Timberbeast returns!
May 15, 2018
Wildlife conservation major Leah Wood took second place in women’s bowsaw competition at Timberbeast 2018. Photo by Jesse Booker
The Virginia Tech Forestry Club revived its annual Timberbeast competition this year after a short hiatus, hosting teams from six schools at the New River Valley Fairgrounds in February.
The approximately 85 competitors at the timber sports event came from Clemson University, North Carolina’s Montgomery Community College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Virginia Tech, the University of Tennessee, and West Virginia University.
“Timber sports events like Timberbeast give students a unique chance to engage with students from other schools, meet people who are entering the forest industry the same time as themselves, and talk about forestry issues as addressed from the perspective of different schools, all while in a more casual atmosphere than formal conferences,” said Justin Mays, president of the Forestry Club. Mays, a senior forestry major, considers this informal networking to be very valuable for students.
Jacob Truxell, a senior building construction major who took first place in the men’s axe throw, said, “It brought a lot of excitement to us as a team to be able to bring Timberbeast back.” Hokies also placed first in the archery, women’s cross cut, women’s knife throw, and DBH (diameter at breast height) estimation events. Virginia Tech’s team placed third overall, behind Clemson and Tennessee.
In addition to hosting the competition, the Forestry Club partnered with Log a Load for Kids and Power Zone in Christiansburg to run a raffle during the event, raising $1,695 for Carilion Children’s Hospital in Roanoke.
The Virginia Tech team went on to compete in the Southern Forestry Conclave, the biggest annual forestry sports competition in the region, held this year at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Georgia. The Hokies had an outstanding showing, taking second place overall, with top three finishes in the following events: pole classification, compass and pace, axe throw, men’s bowsaw, chain throw, women’s crosscut, Jack and Jill crosscut, underhand chop, log roll, and pole fell.
