FNR Students Experience Midwest Forestry Conclave
The Purdue student chapter of the Society of American Foresters participated in the 69th Midwest Forestry Conclave at the Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center in Carbondale, Illinois, in April. The conclave, 
hosted by Southern Illinois University, marked the first time the event has been held since the pandemic.
FNR students practiced for the event with help from senior farm operations manager Brian Beheler. Beheler introduced the student to the various conclave events, guided their practices and provided logs for practices.
SAF students participated in more than a dozen events ranging from knife and axe throw to pulp toss, bolt throw, underhand chop, Jack and Jill or Jill and Jill double buck, men’s and women’s single buck, log roll, tree identification and wildlife identification.
Katie Schouten, a then-freshman forestry major with a forest management concentration, competed in the knife throw, axe throw, pulp toss, bolt throw, Jack and Jill double buck, and Jill and Jill double buck.
“It was wonderful participating in Conclave,” Schouten said. “I was able to meet people from other schools and everyone was very friendly. I even met a few people who were forestry or forestry related majors. They were there because they enjoyed timber sports. It was very interesting to hear how each person came to Conclave in their own way. I also learned a lot about timber sports and some helpful tips and tricks.
“My favorite part of the event was watching the log roll. There was so much technique involved along with teamwork. Each school had a different tactic for getting the log from one end of the course to the other.”
Sam Goedde, who graduated in May with a degree in forestry with a forest management concentration, was a part of the wildlife ID, axe throw and log roll events.
“Overall, getting to go and participate in conclave for the first time was a great experience,” Goedde said. “I've
been wanting to participate since my first year in SAF but didn't get to because it kept getting canceled. Even though it was very new to all of us and a little different than what we all expected, the hosts at SIU were great and helped us if we had questions. Practices were a good chance to get together with club members and grow closer. At the event, I learned that it is all for fun and it's an opportunity for people who are passionate about timber sports to get together, have a friendly competition and meet new people.
“My favorite parts of conclave were participating in the log roll, the competition day dinner and meeting new people. My partner and I made really good time without practicing much at all and came in third place in men's log roll. Completion day dinner was great and well earned. It consisted of pulled pork, coleslaw and celebratory Fitz's root beers. It was also fun getting to meet other forestry/wildlife students from across the Midwest and hanging out around a campfire.”
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