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A Montgomery County team is headed for a national competition in July after winning the Arkansas 4-H State Forestry Competition hosted by the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

From identifying trees to navigating with a compass, 28 competitors from eight Arkansas counties put their forestry knowledge and skills to the test while gaining real-world insight into the forestry profession.

Montgomery County’s senior team claimed first place in the competition. Coached by 4-H volunteer Ty Huitt, the winning team consisted of Nathaniel Huitt, Eli McDowell, Ariel Murphy and Opal Samons. With their victory, the team secured the opportunity to represent Arkansas at the National 4-H Forestry Invitational, scheduled for July 20–24 at the Jackson’s Mill State 4-H Conference Center in Weston, West Virginia.

Individual senior accolades also highlighted Montgomery County’s success, with Nathaniel Huitt earning first place in high-point individual and teammate Eli McDowell taking third. Bella Barkhimer from Ouachita County secured second place.

For the junior division, Robert Samons of Montgomery County received first place, Evan Martin of Faulkner County earned second place and Finley White of White County took third place.  

Participants competed in a range of forestry-related events, including tree identification, volume determination, forest pest and disease identification, compass and traverse and took a forestry quiz to test their knowledge on the field. These activities mirror real-world skills essential to the forestry profession.

“Participating in the contest was a great experience,” Noah Totty, a competitor from Ouachita County who plans to attend UAM to study forestry and geographic information systems, said. “I enjoyed learning more about the campus and the forestry field. The contest gave me a chance to explore forestry by completing tasks that real foresters perform every day.”

The competition was organized by Jaret Rushing, an extension forestry instructor with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

“Participation increases every year, and it’s great to see growing interest in natural resources,” Rushing said. “I enjoy working with the next generation of foresters — many of whom will go on to play vital roles in managing our forests and protecting natural ecosystems. Events like this are key to sparking a lifelong passion for forestry and conservation.”

The Arkansas 4-H State Forestry Competition not only highlights the dedication and talent of Arkansas youth but also reinforces the importance of forestry education and career exploration in natural resources.