BY DANNY BLEVINS

STAR CORRESPONDENT

On Tuesday, September 24, 2019, FFA and 4H Members from the Watauga District all gathered at Watauga Point on Watauga Lake to compete in the annual Forestry Career Development Event (CDE)/Woodland Judging Event.

This competition welcomed schools from all across East Tennessee. Students from these schools prepared for weeks to improve their knowledge in five different field-tested areas:

1.    Tree Identification: The students had to identify the tree by both the bark and the leaves.

2.    Forest Equipment Identification: The students were given forest equipment, and they had to identify them.

3.    Tree Disorder Identification: The students had to identify pests and diseases that occur in trees.

4.    General Knowledge Written Exam

5.    Tree Measurement: Students had to measure trees to determine the “board feet” of the tree.

Students from Cloudland High School were big winners, coming in first place in the second division of the competition.  This team was comprised of Victor Hicks (sophomore), Blake Birchfield (sophomore), and Gracie Freeman (junior).

Other Cloudland teammates included in the competition were Stevie Barnett, Logan Barnett, Ambrien Blair, Wyatt Julian, Jordan Isaacs, Megan Clawson, Jobe Tolley, Journey Wood, Jeremiah Guinn, Peyton Odom, and Luke Tomberlin.

Agriculture teacher and Cloudland’s FFA advisor Lauren Turbyfill was very pleased with the student’s performance.

“I am so very proud of these kids,” Turbyfill said. “Some spent hours each day studying for this competition and they showed that they truly wanted it. I am so thankful they won”

The competition was hosted by the Carter County Soil Conservation District.