National 4-H Forestry Invitational

The National 4-H Forestry Invitational competition, affectionately referred to as “The Super Bowl of 4-H Forestry”, is the national championship of 4-H forestry. Each year, since 1980, teams of 4-H Foresters have come to Jackson's Mill State 4-H Conference Center at Weston, WV, to meet, compete, and have fun.

Jackson's Mill is the boyhood home of General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, hero of the Civil War, and a historic setting for the Invitational. Jackson's Mill State 4-H Conference Center is the first and oldest 4-H camp in the United States and is operated by West Virginia University.

The purpose of the Invitational is to develop appreciation for the importance of conserving forestland as a source of products, benefits, and services necessary for quality living. 4-H Foresters learn citizenship and leadership skills as well as practical forest management skills through participation in the 4-H Forestry Invitational. By learning these skills young people will be better prepared to own forestland or deal with environmental issues in the future.

Check with your state 4-H Office to see if your state participates in the Invitational competition each year. If so, get your team together, win your state forestry competition and come to the Invitational. If not, you are invited to bring a team or come observe the Invitational this year.

Do you know which state is the reigning national champion 4-H Forestry? Visit the 4-H Forestry Invitational web site and find out. Also, see the training materials in all the competition subject areas. We hope to see you at the Invitational next summer.