MEXICO — Region 9’s Forestry/Wood Harvesting Program students competed in the 36th annual Woodsman’s Day Competition, hosted this year by the students and teachers of Oxford Hills Technical School at the Oxford County Fairgrounds.
Because Region 9 had the smallest group of competitors in attendance, the seven students participating had to compete in more events than usual. Instructors are Marc Dupuis and David Mason.
The students’ support for all the competitors and friendliness toward everyone netted them the Best Sportsmanship Award, allowing them to bring home the traveling trophy, to be displayed in their school for the next school year.
Region 9 has held the trophy two other times since the competitions began in the1980s. The Good Sportsmanship Award is voted on by all the students from all the programs in the state who attend and compete.
First-place trophies
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 Pete Tracy: Tim Jewell.
Second-place ribbons
Team Game of Logging, Professional, Felling: Garrett McPherson.
Spring Pole: Travis Jackson.
Bore Cut: Will Simmons.
Third-place ribbons
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.
Fourth-place ribbons
Pulp Throw for Accuracy: Travis Jackson, Bryan Gray, Chad Cormier, Nate Latarte.
Tool Identification: Nate Latarte, Tim Jewell.
Loader Event: Chad Cormier, Will Simmons.
Other schools that participated were Oxford Hills, Foster Technical School in Farmington and Southern Aroostook Vocational Education in Houlton.
Before the awards were presented, Dupuis was given a plaque and gift certificate and thanked by the Forestry Instructors Association for his work and assistance to teachers, students and the association over the past 27 years. He was also given a handmade cribbage board from the teachers of Foster Tech. Dupuis will retire from his position in August.
Dupuis 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,” Dupuis said.
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- Instructor Region 9 David Mason holds the Good Sportsmanship Trophy won by Region 9 students at the 36th annual Logger’s Meet held in Oxford Hills.
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- Instructors Marc Dupuis and David Mason are pictured with Region 9 students.
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