Forestry 

State Forestry Contest

Students develop skills in forest management, timber evaluation, and natural resource problem solving through both indoor and outdoor activities. The Forestry Career Development Event (CDE) challenges participants to demonstrate knowledge of tree and equipment identification, forest health, silviculture, and timber cruising, using tools and calculations relevant to real-world forestry. 

Number of Teams:

• This contest is capped at the first 12 schools to register. One team per school.

Scantron

• Judging Card Forestry (530-3) 

Description of the Contest:

• A team will consist of four members and the total of the top three scores will determine the team score. Tiebreakers will be determined by certain questions on the indoor exam. The total of all team members will count. 

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• The contest will consist of two exams:

1. Indoor Written Exam – Individual (50 minutes, 55 questions worth 80 points): This exam portion will include general forestry knowledge, forestry business management, and forestry identification. The primary format will be multiple choice but may also include true/false or short answers. Topics will include timber harvesting, reforestation, or other forestry examples to calculate per-acre, per-total acre, and per-event values based on typical forestry measurements (e.g. total board feet, survivability, total cost per acre, etc.). There will also be questions about tree ID, equipment ID, and forestry health/disorders ID.

2. Outdoor Field Exam – Team (50 points):  This exam will include knowledge/skills of orienteering, timber cruising, and timber stand improvement.  Topics will include bearing and distance, merchantable timber height, DBH, basal area, board volume, and timber stand improvement for multiple landowner objectives.  Students should know how to use the following tools: magnetic compass, cruising stick or Biltmore stick with hypsometer, DBH tape, and clinometer.

• Note: Visit the Forestry CDE Webpage for this year's theme. There will be questions related to the theme.

Study Resources: Tree identification will focus primarily on the Wisconsin-specific tree identification list (p. 5-6) found in Forest Trees of Wisconsin: How to Know Them, a DNR publication, AND a list of invasive Wisconsin plants. Forestry health/disorders will focus on a Wisconsin-revised list reflecting ID most relevant to Wisconsin. The forestry equipment ID list is identical to the national CDE event. Both adapted lists are modeled from the National CDE Handbook.

Visit the Forestry CDE Webpage

Forestry Study Resources for CDE

Special Requirements

• Each four-person team is required to bring a Silva Ranger compass or one of comparable quality. 

  • All other tools and equipment will be provided.

• Competitors will be walking approximately a half mile to the Outagamie County Forest and back for the outdoor field exam. 

  • Transportation accommodations can be made with the contest coordinator at the time of registration. 

• Contestants must come prepared to work in adverse weather conditions since the contest will be conducted regardless of weather.

• Contestants are advised to bring jackets, rain gear, and adequate footwear.

• Individuals are expected to bring their own manual calculator, sharpened #2 pencils, paper, and a clipboard free of notes and other markings.