Forestry fest slated for Oct. 3

Submitted by Nancy Tarnai
Phone: 907-474-5042
09/28/09

UAF photos by Todd Paris

Stuart Thomas (far side) and Jared Weems take part in the birling competition in the frigid waters of Ballaine Lake during the Farthest North Forest Sports Festival sponsored by UAF's School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences.

Jared Weems poses after hitting the bullseye during the ax throwing competition of the Farthest North Forest Sports Festival.

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Ax throwing, log rolling, bow saw and crosscut sawing, fire building and more are on the agenda for the 12th annual Farthest North Forest Sports Festival Saturday, Oct. 3 at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Everyone is welcome to participate as individuals or as teams of four to six. Observers are also invited to this free event. Awards will be granted to individuals, teams and the “Bull of the Woods” and “Belle of the Woods.”

Faculty members and students at UAF’s Department of Forest Sciences developed the competition as a way to commemorate old-fashioned forest festivals. While high-technology tools are the norm for forest professionals in today’s world, the festival pays tribute to a time when traditional woods activities were the basis for work and play, survival and revival.

The morning events begin at 10 a.m. at the Fairbanks Experiment Farm field, across from the Georgeson Botanical Garden, and at 1 p.m. the games move to Ballaine Lake on Farmers Loop. A warming fire and hot drinks will be available at the lake. Participants are advised to dress warmly.

The festival is sponsored by the UAF School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Sciences and the Resource Management Society, a student organization.

For more information, contact John Fox at 907-474-7084 or jdfox@alaska.edu.

CONTACT: John Fox at 907-474-7084 or jdfox@alaska.edu. Nancy Tarnai, UAF School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences public information officer, 907-474-5042 or fnnjt@uaf.edu.

NT/9-27809/051-10