Forestry firsts: High school, middle school teams win again at fair

By Erin McGrath

Published: October 8, 2008

Maybe it was destiny. Maybe it was simply hard work paying off. Or maybe it was just the fact that Oct. 3 was “Governor’s Day” at the Virginia State Fair.

Whatever the reason, for the 12th time in 18 years, the forestry teams from Nelson County High School and Nelson County Middle School both won first place at the Virginia State Fair FFA Forestry Field Day competition on Oct. 3.

More than a dozen Nelson County students entered the five Forestry Field Day competitions. They vied for the best time in the cross cut, bow saw and log rolling events, the longest distance in the log throwing event and the greatest amount of water in the water accuracy event.

Nelson County High sophomore Blake Amos and senior Tyler Lenahan were the first on the high school team to compete that day.

They readied their grips, oiled their saw and waited for the rest of their team to pile on and steady the eight-inch-diameter log before a shout from their team adviser, Ed McCann, spurred them into sawing in unison.

It took Amos and Lenahan 12.07 seconds to saw through the log.

During the last event of the day for Nelson, it took junior Emily Cochran and freshman Jacob Goodwin that same 12 seconds to roll an eight-foot-long sweet gum log (16 inches in diameter) eight feet, turn it 180 degrees, then roll it another eight feet.

“The kids did real well,” McCann said. “Both (teams) got first place and it was a real tight contest with the senior division. The tie was actually broken down into the individual competitions.”

McCann said the forestry teams had practiced at least four days a week every week since the beginning of the school year.

“I think the hard work and dedication of the kids paid off,” McCann said. “They’re good, level-headed kids. Even when it was 90 degrees out there, they didn’t fuss, they stuck with it.”

More than 100 high school and middle school students from Nelson County descended upon the fairgrounds in Richmond last Friday with the forestry teams to compete in state crop judging contests and tour the exhibits provided at the fair.

Four FFA students, senior David McCann, junior Meredith Carter, junior Rebecca Carter and sophomore Lauren Goff, also received state scholarships that day, presented by Governor Tim Kaine.

Nelson Middle School results

-Bow Saw: 2nd place, eighth grader Brandon Lobban
-Cross Cut: 6th place, eighth graders Andrew Walton and Zach Morris
-Log Roll: 7th place, eighth graders Andrew Saunders and Hampton Coleman
-Log Throw: 20th place, eighth grader David
Carroll
-Water Accuracy: 23rd place, eighth grader Rodney Deel
-1st place overall in middle school division

Nelson High School results

-Bow Saw: 1st place, senior Clint Lobban
-Cross Cut: 5th place, sophomore Blake Amos and senior Tyler Lenahan
-Log Roll: 19th place, junior Emily Cochran, left, and freshman Jacob Goodwin
-Log Throw: 12th place, sophomore Nick Wood
-Water Accuracy: 2nd place, senior Leeanne Absher
-1st place in the overall competition