MEXICO – The Region 9 School of Applied Technology’s forestry/wood harvesting staff and students traveled to Southern Aroostook County on May 14 to 16 for the 32nd annual high school logger’s competition, hosted by Instructor David Libby and his students in Houlton.

There are five high school forestry programs left in Maine, and they take turns hosting the programs. The hosting team must provide locations for events, all preparations, judges, heavy equipment, event T-shirts, trophies, meals and EMT coverage.

Completing the roster of teams were: Region 3, Instructor Frank Burnell of Lincoln; Foster Vocational Center, Instructors Dean Merrill and Ron Hodgden of Farmington; Region X1, Instructor Al Schaeffer and Ed.Tech. 111 Brian Beane of Oxford; and Region 9, Instructor Marc Dupuis, Ed. Tech. III Ben Welch and Director Brenda Gammon of Mexico, along with 20 students.

The Region 9 team consists of the total student body of first- and second-year students. All students must compete as it is part of their learning experience to demonstrate their skills in public.

Team co-captains, Nick Sumner and Corey Brann, were elected by fellow students. The remainder of the Region 9 team was composed of Jason Buck, Zack McPhee, Chris Arsenault, Alan Hadley, Robert Black, Justin Coulombe, Kody Whittemore, Chad Calden, Steve Jeselskis, Archie Ray, Jarred Bisson, Corey Brann, Mick Kelley, Casey Arsenault, Chuck Estabrook, Justin Tidswell, Nick Sumner, Scott Billings, Mike Farnum and Dana Bradbury.

Placing in events were: first, log roll, Scott Billings, Dana Bradbury, Robert Black, Mick Kelly; first, dot split, Zack McPhee, Alan Hadley; first, skidder competition, Justin Tidswell, Christopher Arsenault; second, pulp throw for distance, Nicholas Sumner, Robert Black.

Also, second, simulator, Alan Hadley; second, tug of war, Casey Arsenault, Nick Sumner, Robert Black, Scott Billings, Stephen Jeselskis, Kody Whittemore, Archie Ray; third, pulp throw for accuracy, Charles Estabrook, Michael Farnum, Chad Calden, Archie Ray; third, team game of logging, Bore Station Team, Stephen Jeselskis; Spring Pole Team, KodyWhittemore; and Precision Felling Team, Justin Coulombe.