestry Career Development Event May 23.
A handful of volunteers from Communities for Healthy Forests could be found among the 60 or so students competing at UCC that day.
In his report at the CHF board meeting June 6, board member Mark Buckbee raved about the event, the students, and the fact that CHF is a strong supporter of the FFA.
“As an outcome of the FFA forestry program, some students will go on to pursue further forestry education, and careers in the forest sector,” according to Buckbee. “All FFA forestry participants benefit from a better understanding of the forest sciences, and of the role of active forest management in creating desired forest conditions.”
Board member Elin Miller added that CHF recognizes that strong leaders are needed to help solve the challenges the future brings. “FFA’s Career Development Event is a perfect example of the type of critical thinking and technical understanding delivered through FFA to meet the future needs in natural resources,” Miller said. “FFA’s leadership develop like public speaking, extemporaneous speaking and parliamentary procedure contests build a strong foundation in skills needed to help our communities thrive. FFA students exhibit the qualities a future employer, whether it be in government, industry or academia, today is seeking.”
Winners from the May 23rd event earn State Champion honors and are invited to compete at Nationals.
According to the Oregon FFA website, “Competitors were judged in their skills in such things as diagnosing forest disorders, managing forests and forest inventory and applying approved silvicultural practices.” Additional skills learned in the event “range from forestry equipment identification to calculating a firest business management problem and prepare students for careers in forestry and natural resources.”
To see all of the categories and learn more about the standards FFA competitors are asked to meet, visit http://oregonffa.com/cde-manual/.
For more articles and commentary from CHF, or to sign up for the CHF newsletter, visit www.communitiesforhealthyforests.com.