ATHOL — More than 200 students from across Idaho gathered at Farragut State Park on Thursday for the 43rd annual Idaho State Forestry Contest, testing their knowledge of tree identification, land measurement, soil health, and resource management in a setting that trades classroom desks for timber and trail.
The 2026 contest drew 225 participants in grades five through twelve, representing public schools, charter schools, homeschool programs, and 4-H clubs from across the Gem State. Students rotated through hands-on stations covering everything from log scaling and tree cruising to tool identification and map reading — practical skills tied directly to Idaho’s timber and natural resource industries.
Record Donation Fuels Student Scholarships and Cash Prizes
The contest is organized through a partnership between the Bonner County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Idaho Department of Lands and is free for students to enter. Winners receive cash prizes and scholarships to the University of Idaho College of Natural Resources.
This year’s event received its largest single donation in the contest’s history — $25,000 from the Bonner County Farm Bureau, according to contest public information officer Jennifer Russell, who serves as the prevention, education, and outreach specialist for the Idaho Department of Lands.
“This is completely self-sufficient,” Russell said of the program. “What we get from our donors goes back into the program and to the kids.”
Approximately 150 volunteers, many of them working professionals in the forestry and natural resources industries, staffed the stations and guided students through activities throughout the day.
Russell said the energy at the event was unmistakable. “There are smiles, tons of smiles,” she said. “They’re concentrating because they want to do well, but you see they’re enjoying being out here and being in nature.”
Students From Across North Idaho Find Purpose in the Forest
For many competitors, the contest offered more than academic challenge — it connected them to career interests and personal goals.
Halston Calanchini, a junior at Potlatch High School, said his motivation was practical. “I plan on being a landowner and having a forest, so I should know how to manage it,” he said while working through the tool identification station.
Lexi Warren, a freshman at Highland-Craigmont School in Craigmont, said the contest helps her grow both technically and personally. She described wrapping a tape measure around a tree at the cruising station as a way to connect with others while learning skills she values. “I’m trying to help myself be more of a people person,” she said.
North Idaho STEM Charter Academy freshmen Texas Fallquist and Roxie Regan tackled a soil and water quality activity together. Fallquist said she enjoys the identification aspect of forestry. Regan was enthusiastic about putting newly learned knowledge to use on hikes outside the classroom.
Hidden Valley Academy senior Colter Cates of Sandpoint worked alongside a homeschooled eighth grader at the log scaling station, using measuring sticks to assess timber volume — a skill central to the state’s logging economy.
Sandpoint High School senior Danielle Nader was among the Bonner County participants representing the region at the event, which drew students from communities spanning the length of the state.
2026 Contest Winners
Top honors in this year’s competition were distributed across three divisions:
Senior Division, Individual: Samantha Guadagnini
Senior Division, Team: Whistle Stop 4-H — Samantha Guadagnini, Maria Guadagnini, Caitlyn Cramer, Danielle Wenstrom
Junior Division, Individual: Amalia Nemeth
Junior Division, Team: Selle Valley Carden — Amalia Nemeth, Emelia Hixson, Elsie Turcott, Lukas Myers
Rookie Division, Individual: Skylar Hixson
Rookie Division, Team: Selle Valley Carden — Skylar Hixson, Jace Tuttle, Katmai Johnson, Olivia Myers
What Comes Next
A full list of winners and photos from the 2026 Idaho State Forestry Contest will be posted at the Idaho Department of Lands website at idl.idaho.gov. The contest’s continued growth — now in its fifth decade — reflects sustained community investment in connecting Idaho’s youth to the natural resource industries that remain a cornerstone of the state’s economy. With the Bonner County Farm Bureau’s record contribution this year, organizers are positioned to expand participation and awards in future contests.
For coverage of other local education news, see the Lake Pend Oreille School District board’s commitment to the LPOHS property and Sandpoint athlete Schmit’s commitment to the College of Idaho.