illinois 4-h forestry judging contest manual

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This guide is designed to help County Extension personnel or volunteer leaders adminis-ter a county-wide 4-H Forestry Judging Contest. The first, second, third and fourth place winnersof the county contest will be eligible to compete at the State level, and will vie for a position onthe State judging team which will represent Illinois at the National Judging Contest. Each eventwill be described in detail. All county contests should follow the guidelines set forth in thismanual. Similar events will be held during the State competition.

Eligibility

All participants must be 4-H members. A team is comprised of four members and onealternate. Each county may enter only one team in the State competition. In the event insuffi-cient participation prohibits a county from fielding a team, a multi-county team will be permittedprovided the team members are the highest placing contestants in their county contest. For thepurpose of this contest, multi-county refers to no more than two adjacent counties.

This contest is open to all 4-Hers ages 13 through 17. Each contestant must have passedhis or her 13th and not have passed his or her 17th birthday on January 1 of the current contestyear. Team members selected to represent Illinois at the National Judging event must havepassed their 13th birthday by January 1 of the current contest year. 4-Hers younger than 13 yearsor older than 18 years are not eligible, according to National competition rules, for a position onour State judging team. However, they will be permitted to take part in the contest as a learningexperience. The winning team will train for one year prior to competing in the National Invita-tional. For example, Champaign County wins the State judging contest in 2001. They will notcompete in the National Invitational until 2002.

4-H club members who have attended college, junior college or technical school are noteligible. There shall be no discrimination against participants who have completed collegecredits regardless of the courses taken if such credits were earned prior to their graduation fromhigh school.

4-H club members who compete in the National Forestry Judging competition are noteligible to compete in future state or national forestry competitions.

Appointing a Team Coach

It will be the county’s responsibility to secure a coach for the team winning the statejudging competition. The coach must be at least twenty-one years of age, have a valid driver’slicense, and good knowledge of trees and forestry practices. The coach will be responsible forconducting all necessary team training activities in preparation for the National Invitational. Thecoach must accompany the team to the National Invitational. An orientation session for thecoach will be conducted by University of Illinois Department of Forestry staff members. Train-ing materials and equipment for the team will be supplied at that time.

The coach will receive a pre-determined honorarium provided by the University ofIllinois Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences in return for his or herduties as the team coach. Payment of the honorarium will be administered through the Illinois 4-HFoundation. In the event the county selects more than one person to serve as the team’s coach,the honorarium will be divided among those individuals serving in that capacity.

County Participation in the State Contest

All entries must be on an official entry blank and signed by the county unit leader. Theofficial entry form should be submitted to Michael Bolin. Extension Forester, W-503 TurnerHall, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave., University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801 two (2) weeks prior to theState judging competition. Each contestant will receive information on the State contest at leastone (1) week prior to the event. Included in the information will be a list of items the contestantswill have to bring with them to the competition, and directions to the competition site.

How to Determine County Winners

Contestants’ scores will be tabulated after each event by the Official Scorer. At theconclusion of the events, the contestant with the highest point total will be declared the first placewinner. The contestant with the second highest point total will be declared the second placewinner, and so on through fourth place. Should a tie result for any of the four places, a tiebreaker event shall be held. The tie must be decided before the final four places are announced.The tie breaker event will be the Compass Traverse. Each of the tied contestants will be requiredto complete an additional traverse. The contestant scoring the highest will be declared thewinner of the tie. We suggest the fifth highest scoring contestant be named the team’s alternate.This individual will train with the team, however, he or she will not compete in the State orNational Judging Contest unless one of the four regular members is unable to attend the competi-tion. If the alternate does not compete in the National Judging competition, he or she will beeligible to compete in the state or national competition the following year provided the agerequirement is not exceeded.

General Contest Rules

No person shall be within the perimeter of an event unless he or she is a contestant or ajudge. Once a contestant has started an event, he or she will not be allowed to talk with anyoneother than a judge until he or she has completed the event. Talking will justify disqualification.

Contestants must provide the following items: clipboard, pencils, 8 1/2" x 11" paper,pocket calculator and a compass. They should bring them to the contest events.

The contest management will provide the following items: tree scale sticks, volumetables, two 100-foot tapes, compass traverse cards, two tongue depressors per contestant, fifty 3"x 5" cards, string, and twenty different fruit samples from trees on the official contest list.

The county and state contest will consist of the following events:1. Identification of 20 Illinois trees.2. Tree volume determination (tree measurement).3. Compass traverse.4. Identification of 20 Illinois tree fruits.

The Event Judge’s decision will be final.

Event No. 1 — Tree Identification (40 points)

(Items supplied by contestant)1. Pencil or pen.2. Clipboard.

(Items supplied by Event Judge)1. 3" x 5" cards identifying specimen trees and a score sheet for each contestant.

The objective of this event will be to correctly identify 20 Illinois trees by their commonname. Since common names vary, the list at the end of this section will constitute the officialspecies list from which contest trees can be selected. The official contest reference book will beForest Trees of Illinois, available from Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division ofForest Resources, North West Office Plaza, 600 N. Grand West, Springfield, IL 62706. The costis $7.00.

Contest Rules

Contestants will be required to identify 20 trees native to Illinois. Contestants will bejudged on the accuracy of identification and the spelling of common names. Scientific nameswill not be required. Incomplete names will be counted as wrong. Example: Maple instead ofSugar Maple or Shagbark instead of Shagbark Hickory.

Contestants will be given three minutes to identify the tree specimens and record theinformation on the score sheet. Two points will be given for the correct common name. One-half point will be deducted for each name misspelled. The common name must be the one usedon the species list.

Contest Mechanics

The trees to be identified should be labeled with a number from 1 to 20. The label shouldbe made from the 3" x 5" cards and tied to the trunk with string.

The Event Judge should accompany the contestants to make sure each one does their ownwork. At each stop the contestant should write the common name of the tree on the paperprovided. The common name and the number on the paper should correspond to the tag numberon the tree. After the time limit expires, the contestants and judge should move to the next tree.

If the contest is held in a location where 20 different trees are not available, then samplesof each tree must be provided. Samples should consist of a branch at least two feet long. Leavesshould be attached to the branch and buds should be visible. Each sample represents a stationand should be labeled 1 through 20. One contestant should be located at each station. Threeminutes should be allowed at each station. When time expires, the contestants move to the nextstation. The judge should not permit the contestants to mutilate the sample to the point whereother contestants will have a difficult time identifying it.

The judge should grade the contestants’ papers following the conclusion of the event.The corrected papers should be turned in to the Official Scorer who will add this score to scoresof other events.

OFFICIAL SPECIES LIST

Common Name

Eastern White PineRed PineJack PineScotch PineEastern LarchEastern RedcedarBaldcypressNorthern White-cedarBlack TupeloWater TupeloSweetgumAmerican BasswoodRed MulberryPersimmon (Common)Yellow-PoplarAmerican BeechSycamoreWhite AshGreen AshBlack LocustEastern CottonwoodHackberryBlack CherryAmerican ElmSlippery ElmRed Maple

Scientific Name

Pinus strobusPinus resinosaPinus banksianaPinus sylvestrisLarix laricianaJuniperus virginianaTaxodium distichumThuja occidentalisNyssa sylvaticaNyssa aquaticaLiquidambar styracifluaTilia americanaMorus rubraDiospyros virginianaLiriodendron tulipiferaFagus grandifoliaPlatanus occidentalisFraxinus americanaFraxinus pennsylvanicaRobinia pseudoacaciaPopulus deltoidesCeltis occidentalisPrunus serotinaUlmus americanaUlmus rubraAcer rubrum

Sugar MapleSilver MapleBoxelderPaper BirchRiver BirchPignut HickoryMockernut HickoryShagbark HickoryShellbark HickoryPecanWhite OakChestnut OakBlack OakNorthern Red OakScarlet OakPost OakPin OakBur OakShingle OakOhio BuckeyeButternutCatalpaRedbudKentucky CoffeetreeHoneylocustBlack WalnutHedgeBlack willow

Acer saccharumAcer saccharinumAcer negundoBetula papyriferaBetula nigraCarya glabraCarya tomentosaCarya ovataCarya laciniosaCarva illinoensisQuercus albaQuercus prinusQuercus velutinaQuercus rubraQuercus coccineaQuercus stellataQuercus palustrisQuercus macrocarpaQuercus imbricariaAesculus glabraJuglans cinereaCatalpa speciosaCercis canadensisGymnocladus dioicusGleditsia triacanthosJuglans nigraMaclura pomiferaSalix nigra

TREE IDENTIFICATION SCORE SHEET

Contestant’s Name _________________________

Tree Number

1. _________________________________________2. _________________________________________3. _________________________________________4. _________________________________________5. _________________________________________6. _________________________________________7. _________________________________________8. _________________________________________9. _________________________________________10. _________________________________________11. _________________________________________12. _________________________________________13. _________________________________________14. _________________________________________15. _________________________________________16. _________________________________________17. _________________________________________18. _________________________________________19. _________________________________________20. _________________________________________

Total Score ____________

Event No. 2 — Tree Measurement (40 points)

(Items supplied by contestant)1. Pencil or pen.2. Clipboard.

(Items supplied by Event Judge)1. Tree Scale Stick2. Tally Sheet3. Volume Table (on the tree scale stick)4. 3" x 5" cards and string

The objective of this event will be to correctly determine the merchantable volume of fivedifferent trees. Standing trees are measured to obtain an estimate of the board foot or cubicvolume which could be cut from the tree. Most timber sales are based on volume. All forestproperties must have some estimate of total volume, volume per acre and volume by product sothat one can decide the course of future actions.

Since all trees are basically a part of a cylinder, they have a diameter and height whichcan be measured. Diameter of standing trees is measured at 4 1/2 feet above the ground on theuphill side of the tree. This is abbreviated as D.B.H. (diameter breast height). Height of astanding tree might be measured as total height, the entire height from ground line to the top, ormerchantable height. Merchantable height is a variable point depending on the product that willbe cut from the tree. If a tree is to be cut into logs, the lengths cut will vary depending on thelimits of the mill. This is true of sawlogs as well as veneer logs. As a result, total merchantableheight is a variable term which must be determined. For the purpose of this contest, merchant-able height will stop: (1) at that part of the trunk above which diameter inside the bark is lessthan 8 inches or (2) where some deformity in the tree trunk causes the wood above it to beunusable. Examples of deformity which would cause this are a major fork in the tree trunk orexcessive crookedness where a straight board could not be cut from the log. Defects such asheart rot, burls or wind damage to major limbs can also affect merchantable height. Merchant-able height is measured by the number of 16 foot logs which can be cut from the tree. A log ismeasured to the nearest full half-log or 8 foot section. If a tree had 53 feet of merchantableheight, it would contain 3 logs. Similarly, a tree with 30 feet of merchantable length wouldcontain 1 1/2 logs.

Illinois 4-H Forestry Judging Contest tree scale sticks are available from this web siteaddress:

http://forestryjudging.nres.uiuc.edu/page73.html

Complete instructions on how to use the tree scale stick (complete with pictures) can befound at this web site address:

http://forestryjudging.nres.uiuc.edu/Tree_Measure/index.html

The following drawing shows how the tree scale stick is used to determine tree diameter.First the tree scale must be attached to a yardstick so the zero end of the scale corresponds to thezero end of the yardstick. Scotch tape will hold the scale on the yardstick.

Use the scale which says “Diameter of Tree (in inches)”. Position yourself so that you arefacing the middle of the tree’s trunk. Hold the stick level, 25 inches from the eye, and against thetree at a height of 4 1/2 feet above the ground. Practice is needed to find both the 4 1/2 foot pointin relation to your height, and the 25 inch distance to your eye. When the stick is placed againsta tree, close one eye, and sight the zero of the scale so that it is even with the left edge of the tree.(Remember -the stick must be at the 4 1/2 foot mark and 25 inches from the eye.) Now, WITH-OUT MOVING YOUR HEAD, move your open eye across the stick to the right hand edge of thetree. Observe where the edge of the tree crosses the stick and read the diameter to the nearestinch. It is necessary to hold the stick at a right angle to the tree. Since a tree’s trunk is notperfectly round, two diameter measurements should be taken, one 90 degrees to the other. Aver-age the two measurements to determine the average diameter.

In order to determine the merchantable height of the tree, the observer must move 66 feetaway from its base. This is done by pacing out 66 feet. The observer can determine his or herpace by laying a 100 feet tape out on the ground and stepping off the 66 foot distance. A pace isequal to 2 steps, so the observer should decide which foot he or she will count off of. Each timethat foot hits the ground count 1 pace, 2 paces, 3 paces, etc. Do not overstep or understep whiledetermining your pace. Take a normal stride as though you were out for an afternoon walk. It’s agood idea to walk the 66 foot course 8 or 10 times to determine the average number of paces ittake you to cover 66 feet. Remember this number - write it down!

Merchantable height is measured as follows. Pace out 66 feet from the base of the tree toa point where the entire tree can be seen. Hold the scale stick so that the “height-number of 16foot logs” scale can be seen. The zero end should point toward the ground. Hold the stickperfectly vertical and 25 inches from your eye. Sight the zero end of the scale so that it appearsto rest at a point 1 foot above the ground line or what’s called “stump height”. WITHOUTMOVING YOUR HEAD, move your eye up the scale stick to the point where you believemerchantable height is in the tree. Merchantable height will be where this point crosses the stick.Read the scale stick to the nearest full one-half log.

Once the tree measurements are taken, they should be entered on the tally sheet under theappropriate column. Volume can now be determined. Using the table titled “Volume Table”move down the extreme left hand column titled “Tree Diameter In Inches” until you find thecorrect tree diameter. Then move across the row until you find the correct number of “Usable 16foot logs”. This number represents the total volume in board feet. Example — a 24 inch diam-eter tree with a merchantable height of 2 1/2 logs has 523 board feet of usable wood in it assum-ing it has no interior decay. The volume figure should be entered under the “Board Feet” columnon the “Tally Sheet”.

Contest Rules

Contestants are required to identify, measure and determine the volume of five trees.Each tree will be numbered from 1-5, respectively, with a 3" x 5" card. Each contestant willreceive a scale stick, a Tally Sheet and a Volume Table from the Event Judge. Fifty minutes willbe allowed to collect the needed information on all of the trees. At the end of the time limit, thecontestant must move to the next event. Two points will be deducted for each incorrect piece ofinformation entered on the Tally Sheet. There should be no talking except to the Event Judge.

Contest Mechanics

Each contestant should receive a scale stick with a built-in volume table and a TallySheet. The Event Judge should identify each tree to be measured with a 3" x 5" card labeled 1-5.Start a different contestant at each tree. Make sure they enter the appropriate information at thecorrect tree number on their Tally Sheet. Approximately ten minutes should be allowed at eachtree. As a contestant finishes the measurements on one tree, he or she should move to the nextone until all five are completed. Completed Tally Sheets should be turned in to the Event Judge.The judge should grade them as follows: 2 points will be taken off for each incorrect answer onthe Tally Sheet. There is a total of 40 points possible in this event. Graded Tally Sheets shouldbe turned in to the Official Scorer.

Tree No. Species D.B.H. # 16 ft. logs Board Feet Score 1 White Oak 18 1 1/2 184 8 2 White Ash 22 2 368 8 3 Walnut 21 2 1/2 391 8 4 Red Oak 16 1 106 8 5 Hackberry 24 2 1/2 523 8

Total Score _____

-EXAMPLE- -EXAMPLE- -EXAMPLE-

TALLY SHEET

Contestant’s Name ______________________

Tree No. Species D.B.H. # 16 ft. logs Board Feet Score 1 __________ ______ __________ ________ _____ 2 __________ ______ __________ ________ _____ 3 __________ ______ __________ ________ _____ 4 __________ ______ __________ ________ _____ 5 __________ ______ __________ ________ _____

Total Score _____

Event No. 3 - Compass Traverse (60 points)

(Items supplied by contestant)1. Pocket compass.2. Pencil or pen.3. Clipboard and paper.4. Pocket calculator.

(Items supplied by Event Judge)1. Compass Traverse cards.2. Tongue depressors (sharpen one end to a point).

Foresters are often required to estimate ground distances by pacing and to determinedirection of travel using a compass. The objective of this event is to correctly follow threeknown distances and directions.

Contest Rules

Contestants will be given two different compass traverse courses to complete in onehour’s time. Each contestant will receive two traverse cards from the Event Judge. There shouldbe no talking among the contestants. Contestants may ask the Event Judge for assistance. TheEvent Judge will start each contestant from his or her correct starting point. Upon completion ofthe traverse, one point will be deducted for each foot of error from the correct ending point.

Contest Mechanics

A 100 foot line should be laid out on the ground in an East-West direction (90 degrees -270 degrees). Do not compensate for compass declination. The entire event will be run usingmagnetic headings. Starting at the West end of the 100 foot line place a stake at the zero (0)point and label the stake zero (0). Do the same thing at each 5 foot interval along the line untilyou reach the East end. Each stake should be labeled with a consecutive number 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.The last stake at the East end should coincide with the 100 foot mark and should be labeled 20.Each contestant will start on an assigned number. If the compass course is run correctly, thecontestant should return to a pre-determined spot on the line.

West |-—|-—|-—|-—|-—|-—|-—|-—|-—|-—|-—|-—|-—|-—|-—|-—|-—|-—|-—|-—| East 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Compass Course Base Line

Two compass courses will be given to each contestant. Each course will consist of threecompass headings and three distances the contestant must pace. It would be advisable to set up a100 foot pacing course so that the contestants can check their pace before starting the event.

To start the event, each contestant should be standing at a designated point on the 100foot base line. The starting point will be listed on the Compass Course they receive from theEvent Judge. Two tongue depressors should be given to the contestants at this time. The contes-tant should write his or her initials on the tongue depressors near the top, and a #1 on one of themand a #2 on the other.

The Compass Course will list a degree heading and a specific distance which must becovered. The contestant should set the compass for the first degree heading and pace the dis-tance listed. Upon completing the first distance, the contestant should hold the spot, reset thecompass for the second heading and pace the distance listed. The same thing should be done forthe third heading/distance pair. When the contestant finishes the course, he or she should pushthe #1 tongue depressor into the ground at the spot where they finished. They should inform theEvent Judge that they are done, and then start on the second compass course. If the course wasrun correctly, the contestant should return to a predetermined point on the base line. The correct(answers) destinations for the compass courses are listed as follows:

Correct Destination

Starting Point Correct Destination on 100 foot Base Line on Base Line

1 11 2 16 3 14 4 7 5 8 6 11 7 5 8 15 9 13 10 8 11 13 12 14

COMPASS COURSES

______________________________________________________________________________Starting Point No. 1 Starting Point No. 4Go 61 degrees for 101 feet Go 81 degrees for 73 feetThen 314 degrees for 67 feet Then 312 degrees for 100 feetThen 174 degrees for 96 feet Then 168 degrees for 80 feet

—————— ——————When you finish the course, When you finish the course,stick a marker in the ground stick a marker in the groundat the spot where you ended. at the spot where you ended.______________________________________________________________________________

Starting Point No. 2 Starting Point No. 5Go 59 degrees for 83 feet Go 65 degrees for 58 feetThen 255 degrees for 58 feet Then 341 degrees for 67 feetThen 117 degrees for 61 feet Then 190 degrees for 89 feet



—————— ——————When you finish the course, When you finish the course,stick a marker in the ground stick a marker in the groundat the spot where you ended. at the spot where you ended.________________________________________________________________________


—————— ——————When you finish the course, When you finish the course,stick a marker in the ground stick a marker in the groundat the spot where you ended. at the spot where you ended.__________________________________________________________________________________




—————— ——————When you finish the course, When you finish the course,stick a marker in the ground stick a marker in the groundat the spot where you ended. at the spot where you ended.

Since the compass course was laid out according to magnetic compass readings, thecontestants should follow the magnetic headings on their compass and should not correct fordeclination.

To score the event, the judge must know the starting point and the correct ending point.Refer to the “Correct Destinations” sheet for this information. Once the contestant has indicatedthat he or she is finished, the Event Judge can determine their score. This should be done bymeasuring the distance between their tongue depressor and the correct destination point on the100 foot base line. One point will be deducted for each foot of error from the correct destinationup to a maximum of 30 points off for each course. Points earned by each contestant should belisted on the Official Event Score Sheet by the Event Judge. These scores should be turned in tothe Official Contest Score Keeper at the completion of the event.

COMPASS TRAVERSE SCORE SHEETContestant’s Name______________________________

Course #1 Starting point ____________

Total points possible Points deducted Score 30 - _________ = _____



Total Score ______________________________________________________________________________________






Total Score ______________________________________________________________________________________






Total Score ________

Event No. 4 — Fruit Identification (20 points)(Items supplied by contestant)

1. Clipboard2. Pencil or pen

(Items supplied by Event Judge)1. 20 tree fruit samples2. 3 x 5 cards numbered 1 - 203. Score sheet

The objective of this event is to test the contestant’s ability to identify trees by their fruit.

Contest Rules

Each contestant must identify twenty tree fruit samples. Contestants will be judged onthe accuracy of identification and spelling of the common names. Scientific names will not berequired. Incomplete names will be counted as wrong. Example: Maple instead of Sugar Maple,or Hickory instead of Shagbark Hickory.

Contestants will be given two minutes to identify the fruit specimen and record theinformation on the score sheet. One point will be given for the correct common name. One-halfpoint will be deducted for each name misspelled. The common name must be the one used onthe official species list.

Contest Mechanics

The fruit samples should be arranged on tables or other flat surface where they can beobserved easily. Each sample should have a corresponding card numbered 1 through 20. Thecontest judge should make up the official contest key prior to the beginning of event and shouldperiodically check to see that fruit samples remain in the appropriate order. Contestants will bepermitted to pick up the fruit samples to observe them, but should be encouraged not to mutilatethem in any way. (We encourage additional samples of each fruit in case some get handled toomuch).

One contestant should be stationed at each fruit. Two minutes should be allowed toidentify each sample. Contestants then move to the next sample. Allow enough distance be-tween samples to protect each contestant’s answers. Five minutes should be allowed at the endof the competition for the contestants to go back and review any samples they had difficultyidentifying. Only one contestant should be permitted at each sample.

At the completion of the event, the Event Judge shall collect the score sheets and turnthem in with the official event key to the Official Scorer.

FRUIT IDENTIFICATION SCORE SHEETContestant’s Name ________________________

Fruit Number 1. ___________________________

2. ___________________________

3. ___________________________

4. ___________________________

5. ___________________________

6. ___________________________

7. ___________________________

8. ___________________________

9. ___________________________

10. ___________________________

11. ___________________________

12. ___________________________

13. ___________________________

14. ___________________________

15. ___________________________

16. ___________________________

17. ___________________________

18. ___________________________

19. ___________________________

20. ___________________________

Total Score _____________

illinois 4-h forestry judging contest manual

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