About this event
Each member takes a 30-minute exam of up to 50 multiple choice questions, worth 100 points. Four 30-minute practicums follow. Tree identification asks for up to 25 species (100 points). Tree measurement means cruising ten trees for diameter, height and board volume (100 points). A combined ID covers up to 40 disorders, tools and forest products (200 points). One rotational practicum is picked by the committee from chainsaw use, compass, forest business, timber stand improvement and map reading (100 points). Last, the team has 90 minutes to work through a forest industry scenario, worth 400 points. Teams have four members, and all four scores count. The top score is 600 per member and 2,800 per team. The event is open to grades 7 to 12. It runs outdoors in any weather, so students should bring rain gear, warm clothes and closed-toed shoes. Each student must bring and wear a hard hat and safety glasses or be disqualified. A clinometer may be brought for tree measurement only, and calculators and clipboards are provided. Teams and coaches may not visit the event site after September 1. State winners move on to the national event held with the 100th National FFA Convention and Expo, October 27 to 30, 2027, in Indianapolis.
FormatTest + Skills
DurationExam 30 min, tree ID 30 min, tree measurement 30 min, disorders, equipment and products ID 30 min, rotational practicum 30 min, team activity 90 min
Solo or teamTeam of 4
CategoryNatural Resource Systems
Your plan
How to study
Built from the official handbook. Take the check and read every lesson here with no account; a free account keeps your progress and opens flashcards, practice and full exams.
Find your weakest area
Take the 8-question check below: one question from each of the 8 biggest areas. It tells you where to start.
Start the checkLearn every area
Every area of the official handbook is below. Each has a short lesson, flashcards and practice, plus free reading.
See the areasPractice until every bar is full
Practice gives you one question at a time and leans toward the areas you miss. Your readiness meter fills as you get them right in every area.
PracticeTake a full exam at the real pace
50 questions in 30 minutes, the official maximum. Your readiness meter counts your last 3 full exams from the past 30 days, and 90% fills each one.
Take a practice exam
The areas of the exam
Forestry terms and the economics of the forest industry
Multiple-use sustainability and management factors
Silvicultural practices and timber stand improvement
Tree identification
Tree measurement and timber cruising
Forestry tools and equipment
Forest disorders
Forest products
Forest business management and marketing
Safety practices and chainsaw operation
Compass and pacing
Map interpretation
Start here
Find your weakest area
8 questions, one from each of the 8 biggest areas of the Forestry exam. Each one is graded the moment you answer, with the reason, and the last screen tells you which area to study first. No account needed.
Exam day
What to expect
A written exam of up to 50 questions in 30 minutes
Official format: Exam 30 min, tree ID 30 min, tree measurement 30 min, disorders, equipment and products ID 30 min, rotational practicum 30 min, team activity 90 min.
Written from the handbook
The exam covers the areas the event's handbook lists, from the references it names. Practice questions here are drawn from the same areas.
How you advance
How many advance from districts to states and on to the National FFA Convention & Expo (National Convention) depends on your association's rules. Study the official handbook: it lists every part of the event and how each is scored.
Exam format
- Time limit30 minutes
- Questionsup to 50 questions
- TeamTeam of 4
Competition levels: District Career Development Events, then State Career Development Events, then National FFA Convention & Expo
Official reference books
Listed in the official FFA handbook. Your school or public library may have them.
- Introduction to Forestry Science, Burton, Cengage Learning, ISBN 1133711626 (paid book)
- Introduction to Forestry Science, Burton, Delmar Publications, ISBN 0-8273-8010-0 (paid book)
- Science of Forestry Management, Irwin, AAVIM, ISBN 0-8960-6383-6 (paid book)
- Textbook of Dendrology, Harlow, Harrar and White, current edition, McGraw-Hill Book Company (paid book)
- Silvics of North America, Handbook 654, volumes one and two, U.S. Forest Service
- Forests and Forestry, Rolfe et al., Interstate Publishers, ISBN 0-8134-3240-5 (paid book)
- Topographic Map Information and Symbols Key, U.S. Geological Survey
- Measuring Woodland Timber
Guidelines and resources
Bookmark to saveCurated by ChapterPrep. Free unless noted. External links open in a new tab.