HCC Lumberjacks take 1st Place at Cradle of Forestry

A little late, but.....For the 8th year in a row, the Lumber Jacks and Lumber Jills of HCC bested the field of competition at the 12th annual Cradle of Forestry Woodsmens Meet. HCC's team went up against fellow competitors from Penn State Mont Alto, Dabney Lancaster Community College, Montgomery Community College, and 1st year invitee, Virginia Tech. Haywood jumped out to an early lead winning the Quiz Bowl Competition, taking 1st and 3rd place in Dendrology, and finishing 1st in Archery. Haywood also dominated in the Water Boil event, Women's Chainsaw, Pole Climb, Men's Horizontal Speed Chop, Women's Axe Throw, and Men's Crosscut Saw among others. The event was graced with excellent weather and a crowd of over 2,000 spectators who were dazzled by all participants' sawmenship and sportsmanship.Sporting freshly cut mohawks, HCC's woodsmen took to the field after several weeks of practice and firewood fund-raising to host the event. After camping out, the teams awoke Saturday morning to an old style lumberjack breakfast prepared by HCC Blacksmithing Instructor David Burnette and his crew at the Pink Beds at the Cradle of Forestry.

Fish and Wildlife Instructor Shannon Rabby set up an information booth about HCC's different programs in natural resources and also provided hands-on environmental education to youngsters who attended the event.

"Fired up!" HCC's Quiz Bowl victory over Virginia Tech set the stage for the rest of the day and Austin Keener's fast time in the Water Boil event kept HCC "smokin'!".

Woodsmen's meet organizer and founder John Palmer was also recognized by the Cradle of Forestry Interpretive Society in a special ceremony at noon for his 12 years of work with the event. Cradle of Forestry Executive Director Alex Comfort unveiled a banner officially naming the event the "John G. Palmer Intercollegiate Woodsmens Meet."