Sweet Home High School Forestry Club members finished third as a team in a virtual state forestry competition held during the month of April.
Students submitted entries in various events.
“We were unable to do things as normal, so we adjusted,” said natural resources instructor Blake Manley, who coaches the team. “I was really happy that we had so many students place given that typically we have been more of a physical team and less of a technical events team.”
Dustin Jackman and Tristan Lemmer tied for first place in Business Math, a new event that “covers how to calculate costs and profits as a forester would do in real life,” Manley said. “Great work.”
Six other Huskies placed in that event as well, he said: Christian Gregory, second place; Garret Gutierrez, Hailey Nunes, Kaiden Deckard and Russell Holly, who all tied for third; and Kryston Bate, who placed sixth.
Senior Becky Belcher won the prepared speech event.
“We will miss her leadership and overall desire to win each time she does anything,” Manley said. “It was great to see her get another championship before graduation.”
Junior Hailey Nunes took second in Demonstration Speech.
Nunes has also been chosen to lead next year’s Future Natural Resource Leaders.
“She started in forestry two years ago and will be an excellent leader for the coming year,” Manley said.
Sweet Home’s other placewinner was junior Adaira Burger, who was second in Job Interview.
Manley, who was named Rob Waibel Educator of the Year at the event, said that the third-place finish was “disappointing in some ways because we expect to win each and every time we do anything.
“It will be a good motivation block for the upcoming year when things return to a more normal atmosphere.”
Sweet Home will participate in a dual competition at Scio Friday, May 14.