Community invited to Farthest North Forest Sports Festival

Submitted by John Fox
Phone: 907-474-7084
10/03/07

Aspiring lumberjacks are invited to enter the competitions at the 10th annual Farthest North Forest Sports Festival Saturday, Oct. 6 at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Entrants can participate individually or in four- to six-person teams as they test their skills in the following events: pulp toss, axe throw, log rolling, one-person bow saw, two-person cross-cut saw, fire building and log birling.

The sports fest begins at 10 a.m. at the Fairbanks Experiment Farm field south of the railroad tracks. At about 1 p.m., the event moves to Ballaine Lake on Farmer’s Loop for the log-birling and fire-building competitions.

Started in 1998 by a few faculty members and students from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Department of Forest Sciences, the festival aims to promote informal interaction among UAF students, faculty and staff members, and members of the Fairbanks community. The UAF Department of Forest Sciences, the School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, and the Resource Management Society sponsor the festival.

Participants are advised to dress for warmth, especially head, hands and feet. Log birlers should have dry clothes to don after the event. Hot drinks and a warm-up fire will be provided at Ballaine Lake, where the birling contest is held.

CONTACT: Professor John Fox at 907-474-7084 or via e-mail at john.fox@uaf.edu.