TFA Presents Scholarship at 2015 State Woodland Clinic

The Texas Forestry Association’s Forest Landowners Council presented a $1,000 scholarship to Jacy Darby, high point individual winner of the 2015 State Woodland Clinic held at the Stephen F. Austin Experimental Forest near Nacogdoches, Texas on Wednesday, April 22, 2015.

The daughter of two Agriculture teachers at Big Sandy ISD, Darby is hoping the scholarship paves the way to follow in her parents’ footsteps. “I will be graduating when my parents are planning to retire,” she said, “and I hope that I can become an Ag teacher at the same school.”

The competition is set up by the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and is comprised of several events that include tree identification, tree measurement, thinning, wood products and compass and pacing. Students advance to the Woodland Clinic after winning in their local Woodland Clinics, which are supported by volunteers from the Soil and Water Conservation districts, who also provided additional support for the State Woodland Clinic.

Also volunteering for the clinic were members of the Texas A&M Forest Service and the U. S. Forest Service.

“This contest has been around since 1957 and is an effort to introduce students to the art and science behind forestry and the importance of properly managing our woodlands and natural resources,” Mary Webb-Marek of NRCS said. “This contest is a great opportunity for these students to interact with professionals in natural resources and perhaps even find their future calling.”

Awards were also presented to the 4H and FFA teams that came from all across Texas to participate in the clinic.

Winners of the 4H team round are Angelina County #1, 1^st place; Angelina County #2, 2^nd place; Cass County #1, 3^rd place; Cass County #2, 4^th place; San Jacinto, 5^th place; Trinity County #2, 6^th place; and Trinity County #1, 7^th place.

Winners of the FFA Team round include Darby’s team, Harmony #1 in 1^st place; Central Heights #1, 2^nd place; Harmony #2, 3^rd place; Central Heights #2, 4^th place; and Warren #1, 5^th place.

Other high-point individuals include: Ryan Gonyeau, Harmony #2, 2^nd place; Payton Gray, Simms #1, 3^rd place; Jacob Mitchell, Warren #1, 4^th place; Tucker Reid, Central Heights #2, 5^th place; Andrew Bobo, Central Heights #2, 6^th place; P R Johnson, Central Heights #1, 7^th place;

Lane Smith, West Sabine, 8^th place; Kerry Gonyeau, Harmony #1, 9^th place; and Zach Morgan, Rusk #1, 10^th place.

The top three teams from FFA and 4H will proceed to the Regional Woodland Clinic on Friday, May 1, 2015 held at Wright Patman Lake near Texarkana, Texas.