Posted: May 16, 2024
A field day event held recently by Penn State Extension gave youth 4-H members from across Pennsylvania an opportunity to explore their interest in wildlife and forestry.
The "Exploratory Tract" for youth ages 7-11 included hands-on wildlife and forestry educational activities and guest speakers. This year's theme was "adaptations."
The "Science Tract" offered youth ages 12-18 a chance to participate in a series of educational sessions to increase their knowledge and skills related to wildlife and forest sciences. According to organizers, the sessions brought to life content from 4-H wildlife and forestry project books and helped 4-H’ers better understand current conservation issues. The event also was aimed at inspiring participants to investigate potential career paths in forest and wildlife conservation.
Teens competed in knowledge and skills tests for the opportunity to attend national 4-H competitions.
The wildlife science competition resulted in:
— First place to Micah Staples, of Monroe County.
— Second place to Garrett Franck, of Union County.
— Third place to Carson Riley, of Huntingdon County.
— Fourth place to John Bruner, of Indiana County.
— Fifth place to Seth Brehm, of Huntingdon County.
— A tie for sixth place between Madison Cousins, of Armstrong County, and Brielle Brooks, of Potter County.
A team of these top scorers will represent Pennsylvania at the 2024 National Wildlife Habitat Education Program Competition, July 28-31 in Brownwood, Texas. The ecoregion of focus for this year will be woodland.
Top achievements in forestry science included:
— First place to Nathan Kennedy, of Indiana County.
— Second place to Riley Fink, of Indiana County.
New for 2024 was the wildlife and forestry art contest, which invited entries that showcased themes of wildlife or forestry. Participants were required to submit paintings, drawings, or photographs created within the project year. The contest attracted 66 4-H members statewide.
Elliot Heim, of Montour County, won the "Best of Show" category for art. Carson Riley, of Huntingdon County, earned "Best of Show" for photography.
The event was a collaboration among 4-H educators, state 4-H program staff, state 4-H project ambassadors, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources staff, volunteers and council members, faculty in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, and the Pennsylvania Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
Sponsors for the event included Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group, Northern Tier Hardwood Association, Pennsylvania Hardwood, Pennsylvania Forest Products Association, Keystone Wood Products Association, and Sustainable Forestry Initiative of Pennsylvania.
