Students compete in 43rd annual Idaho State Forestry Contest

ATHOL — How tall is that tree?

What's making that other tree sick?

How the heck do you read a paper map?

All these questions and more were explored Thursday as 225 fifth-through-12th-grade students from across the Gem State participated in the 2026 Idaho State Forestry Contest at Farragut State Park.

"I really like to identify stuff, so I’m pretty interested in this,” North Idaho STEM Charter Academy freshman Texas Fallquist said as she and classmate Roxie Regan worked on a soil and water quality activity.

“On hikes, I can flex on everyone and be like, ‘‘Oh, I know what that tree is!’” Roxie said, smiling.

Conducted through a partnership between the Bonner County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Idaho Department of Lands, the forestry contest, now in its 43rd year, is free for students to enter as they vie for cash prizes and University of Idaho College of Natural Resources scholarships.

“This year, we got the single largest donation we’ve ever gotten of $25,000 from the Bonner County Farm Bureau,” said contest public information officer Jennifer Russell, who works as the prevention, education and outreach specialist for IDL.

Those funds help pay for the event and award students for high placements in the senior and junior divisions, recognizing their proficient skills and knowledge of basic forestry and resource management.

“This is completely self-sufficient,” Russell said. "What we get from our donors goes back into the program and to the kids.”

This year's event welcomed 150 volunteers, many of whom are industry professionals. They shepherded students through the different stations and activities.

“I love to see the excitement. There are smiles, tons of smiles. It’s straight-up joy,” Russell said. “They’re concentrating because they want to do well, but you see they’re enjoying being out here and being in nature and using their brains at the same time. I like seeing them smiling. I walk around and I’m like, ‘There isn’t a pouty face in the bunch.’”

Lexi Warren, a freshman at Highland-Craigmont School in Craigmont, was laser-focused on the task at hand as she wrapped a tape measure around a tree at the cruising station. She said forestry connects her to nature as well as to other people.

"I'm trying to help myself be more of a people person because I really don't put myself out there to people," she said.

Halston Calanchini, a junior at Potlatch High School, studied equipment and gear at the tool identification station.

"The reason I'm here is to learn more about forestry," he said. "I plan on being a landowner and having a forest, so I should know how to manage it."

Top honors in this year’s contest went to:

• Senior Division, Individual: Samantha Guadagnini

• Senior Division, Team: Whistle Stop 4-H - Samantha Guadagnini, Maria Guadagnini, Caitlyn Cramer, Danielle Wenstrom

• Junior Division, Individual: Amalia Nemeth

• Junior Division, Team: Selle Valley Carden - Amalia Nemeth, Emelia Hixson, Elsie Turcott, Lukas Myers

• Rookie Division, Individual: Skylar Hixson

• Rookie Division, Team: Selle Valley Carden - Skylar Hixson, Jace Tuttle, Katmai Johnson, Olivia Myers

Photos from the event, along with a full list of winners, will be posted at www.idl.idaho.gov

    Hidden Valley Academy senior Colter Cates of Sandpoint, left, and homeschooled eighth grader Andrew Guadagnini of Rathdrum use measuring sticks at the log scaling station Thursday during the Idaho Forestry Contest.
  

    Sandpoint High School senior Danielle Nader, front center left, and Chloe Anglen, 17, of Athol, front center right, walk with their group to the next station Thursday during the Idaho State Forestry Contest in Farragut State Park.
  

    Lexi Warren, a freshman at Highland-Craigmont School in Craigmont, is focused on the task at hand as she wraps a tape measure around a tree at the cruising station on Thursday during the Idaho State Forestry Contest.
  

    North Idaho STEM Charter Academy freshmen Texas Fallquist, left, and Roxie Regan work on a soil and water quality activity at the forestry contest.
  

    Halston Calanchini, a junior at Potlatch High School, studies equipment and gear at the tool identification station.