WALDPORT – It’s a three-peat for the forestry program at Waldport High School, which also had its instructor honored as natural resources educator of the year for Oregon.
Some 38 students in the high school’s forestry program competed in the Oregon Future Natural Resource Leaders state competition April 29-30 at the Hopkins demonstration forest in Oregon City. Of those, 22 placed, including eight students who took first place in 11 of the 22 events. Waldport had at least one student in the top five in each category.
Out of 13 schools, Waldport came in first place with an overall score of 296 points. Sweet Home High School was second with 157 points and Philomath High was third with 54. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 and 2021 state competitions were held online with Waldport winning both of those.
“I am very proud of the students,” said forestry instructor Jeff Skirvin. “Their hard work paid off.”
The Oregon Future Natural Resource Leaders is a career technical student organization dedicated to the support of high school students interested in pursuing education or careers in natural resources or forestry.
Along with the team championship, Skirvin was named natural resources educator of the year by Oregon’s FNRL organization, and the school’s natural resources program was one of two in Oregon named “program of the year.”
“The forestry program provides many different learning avenues for students — academic, soft and physical skills,” said WHS principal Amy Skirvin. “I was pleased to see students who have been in the program for three years have success along with students who just joined the program this school year. Earning the team title three years in a row shows a lot of grit and character …”
State champions in individual categories included:
- Kenny Heasley, map reading;
- Gabe Catalfamo, written expression;
- Zak Holsey won the competition’s “overall logger” award after first-place finishes in demonstration speech, pole climb and choker setting;
- Trae Vandehey in log scaling, compass and pacing, and crosscut sawing with partner Levi Fruechte;
- Kaden Simmons in tree identification;
- Carter Rodgers in axe throw; and
- Eli Spangrud in cable splicing with partner Levi Fruechte.
The championships are nothing new for Jeff Skirvin, who guided Knappa High School’s forestry program to state titles in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2013. After he moved to Clatskanie High School, it won state titles in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018. He came to Waldport in 2019 when his wife, Amy Skirvin, was named principal of Waldport high and middle schools. Skirvin is also the varsity football coach and competes as a professional lumberjack in the USA Stihl Series competitions.