Evan Ledford of Spartanburg helps Clemson University Forestry Club to second-place finish at competition

2015 Mar 30

Evan Ledford of Spartanburg and the Clemson University Forestry Club placed second overall for the second straight year at the 58th Annual Association of Southern Forestry Clubs Forestry Conclave hosted by Mississippi State University.

Ledford is a Ag Mech major at Clemson.

The conclave is a two-day event featuring competitions in a number of physical and mental forestry skill challenges, such as logrolling, chain throwing, crosscut sawing, log chopping, compass and pacing, tree diameter estimating, dendrology and photogrammetry.

Clemson brought a cohort of 18 team members to Mississippi State's John W. Starr Memorial Forest, host site of the conclave. Clemson forest ecologist Donald Hagan is the faculty adviser for the club.

"Not only did this year's conclave team tie its best performance ever, they did it with an entirely student-led approach. They set a goal to do well and they spent countless hours studying and practicing in order to achieve it. As our upperclassmen get closer to graduating, it's exciting to see them pass the torch to the younger club members," Hagan said.

Team members' results in individual competitions included:

• First place chain throw: Jesse Burdett; Evan Ledford
• First place pole climb: Preston Durham
• Second place archery: Tim Brady
• Second place log roll: R.J. Greenthaler; Kemp Wilson
• Second place men's crosscut: Jesse Burdett; Evan Ledford
• Second place pole fell: Tyler Visin
• Third place log chop: Kemp Wilson
• Third place photogrammetry: Lee Long
• Third place pole classification: Jesse Burdett

The second place finish matches its best result ever at conclave, finishing ahead of regional rivals Georgia, Virginia Tech, N.C. State, the University of Tennessee, Auburn University, the University of Florida and LSU among others. The Stephen F. Austin State University Lumberjacks from Nacogdoches, Texas, took first place.

The ASFC Forestry Conclave host site rotates among its member forestry schools and will take place at Clemson March 17-19 2016.

"We are looking forward to hosting in 2016 and we're hopeful that the Clemson community will support this event by coming out to watch some amazing feats of skill and strength," Hagan said.