Bringing the Lumber

Beta Pi Chapter at Louisiana Tech University had the opportunity to both volunteer for and compete in the 64th Annual Southern Forestry Conclave from March 9-11, 2023. Each year, schools from all over the southeastern United States come together for a weekend of competition and networking at this occasion, which is filled with both technical and physical forestry related events. Competitions include timber estimation, tree and wildlife identification, pole-felling, log chop, crosscut, bowsaw and more. This year was particularly special to Beta Pi Chapter, as Louisiana Tech University would be the host school for the first time in 17 years.

The men of Beta Pi Chapter volunteered to help set up and work all weekend, performing tasks such as moving and loading logs and cants, cutting logs after competitions, cooking food for attendees, delivering firewood, moving hay bales, and more. Alpha Gamma Rho and the LA Tech student chapter of the Society of American Foresters were able to work directly together to accomplish these things, all while networking and developing professional relationships with their future peers from around the country. This was an extremely rewarding experience for the chapter, who looks forward to continuing this partnership each year.

Cody Chandler, Noble Ruler