Region 9 forestry students garner Good Sportsmanship Award

SOUTH PARIS -- Region 9’s Forestry/Wood Harvesting Program competed in the 36th annual Woodsman’s Day Competition, hosted this year by the students and teachers of Oxford Hills, held at the Oxford County Fair grounds on May 10-11.

Instructors Marc Dupuis and David Mason are very proud of their students and their accomplishments throughout the entire two days. Their support for all the competitors and friendliness toward everyone netted them the most coveted award by all the programs, that of the Best Sportsmanship Award, allowing them to bring home to Region 9 the traveling trophy to be held, engraved and displayed in their school for the next school year.

Region 9 has held this trophy two other times in the past since the competitions began in the 1980’s. The Good Sportsmanship Award is voted on by all the students, from all the programs throughout the state who attend and compete.

Although it rained hard all day on the first day, the events still were completed in high spirits with many trophies and ribbons won by Region 9 students.

Because Region 9 had the smallest group of competitors in attendance, the seven students participating had to compete in more events than usual.

Earning first place trophies were:

Dot Split – Travis Jackson, Garrett McPherson;

Team Log Roll – Josh Billings, Will Simmons, Bryan Gray, Tim Jewell;

Skidder – Will Simmons, Nate Latarte;

Cookie Stack – Will Simmons, Josh Billings;

Chainsaw Trouble Shooting - Chad Cormier, Tim Jewell;

Individual Game of Logging - Judged by Professional, Pete Tracy – Tim Jewell;

Earning second place ribbons were:

Team Game of Logging – Professional:

Felling – Garrett McPherson;

Spring Pole – Travis Jackson;

Bore Cut – Will Simmons.

Earning third place ribbons were:

Pulp Throw for Distance - Nate Latarte, Chad Cormier, Will Simmons;

Cookie Cut – Josh Billings;

Bucking Event – Josh Billings;

Tree Identification – Travis Jackson, Tim Jewell;

Ax Throw – Bryan Gray, Garrett McPherson, Will Simmons;

Cross Cut Relay – Garrett McPherson, Bryan Gray, Josh Billings, Nate Latarte;

Earning fourth place ribbons were:

Pulp Throw for Accuracy – Travis Jackson, Bryan Gray, Chad Cormier, Nate Latarte;

Tool Identification – Nate Latarte, Tim Jewell;

Loader Event - Chad Cormier, Will Simmons.

Along with Region 9, other schools that participated were the hosts, Oxford Hills Technical School, Instructors Al Schaeffer and Brian Bean, Foster Tech in Farmington, Instructor Dean Merrill and Ed. Tech. Jill Low and Southern Aroostook Vocational Education in Houlton, Instructors Ted Wright and Ed. Tech Forest Cummings.

Before the awards were presented, Region 9, Instructor Marc Dupuis was given a plaque and gift certificate and thanked by the Forestry Instructors Association for all his hard work and assistance to teachers, students and the association over the past 27 years. He was also, given a beautiful hand made, curly maple cribbage board with love and best wishes from the teachers of Foster Tech.

Mr. Dupuis will be retiring from his position in August. He said he feels tremendous gratitude to the association, the professionals who hire Region 9 students, his associates at Region 9, the students and their parents, for the opportunity to serve and teach.

“The last 27 years has been a wonderful ride with never a dull moment. I hope the program continues and prospers for the youth of the area and the land owners of the Western Mountains," noted Dupuis.