Forestry

Manuals available!

State Fair Entries:

Each county will be allowed to send one exhibitor from each level.

If you complete a poster, refer to poster guidelines.

Choose one topic listed in your grade level below. Use that topic for your exhibit title.

Leaves should be free of any damage. Scientific names must be in either italics or underscored. (Note: scientific names are required for herbariums.) The Genus (first name) must have the first letter capitalized. The species (second name) has no capitalization.

** Fair Entry – You MUST register your 4-H project in Fair Entry if you plan to exhibit at the 4-H Fair. See page 21! **

Level 1 (Grades 3-5) – Follow the Path

Display a poster based on one of the following activities:

• Leafing Out – comparisons (pages 6 & 7). Collect, dry, and mount 6 different species of leaves showing leaf differences: 1 leaf with opposite arrangement and 1 with an alternate arrangement, 2 leaves with different leaf margins, a compound leaf, and a simple leaf. Use the 50 Trees of Indiana book (4-H 15-80 or CD-FNR-3) as a reference and identify the leaves and group them under the titles of "arrangement", "leaf margins" and "compound or simple". Draw (or copy the picture) and label the parts of a leaf using the diagram from the manual (Level 1). Title your poster, “Leafing Out – Leaf Differences”.
• Leafing Out – collection (pages 6 & 7). Identify and exhibit leaves from 10 different trees that are listed in 50 Trees of Indiana book (4-H 15-80 or CD-FNR-3). List at least 2 unique characteristics of each tree. Title your poster, “Leafing Out – Collection”.
• Hold on Tight (pages 10 & 11). Dig up a small plant root system and display along with a drawing of the root system with the anchor, lateral, and feeder roots identified and the "Parts of a Tree" diagram (4-H 641B).
• Down in the Dirt (pages 20 & 21). Collect roots from 3 different habitats: woods, near a creek, and in a pasture or prairie. (Note: Do not use the habitats listed in your manual.) Display the roots along with the completed root test chart (copy or recreate) showing the color, size, and shape information. Include any unique features you noted.
• My Couch is a Tree? (pages 30 & 31). Use pictures (draw, cut from magazines, print, or take photographs) to show 10 things in and around your home that are made from wood.
• Fun in the Forest (pages 32 & 33). Visit a state park or forest, take your 50 Trees of Indiana book (4-H 15-80 or CD-FNR-3), diagram the trails you hiked, and list the types of trees you saw. Photographs of you hiking and some of the trees you saw will help tell your story.   Level 2 (Grades 6-8) reach for the canopy
•  

Display a poster based on one of the following activities:

• The Leaf Machine (pages 8 & 9). Copy, draw, or find a picture of a cross-section of a leaf. Label the 7 parts. Give the chemical reaction for photosynthesis, defining the chemicals: CO₂, H₂O, O₂, and C₆H₁₂O₆. Be sure to balance your equation! There should be the same number of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen molecules on each side of the equal sign. You may need to ask an older (high school) 4-H member or science teacher for help. Draw the tree canopy, trunk, and roots (or use the tree diagram, 4-H 641B) and identify the crown, trunk (with the parts: heartwood, sapwood, cambium, and bark listed on the right), feeder roots, and anchor roots.

• My State's Forests (pages 14 & 15), use a map, draw, or find a picture of Indiana on the Internet (i.e., www.igic.org). Show where your home, your school, your fairgrounds are located. Choose one of the following options to complete your poster:

• Show where Indiana’s state forests are located. List a few facts about each. Visit the park or forest and have someone take your picture by the sign, if at all possible.

• Show where some state parks and state forests are located (5-15). List some facts about each one. Visit the park or forest and have someone take your picture by the sign, if possible.

• Someone Call a (Tree) Doctor and Stop Bugging Me (pages 22-25). Collect 10 samples of tree leaves, twigs, stems, or roots damaged by insects or disease and the fruiting body or disease that caused the damage. List information about the insect or disease and the species of tree that was affected.
• Fire in the Forest (pages 26 & 27). Explain the Fire Triangle and describe what happened during and after a famous forest fire. Drawings or pictures will help tell the tale.
• Growing Every Day (pages 30 & 31). Complete the table to calculate the volume of 5 large trees that you can find and measure in your county. Research to find out how to make and use a Tree Measuring Stick (FNR-4) and use that to calculate the volume of each tree. Explain why you think your results varied with the 2 methods of determining tree volume (the one in your 4-H manual or using a tree measuring stick).
• Tree Planting, Plant 1-3 shade trees. Include information about the tree (or trees) you planted, why you chose the species you did, what are the benefits of this tree, and how tall this tree (or trees) will be when mature. Explain why you chose the planting site that you did, where you found your planting information, what steps you followed, the hole size, care of your tree (watering and weed control), and any other information you can give. Include a picture of the tree (photo/drawing). Reference: FNR-FAQ-18-W.

Level 3 (Grades 9-12) – Explore the deep woods

Display a poster based on one of the following activities:

• • A World of Forests (pages 16 & 17) - Indicate the 3 major forest biomes on a copy, drawing, or picture of the world. Complete the table given in the activity.
  • City Trees (pages 20 & 21) - Complete the questions about Tree City (page 20). Show (draw or use pictures) some trees that are often used in city plantings and explain the benefits of these trees.
  • Trim the Trees (pages 26 & 27) - Explain the 5 different kinds of tree pruning for urban trees. List some do’s and don’ts of proper pruning.
  • My Boss is a Tree (pages 34 & 35) - List 5 jobs that require a knowledge of trees and forestry. Explain the training and education that is needed and what types of things you might be doing if you had this job.
  • Tree Planting – Present a tree planting plan for at least 100 trees. Include the types of trees you planted, pictures, cost, method of planting, weeding, pruning your trees, and any additional information. Your exhibit must have a title, labels, backing, and plastic covering as required in the manual. Reference: FNR-FAQ-18-W.
  • Herbarium Collection – Trees - Collect 25 terminal twigs and at least 2 leaves if space allows (only 1 compound leaf is required) from native forest trees. Mount the specimens on 11½" x 16½" paper. One leaf on the twig must be mounted to show the back side of the leaf. Label each sheet with the following: common name, scientific name, where collected, county where collected, date collected, name of collector, and specimen number. Cover each specimen. There are no specific references given for these exhibits. You are encouraged to use Extension publications, the Internet, books, and forest specialists to develop these items.

• Herbarium Collection – Shrubs - Collect 25 terminal twigs, with leaves attached, from native shrubs. Mount the specimens on 11½" x 16½" paper. One leaf on the twig must be mounted to show the back side of the leaf. Label each sheet with the following: common name, scientific name, where collected, county where collected, date collected, name of collector and specimen.

Related Files