Conclave Event History

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Information Source

While Conclave was first hosted by the University of Georgia in 1958, the first record available is the Southern Forester for the third Conclave, hosted by Auburn University in 1960. This record of Conclave events is drawn from the results, ASFC Executive Committee meeting minutes, and ASFC Constitution & Bylaws published in Southern Foresters from 1960 - present. These are all available in full here.

Technical Events

  • Compass and pacing (1960 - present, every year)
  • DBH estimation (1960 - present, every year)
  • Dendrology (1960 - present, every year)
  • Pole classification (1960 - present, every year except 2014, no poles near Blacksburg VA)
  • Timber estimation (1960 - present, every year)
  • Wildlife (non-point event 1973 - 76, point event 1977 - present every year)
  • Wood technology (1961 - present, every year except 2000)

Physical Events

  • Archery (1963 as non-point event, 1973 - present every year)
  • Axe throwing (1960 - present, every year)
  • Bait casting (1960 - 1977, every year)
  • Bow sawing - men (1960 - present, every year)
  • Bow sawing - women (non-point event in 1998, 1999 - present, every year)
  • Birling (1960 - present, every year)
  • Chain throwing (1960 - present, every year)
  • Crosscut sawing - men (1960 - present, every year)
  • Crosscut sawing - Jack & Jill (non-point event in 1981 - 83, 1984 - present, every year)
  • Crosscut sawing - women (non-point event in 1977 - 78, 1979 - present, every year)
  • Knife throwing (1960 - present, every year except 1961)
  • Log chopping - men (1960 - present, every year)
  • Log chopping - women (non-point event in 2022, 2023 - present, every year)
  • Log rolling (1960 - present, every year)
  • Pole climbing (1960 - present, every year except 2009 due to rain)
  • Pole felling (1962 - present, every year)

Discontinued Events

  • Photogrammetry (non-point event 1974 - 76, point event 1977 - 2024, every year); retired due to lack of ability for most schools to create an exam.
  • It also appears that rope climbing, canoe jousting, and 'Paul Bunyon' events were point events in 1960 only.

Non-Point Events

Non-point events are intended to re-kindle the camaraderie among foresters from the member clubs that may have been lost since the previous Conclave. These are all the non-point events listed in the Southern Forester, in addition to those I have witnessed since 2012. There are undoubtedly many more that simply have not been published. While they were featured prominently most years in the Southern Forester from its earliest days, this practice largely ceased in 1988, and non-point events have only been reported sporadically since. Based on the 1988 ASFC Executive Committee meeting minutes, this appears to have been in response to the southern forestry deans requesting that Conclave be shortened to mitigate risks, reduce class absences, and work towards a more professional event.

  • Birling with Cleats
  • Canoe Race
  • Compound Bow Archery
  • Cookie Toss (wood cookies, not dessert)
  • Cow Chip Toss
  • Crawfish Race (actual crawfish raced one another, at Louisiana, no surprise)
  • Dixie Cup Relay
  • Dizzy Dash
  • Forestry Javelin (pulpwood as a Javelin, distance wins)
  • Firefighting (putting out a competitors lit cigar with a squirt gun)
  • Greased Pig Chase
  • Greased Pole Climb (teams scaled a 20 foot greased pole by standing on one another's shoulders)
  • Horseshoes
  • Lawnmower Race
  • Log Splitting
  • Lumber Grading
  • Paul Bunyan / Son of Paul (appears to have been judged by best beard)
  • Power Saw (i.e. chain saw)
  • Pulpwood / Fence Post Toss
  • Quiz Bowl
  • Sack Race
  • Spiked Pole Climb
  • Sunflower Seed Spit (tobacco not allowed at venue)
  • Tobacco Spitting (very popular 1974 - 87, furthest distance won)
  • Tractor Tire Flip
  • Tug of War
  • Woodsmen's Team Relay