Nathan Patrick, a junior at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, reaches for a scabbard and handsaw in the “working climb” portion of the Massachusetts FFA arbor skills career development event Thursday at Look Park in Florence. Above him, judge Cam Woodward, a safety coordinator at the Bartlett Tree Experts’ Northampton office, makes sure the climbs are done safely. Five schools from across the commonwealth participated in the annual test of skills hosted by the horticulture/forestry program at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School.
Nathan Patrick, a junior at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, reaches for a scabbard and handsaw in the “working climb” portion of the Massachusetts FFA arbor skills career development event Thursday at Look Park in Florence. Above him, judge Cam Woodward, a safety coordinator at the Bartlett Tree Experts’ Northampton office, makes sure the climbs are done safely. Five schools from across the commonwealth participated in the annual test of skills hosted by the horticulture/forestry program at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School. Credit: STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING

FLORENCE – High school students from forestry programs across the commonwealth gathered in Look Park on Thursday for the Massachusetts FFA Arbor Skills Career Development Event hosted annually by the Horticulture/Forestry program at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School. In addition to a written test, students tested their skills in a rotation of six stations including tree identification, knot tying, speed climb and working climb.

Kevin Gutting can be reached at kgutting@gazettenet.com.