Polytech Students Place First in Forestry Challenge

Contact information: Ashley Peebles, ashley.peebles@delaware.gov, 302-698-4551.

From left, PolyTech FFA team members Jacob Dickey, Nicholas Carroll, and Dawson Carter complete the equipment identification portion of the annual Forestry Career Development Event. PolyTech HIgh School placed first among the six teams.

Jacob Dickey of PolyTech High School was the overall individual winner at the annual FFA Forestry Career Development Event.

 

PolyTech High School in Woodside placed first among six Delaware high school FFA chapters that squared off at Brecknock County Park in Camden this week in the annual “Forestry Career Development Event (CDE),” a challenging test of tree identification skills, forestry tools and knowledge, and math-related abilities. Each team consisted of four students who answered both individual and team-based questions. Led by their instructor Susan Wujtewicz, PolyTech also fielded the event’s individual overall winner, Jacob Dickey. The event was held in cooperation with the Delaware Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

Schools represented this year were Middletown, Milford, PolyTech, Smyrna, Sussex Central, and Sussex Tech. Delaware Forest Service Trainer-Educator Ashley Peebles developed the curriculum and organized the event, which tested student knowledge in six separate skill areas: tree identification, equipment identification and troubleshooting, timber stand improvement, compass and pacing, board-foot volume estimation, and an individual written examination.

PolyTech High School will now go on to represent the First State against teams from all over the U.S. as part of the four-day National FFA Convention scheduled to begin on Wednesday, October 30 in Louisville, Kentucky.

According to the FFA , Career Development Events help students develop the abilities to think critically, communicate clearly, and perform effectively in a competitive job market.”

There are 24 CDEs, covering job skills in everything from communications to mechanics. Some events allow students to compete as individuals, while others allow them to compete in teams.

Here are photo highlights and captions from the individual schools that competed in the event.

Delaware Forest Service Trainer-Educator Ashley Peebles addresses students from six high school FFA chapters before the annual Forestry Career Development Event at Brecknock Park in Camden.

PolyTech FFA student Jordan Taylor competing in the annual forestry challenge.

 

 

Milford FFA student Mark Hollingsworth answers a question at the annual forestry career development event held at Brecknock Park in Camden recently.

Shannon Hollingsworth of the Milford High School FFA chapter answering a question as part of the annual Forestry Career Development Event held at Brecknock Park in Camden recently.

Middletown FFA student Brandon Dawson completes questions as part of the annual forestry challenge held at Brecknock Park in Camden.

From left, Middletown FFA team members Sara Bednash, Brandon Dawson, Stanley Gaffrey and Erin Fogarty compete at the annual forestry challenge event held at Brecknock Park in Camden.

From left, Ardany Coloma uses a biltmore stick to estimate tree height as fellow Sussex Central FFA team members Courtney Betschner, Maricela Lemus, and Journey Smith look on.

From left, Sussex Central FFA team members Ardany Coloma, Maricela Lemus, Journey Smith, and Courtney Betschner at the annual Forestry Career Development Event held recently at Brecknock Park in Camden.

From left, Sussex Tech FFA team members Andy Duvall, James “Andrew” Ryan, Benny King, and Hannah Lankford complete the field exercise portion of the annual forestry challenge.

Sussex Tech FFA student Hannah Lankford competes in the annual forestry challenge held at Brecknock Park in Camden.

Smyrna FFA team members Ryan Harris, Ryan Womax, Courtney Alfree and Jenna Keskemety collaborate on the field exercise at the annual forestry challenge event held at Brecknock Park in Camden recently.

Jenna Keskemety of the Smyrna High School FFA Chapter completes the equipment test at the Forestry Career Development Event held at Brecknock Park in Camden.