The University of Arkansas at Monticello Homepage

By Traci Rushing

University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

Flying axes and adrenaline-fueled saw work took center stage as the University of Arkansas at Monticello Forestry Club hosted the 67^th Association of Southern Forestry Clubs Conclave.

UAM delivered an impressive performance on its home turf, earning a third-place overall finish all while putting on a first-class event for the competing universities, said Laura Sims, associate professor with UAM’s College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources and adviser of the UAM Forestry Club.

Forestry Club members from 14 colleges across the southeastern region traveled to compete in a series of high-energy, physical and technical events. Technical events are designed to test the competitor’s knowledge and expertise in the field of forestry, while the physical events date back to the 19th century, when lumberjacks would have friendly competitions outside of working hours to pass the time on a job site.

The UAM team secured a first-place finish in the wildlife event and added several third-place finishes in wood technology, DBH estimation, men’s bowsaw, women’s bowsaw, chain throw, Jack and Jill crosscut, men’s crosscut and pole felling. DBH, or diameter at breast height, is the standard measurement for evaluating tree diameter.

Students earning top three finishes included:

• Marce Aranda from Hope, Ark. in Women’s Bowsaw
• Aranda and Tate Tanner from Maumelle, Ark. in Jack and Jill Crosscut
• David Coussens from Little Rock in Wood Technology and Men’s Bowsaw
• Hannah Hopson from El Dorado, Ark. and Tanner in Chain Throw
• Holton Johnson from Malvern, Ark. in DBH Estimation
• Riley McGhee from Crossett, Ark. and Brent Haden from Colonial Heights, Va. in Wildlife Identification
• Tanner and Josh Myers from Lake Village, Ark. in Men’s Crosscut
• Caleb VanPelt from Benton, Ark. in Pole Felling.

The event marked the culmination of a year of planning and preparation by the UAM Forestry Club and Sims.

Sims said hosting Conclave provided an opportunity to compete at a high level and showcase UAM’s forestry program and hospitality.

“This event is about more than competition; it’s about giving students the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned and connect with supporters and peers. It also teaches organization and time management and how to have fun doing it too,” said Sims. “The UAM Forestry Club did great. I’m proud of their performance, professionalism and hospitality.”

Club leadership echoed that pride following the weekend’s success.

“Hosting Conclave is something we’ve worked toward all year, and seeing it all come together was incredibly rewarding,” said Tanner, UAM Forestry Club president.

Club members expressed appreciation for the many supporters, volunteers and alumni who contributed to the success of the event, helping create a memorable experience for the over 250 competitors attending.

“Placing third overall while hosting is something we’re really proud of, and it meant a lot to see the support from alumni, professionals from the forestry industry and the community,” said Coussens, UAM Forestry Club Conclave chair and incoming president.

In addition to the competition, the weekend also served as a meaningful opportunity to reconnect with alumni. The college hosted an alumni gathering that welcomed over 100 forestry and wildlife alumni back to campus. The event provided a chance for former students to reconnect with classmates while also meeting the next generation of forestry and wildlife professionals during the Conclave activities.

“The college provided a wonderful weekend for us [alumni] to reconnect and reminisce about our time as forestry students,” said Cindy Snow Kopack, 1979 graduate of UAM’s forestry program. “I loved seeing the tremendous, industry-leading advances you’ve made on behalf of the forestry industry and watching the students perform at this year’s Conclave. First class all the way around!”

While visiting campus, alumni saw firsthand the many advancements that have taken place over the years. What began as a small forestry program in 1945 has grown into a full college within UAM, offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in natural resources and four specialized centers that provide the natural resource industry with state-of-the-art research and innovative business solutions on a global scale.

UAM has a lengthy history in timbersports, earning 31 Conclave wins since its first victory at the third annual Conclave in 1960, hosted by Auburn University. Through this sustained success, the program has taken home four of the six 10-year Conclave awards, presented to the schools that accumulate the most overall points during each 10-year period. The winning institution retains the award as a testament to its generational strength and excellence.

The success of the event was made possible through the strong support of sponsors, alumni and community partners, Sims said. Contributions from industry partners, local businesses and professional organizations helped provide resources, funding and volunteer support. Additional in-house support from university staff and the generosity of local food vendors further enhanced the experience, showcasing the collaborative effort behind the event.

“It truly takes a community, and the club brought that together by gaining support from our sponsors — you can find the full list at uamtimbersports.com,” said Sims. “We’re thankful for individuals who donated their time and resources to support our events.

“The Ouachita Society of American Foresters flooded us with support from individual contributors to the Forestry Enhancement Fund. We also had a great visit from the CEO of the Society of American Foresters, Terry Baker, who was amazing to talk with and brought a warm presence and support for all the clubs from Virginia to Texas,” Sims said.

Sims also highlighted in-house support from Stacy Wilson, UAM’s forest manager, and Valerie Harvey, fiscal support analyst for the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources.

With strong performances, friendly competition and a deep-rooted forestry tradition, the 67^th Conclave proved to be a standout event for UAM and its Forestry Club members, Sims said.

For more information, visit the UAM Forestry Club’s website at uamtimbersports.com.

 

 

About the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center

The College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, a University of Arkansas System Center of Excellence, brings together interdisciplinary expertise through a partnership between the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The College and Center are headquartered at the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus, but their programs range statewide with the mission of developing and delivering teaching, research, and extension programs that enhance and ensure the sustainability and productivity of forest-based natural resources and agricultural systems. Academic programs are delivered by the College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources through the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Through the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, research is administered by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, and extension and outreach activities are coordinated by the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.