Spurger 4-H team places first

Left to right: Keith Cook, Carissa Cook, Victoria Vandenberg, Carrie Cook, Kristen LaRue, Marcia Cook

Spurger 4-H team placed first in the 4-H division at district, state, and the fourstate regional competitions. Carrie Cook had the individual high points first place winner at both state and regional contests.

Teams placing first in their state 4-H contest qualified to advance to the National 4-H Forestry Invitational held July 22 - 26 at the historical Jackson's Mill State 4-H Conference Center in Weston, West Virginia.

It had been five years since Texas previously participated in the National 4- H Forestry Invitational, but with sponsorship from Louisiana-Pacific OSB plant and Temple-Inland, along with sponsorship from the Long Leaf Soil and Water Conservation District, the Jasper-Newton Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Spurger 4- H Club, Texas was once again represented.

The 2007 Texas 4-H State Forestry Team consisted of Spurger 4-H Club members: Carrie Cook, daughter of Keith and Marcia Cook of Jasper, Kristen LaRue, daughter of David and Diana LaRue of Jasper and Victoria Vandenberg, daughter of John and Becky Vandenberg of Spurger.

Left to right:Victoria Vandenberg, Kristen LaRue, Carissa Cook, Carrie Cook

The Woodland Clinic contests test students on hardwood and pine tree identification, wildlife browse plants, rate of growth, selective thinning, tree volume measurement, wood products, wood ID from blocks of wood, site index, cull tree removal/tree stand improvement, site management concerns, pine regeneration, and a compass and pacing course.

Members took a guided tour conducted by Joe Boykin at the Louisiana- Pacific OSB plant in Jasper as part of their training. However, for the National Invitational Competition, the students would need to learn harmful insects, tree diseases, topographic maps, ecology, conservation practices, and related legislation.

Texas team members broke records the first day. They proved themselves to be quick with timed events, such as Log Rolling, where Kristen LaRue and Breeanna Perkins from OK paired up for the best time for first place, with the team of Carrie Cook and Victoria Vandenberg placing second. The Kristen and Breeanna team came in second on the girls' cross-cut sawing event and Carrie and Victoria placed third.

The main event was the awards announcement for the invitational competition. In a closely scored competition, the Texas team placed seventh overall. Carrie Cook also placed seventh in individual high points.

Participation for students in the National 4-H Forestry Invitational is limited to once-in-a-lifetime. They'd like to pass on what they've learned and assist the next year's Texas State team to be ready to compete in the 2008 National competition. Afterall, the 4-H motto is "To Make the Best Better."