FARMINGTON – Foster Tech Forestry recently hosted the 30th annual high school loggers meet. The Foster students fared well, taking home nearly 50 percent of the first-place trophies.

Winners were as follows: third, ax throw, Tony Patterson and Nate Webster; third, cookie stack, Jeff Stevens; third, team game of logging, Jeremy Soper, Nick Casey and Paul Harnden.

Also, second, individual game of logging, Kris Allen; second, pulp throw for distance, Jeremy Soper, Chris Nightingale, Tony Patterson; second, cross cut, Chris Nightingale, Jeremy Soper, Tony Patterson, Nate Webster.

Also, first, dot split, Kris Arnold, Jeff Stevens; first, precision bucking, Paul Harnden; first, pulp throw for accuracy, Isaac Chick, Jeremy Soper, Pat Ridley, Chris Nightingale; first, skidder competition, Pat Ridley, Issac Chick, Travis Hupper, Jeremy Soper; first, tug of war, Issac Chick, Pat Ridley, Jeremy Soper, Chris Nighingale, Tony Patterson, Nate Webster, Nick Casey.

Jeremy Soper, 2006 forestry/wood harvesting student, was named Logger of the Year.

Soper works for his family logging business. His brother, Brandon and Jeremy, are conventional loggers and Irvin, their father, does most of the trucking.

Soper also plays football at Livermore Falls High School. He plays nose tackle and center and is a two-year letterman, with his senior year coming up in the fall.

Soper recently earned first-place trophies at the 30th annual high school loggers meet. The events were controlled skidder operation, pulp throw for accuracy and tug of war. He also placed second in the cross cut event and pulp throw for distance.

Soper has been a quiet leader in the classroom as well at as the harvesting site, said his forestry instructors.

Soper said he really liked the forestry program and has learned a lot. He would recommend it to anyone.