19th annual Farthest North Forest Fest set for Oct. 8

Coleman Smith, left, and Josh McNeal operate the double bucksaw at the
 2015 Forest Fest.

Calling all would-be lumberjacks: The 19th annual Farthest North Forest Sports Festival will take place Oct. 8 at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Students and community members 18 and older are invited to try their hand at forest sports at an event that hearkens back to old-time lumberjack competitions. Expertise is not necessary. Events include ax throwing, log rolling, bow saw and crosscut sawing, campfire building and birling (staying upright on a log in the lake). At the end of the day, the "Bull of the Woods" and the "Belle of the Woods" will be announced. 

The Forest Fest begins at 10 a.m. at the Fairbanks Experiment Farm fields, across from the Georgeson Botanical Garden. At 1 p.m., the games move to Ballaine Lake. A warming fire and hot drinks will be available at the lake. Participants are advised to dress warmly. If competing in the birling, a towel and change of clothes would be a good idea.

Faculty members and students developed the competition as a way to commemorate the old-fashioned forest festivals. Professor Dave Valentine is looking for volunteers to help out at the event, which is hosted by School of Natural Resources and Extension and the student Resource Management Society. Anyone who is interested may contact him at dvalentine@alaska.edu or 474-7614.