The Southern Forestry Conclave is an annual competition among college students that provides a variety of physical and technical challenges. The event honors historical and cultural forestry activities while helping students develop high standards and prepare for jobs in the field.
The UT Forestry Club sent nine competitors to the 60th Association of Southern Forestry Schools Conclave hosted by Stephen F. Austin University March 16–18 in Mount Enterprise, TX. The team of nine competed in 14 physical and eight technical events and finished 5th overall in physical events out of the 13 schools present. Forestry Club President Brad Nellis placed 2nd in the underhand log chop, and Bill Ivey took 2nd in men’s bowsaw. Kimberly Costantino took 3rd in women’s bowsaw and partnered with Brad Nellis to take 2nd place in Jack and Jill crosscut.
Additional noteworthy performances included Brad Nellis and Bill Ivey tying for 4th in men’s crosscut, Charles Beeson and Scott Johnson placing 5th in chain throw, Brad Nellis placing 5th in pole fell, Sean Bowers placing 6th in compass and pacing, and Taylor Hamlin tying for 7th in birling. Last, but not least, Brad Nellis placed 2nd in the Stihl Southern Qualifier, which runs concurrently with the Conclave and consists of four events: underhand chop, stock saw, standing block chop, and one–man buck saw.
The Forestry Club will be competing again in the near future at the Founders Day Festival in Townsend, TN. If you would like to see these lumberjack sports in action, join the club at their annual “Tennessee Stud Mini-Conclave” event presented at Founders Day Festival in Townsend, TN, on April 15 at the Townsend Visitors Center. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.townsendfoundersfestival.com.
(Below left, junior Brad Nellis competes in the log chop. Below right, the 2017 UT Forestry Team with Professor David Buckley.)
