FORESTRY CLUB PLACES FIFTH AT CONCLAVE, THIRD IN TECHNICAL EVENTS;
Justin Jacobs Wins STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Southern Collegiate Challenge
Fifteen members of the Louisiana Tech University Forestry Club participated in the 2008 Conclave, a forestry skills competition conducted by the Association of Southeastern Forestry Clubs (ASFC). The University of Florida hosted the ASFC Conclave March 6-8 at the Alachua County Fairgrounds in Gainesville. Forestry clubs from sixteen universities competed at Conclave: Alabama A&M University, University of Arkansas at Monticello, Auburn University, Clemson University, University of Florida, University of Georgia, Louisiana State University, Louisiana Tech University, University of Kentucky, Mississippi State University, North Carolina State University, Oklahoma State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, University of Tennessee, Texas A&M University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech).
Conclave competition is divided into Technical events and Physical events. Louisiana Tech placed third overall in Technical events. Denton Culpepper won 2nd place in Wood Technology, and took 5th place in Dendrology. Dustin Johnson won 2nd place in DBH (diameter at breast height) Estimation, and his wife Brandi Johnson placed 6th in Pole Classification. Four students placed 7th in Technical events: Charlie Edwards (Compass and Pacing), Justin Jacobs (Timber Estimation), and Reba McCoy and Sara Dean (Wildlife Identification). Josh McClain placed eleventh in Photogrammetry.
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
STATE FAIR OF LOUISIANA OPEN DAIRY SHOW - NOVEMBER 15 - 18, 2007
During the first weekend of November, four Louisiana Tech Agricultural Science students took Dairy animals to the State Fair of Louisiana in Shreveport for the Dairy Open show. 
The students, which included Maggie Boykin, Elizabeth Holloway, Mindy Kile, and Mackenzie Harris, were able to visit with alumni and prospective students while at the fair. They also sponsored the Ice Cream eating Contest. The cattle placed in the show as follows:
Jersey Yearling – 5th
Holstein Winter Heifer – 1st
Holstein Senior Yearling – 1st and Jr. Reserve Champion
Holstein 4-year old – 1st, Sr. Grand Champion, Holstein Grand Champion, and Supreme Dairy Champion
Best Three Females (Holsteins) – 1st
November 15-18, Tisha Sonnier, Louisiana Tech Dairy Lab Supervisor, took three students (Maggie Boykin, Elizabeth Holloway, and Mindy Kile) to the Southern Regional Dairy Challenge at LSU – Baton Rouge. At the Challenge, there were eleven universities present from all over the United States, including Clemson, Florida, North Carolina, Southern, LSU, Virginia Tech, etc. The purpose of this event is to prepare students for the National Dairy Challenge. Students were placed in teams of five with students from other universities. No students were placed with individuals from their own school. The teams were given financial records, production records, and reproductive records, were allowed to speak with employees and owners, and toured an operating dairy. The teams then had five hours to create a twenty minute PowerPoint presentation in which all team members must speak. Their role was to assume that they were consultants for this dairy, and they had to present recommendations for improvement and comment on practices that seemed to be working. The students were then questioned by five judges. Our students placed as follows:
Mindy’s team – 2nd Platinum
Maggie’s team – Gold
Elizabeth’s team – Silver
FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA DEVELOPMENT EVENT
SCHOOL OF FORESTRY - OCTOBER 4, 2007
The Area I Future Farmers of America Career Development Event was hosted by the School of Forestry on October 4, 2007 at Reese and Lomax Halls. Dr. William Ross officiated. School of Forestry Research Associates, Dan Taylor and Joey Haley assisted with the events. Seventy-three students from twelve area high schools participated: Caldwell Parish, Choudrant, Downsville, Dubach, Forest, Jonesboro-Hodge, Lincoln Parish Career Academy, Ringgold, Ruston, Sarepta, Simsboro and Weston. Dr. Mark Gibson, Associate Director of the School of Forestry, presented the $1000.00 Presidential Scholarship (pending winner's enrollment in the School of Forestry at LA Tech) to overall winner, Brad White of Ruston High Blue.
FFA OFFICERS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: More pictures
Sentinel - James Keene, Sicily Island
Secretary - Linsday Parfait, Ruston
Treasurer - Alanna Bennett, Choudrant
Vice-President - Emily McCrew, Choudrant
Reporter - Josh Bancroft, Bernice
President - Johnathon Shoemaker, Ruston
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HIGH INDIVIDUAL WINNERS INCLUDED:
Overall - Brad White - Ruston Blue - 313 points
Tree ID - Brad White - Ruston Blue - 111 points
Sawlogs - Tony Pardue - Weston Gold - 58 points
Mapping - Jordan Gray - Ruston Blue - 50 points
Pulpwood - Will Edminston - Ruston Gold - 48 points
Compass & Pacing - Jesse Hadder - Downsville Blue - 40 points
TSI - Brad White - Ruston Blue - 34 points
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TEAM WINNERS INCLUDED:
First Place - Ruston Blue - 889
Second Place - Weston Blue - 739
Third Place - Ruston Gold - 707
Fourth Place - West Gold - 701
Fifth Place - Choudrant Blue - 687
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TWO SCHOOL OF FORESTRY DOCTORS
TRAVELED OUT OF THE COUNTRY THIS SUMMER
Dr. George Grozdits traveled to Beijing, China for The Advanced Biomass Science and Technology for Biobased Products Conference. This conference was sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Forestry, the Chinese Research Institute of Wood Industry, the International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, IUFRO Division of International Academy of Wood Science, U. S. Forest Products Laboratory, Japan Wood Research Society, and the Chinese Society of Biomass Materials Science. Dr. Grozdits presented 4 papers at the conference.
Dr. Jack Mills traveled to Siberia, Russia for a 25 day journey. He was working with Russian, French, Spanish scientists and German students. The primary purpose of his trip was to familiarize himself with a different part of the world, and different cultures using technologies taught in the School of Forestry and the Geography Department here at LA Tech. He hopes to return to Siberia next year with LA Tech students.
