Requirements June 1972 until January 1998

4-H FFA

1. Point out 15 different species of trees or wild shrubs in the field and tell their names and chief uses. (If fewer than 15 kinds grow locally, identify and tell the uses of those that may be found.)

2. Do ONE of the following:

(a) Collect leaves or winter twigs of 15 forest trees or shrubs; mount them in a notebook, writing the name of each, where it grows in the United States and the chief uses.

(b) Obtain wood samples of 10 different trees and tell some of the uses of each kind of wood.

3. Do the following:

(a) Describe the value of forests in protecting soil and building fertility, regulating the flow of water, wildlife management, and as recreational areas. Tell from what watershed or other source your community obtains its water.

(b) Describe briefly the part that forest products play in our everyday life.

4. Do ONE of the following:

(a) Make a diameter tape or Biltmore Stick. Show how to determine the height and diameter of trees. Estimate the board foot volume of three trees selected by the Counselor. 

(b) Find and examine several stumps or logs that have variations in the rate of growth as shown by rings and discuss reasons for these variations.

5. Describe what is meant by forest management.

6. Working with your counselor or a forester, plan and carry out a forestry project that meets a need such as tree planting, seed collecting, range improvement, or forest wildlife management.

7. Do the following:

(a) Describe the damage to forests and watersheds resulting from fire, insects, tree diseases, overgrazing, unwise cutting practices. Tell what is being done to reduce this damage.

(b) Tell what to do if a fire is discovered in woodlands.

(c) Take part in a forest fire prevention campaign or build a fire lane of at least 100 yards at a location designated by a local fire warden, forester, or counselor.

8. Do ONE of the following:

(a) Take a field trip to a logging operation or to a wood-using industrial plant and write a 500 word report telling what the raw material is, where is comes from, how the finished product is made, how products are used, and how waste materials are disposed of.

(b) Visit a managed public or private forest area or watershed area with its supervisor and write a 500-word report on how the area is managed to grow repeated crops of lumber, to protect the watershed, to support repeated crops of wildlife, or to provide other services and benefits.