Wheeler FFA Kicks Off Their Forestry Season
On Tuesday, March 18, the Wheeler County Middle and High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) Forestry Field Day teams traveled to Sandersville for the Washington County (WACO) Forestry Field Day.
Forestry Field Days are comprised of nine individual events and one group event. All ten event scores are added together for a team score. The purpose of the Forestry Field Day is to stimulate student interest and to promote forestry instruction in the agricultural education curriculum, and to provide recognition for those who have demonstrated skills and competencies as a result of forestry instruction. Georgia’s forestry industry creates a multibillion dollar economic impact in the state annually. There are thousands of jobs created as a result of the abundant forestry resources across the state of Georgia. The Forestry Field Day Event promotes conservation of and is an asset to the forestry resources in Georgia.
The high school senior team finished third with many students placing individually. Sadey Cravey placed 4th in Tree Identification, Katelyn Morgan was 2nd in Forest Disorders, and Lockland Bell & Konner Smith placed 2nd in Forest Management. In Reforestation, Brody Adams won 1st and Aiden Lanier placed 3rd. Martin Wynn placed 2nd in Board Foot Volume followed by Lane Connell placing 3rd. Layla Gibbs finished 2nd in Land Measurement, and Paul Harrelson finished 3rd in Timber Stand Improvement. Other team members were Seirra Connell, Kinlee Raiford, Isabelle Sellers, Walter Belfiore, Shelly Conner, Keaton Pickle, Alexis Wooten, Payton Williams, Adriel Collins, Adrianna Mancini, MacKenzie Johnson, Kamrin Clark, Molly Wright, and Ruben Pearce.
The high school junior team placed second with multiple students placing individually as well. Kyleigh Galloway was 4th in Compass and Pacing, AnnMarie Adams placed 3rd in Land Measurement. Trandal Stinson and Brannen Ricks finished 3rd in Forest Management. In Tree Identification, Ginnie Connell placed 2nd. Kaleigh Scott won Timber Stand Improvement, Ava Dixon placed 1st in Cord Volume, and Layton Johnson won Board Foot Volume. Other team members were Raylynn Farrell, Michelle Sanchez, and Layton Spires.
The middle school team finished 4th with team members individually placed in six events. Chassity Knight placed 3rd in Cord Volume and Noah Page finished 3rd in Compass and Pacing. Kinslee Fowler placed 2nd in Ocular Estimation while Arianna Hilliard placed 2nd in Forest Disorders. In Reforestation, Fisher Thornton placed first. Kaden Knight and Savannah Purvis also won first place in Forest Management. Other team members were Aiden Rutherford, Amaria Brown, Khloe Davis, and Laylah Clark.
We are very proud of how our students competed and behaved at the WACO Forestry Field Day. They represented Wheeler County well. I know we will see only improvements from here with this being our first contest. We wish our students the best of luck as they compete in Appling County on March 25th. Congratulations to all students and FFA Advisors Bryant Oliver, Les Bateson, and Hannah Snively.
